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Networking Information |
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7 Step Plan To Get Going With Networking
Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, feel like you have the gift of gab or just don't know how to make small talk, networking know-how is very important for your business success. There is a notion in business that I believe most of us subscribe to that says "all things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those they know, like and trust." And the key to this is obviously being able to develop relationships. Think of networking as the cultivation of mutually beneficial, win-win relationships. In order to be win-win, there must be GIVE and take (notice the emphasis on give). Networking shouldn't be viewed as "events" where you go to sell your business. When effective networking is taking place, the parties involved actively share ideas, information, resources, etc. Ok, so you know that you should be networking because it is one of the most cost-effective lead generation activities when used wisely, appropriately and professionally. But, maybe that seems easier said than done. Here's a seven step plan to really get going with networking for your business. 1. Check out several groups to find the best chemistry and perceived value. Most groups will allow you to come and visit at least a couple of times before you have to join. Go and ask around to find out why others have joined and what value they get out of belonging. Resist the urge to just go join the Chamber of Commerce simply because everyone tells you that's what you need to do. If that's not where your target group can be found, then you might just be wasting a considerable amount of time (and money). I'm not telling you not to join the Chamber. Just be clear about what you'd like to get out of this or any other group. If it's to find prospective clients or referral sources, then you need to be networking where those resources can be found. 2. When you find a group or two, join and go to all the meetings you can. Don't go just once or twice expecting things to happen and then if they don't quit. Building mutually beneficial, win-win relationships will take some time. The contacts you make need to constantly see your face and hear your message. Continual contact with others over time will open up opportunities for you to go deeper and learn more about each others thoughts, ideas and capabilities in regards to your respective businesses. Know, like, and trust generally only happens over time. Being regular and persistent will pay off. 3. Get involved - be visible. Do as much as you can to make yourself more visible within the organization. Volunteer to help with meetings, be on committees, or become a leader or board member. Being involved does a couple of things for you and your business. First, you'll get more opportunities to establish connections and get to know some of the contacts you've made even better. Secondly, the higher the visibility you have in the group, the less you'll have to work to make new connections. Instead, as new people come into the group, they will likely seek you out because they view you as a leader within the organization. 4. Keep your circles of contacts informed. Don't just assume that running in to someone once a month (or even once a week) will cause them to start doing business with you or sending it your way. You need to let them know what's going on when you're not at that particular group in order to inform and educate them. Send them invitations to your events or open houses. Send them email or letters to share big news or success stories, especially anything of relevance to them or those in their networks of contacts. If you believe that you have valuable ideas, information and resources to share with others, then doesn't this just make sense? 5. Work at GIVING referrals and sharing valuable information. That's right, you need to be willing to GIVE before you get. That means you need to get to know other members and what makes a good prospect for them. What kinds of information might you have access to that could be useful to them? You may initially think you don't have much of value to share with others (besides your business and what you provide). Part of the key to getting good at giving is to not make assumptions. For example, don't assume that some basic resource (e.g., a web site) that you're aware of is familiar to someone you might be talking to just because they are the "expert" in that field. Be willing to ask if they know about the resource and ready to share if they don't. Want to get better at actually giving referrals? Here's a simple question to ask someone you're connecting with. "How am I going to know when I meet a really good prospect for you?" Just the fact that you are willing to explore giving will elevate your know, like and trust factor. 6. Focus on Quality, not Quantity, Quantity, Quantity. It's not necessarily about the number of connections you make, but about the quality of the ones you do make. Are they mutually beneficial, win-win relationships? Quality connections will be identifiable because all involved parties will be actively sharing ideas, information, and resources. Yes, it is true that you need to spend some time and effort getting to know the other person(s) and what's important to them. But, you also need to be clear and actively thinking about what information or resources you want and need. Staying in touch with and following up with a smaller number of quality relationships will generally be much more productive than trying to follow up with a larger number of superficial contacts. 7. Be persistent, but be patient. The goal of a networking event shouldn't necessarily be to come away with prospects every time you go out, but to come away with great connections. Networking usually takes time to get the relationships developed and nurtured. Don't approach networking as a scary proposition or a necessary evil for being in business. Take the pressure off yourself and really focus on how you might be able to connect with someone you meet. Focus on them first and look for ways to be useful to them. As you become known as a connector you'll eventually be ready to reap what you sow. (c) - Kevin Dervin, KPD Marketing About the Author: Kevin Dervin is focused on helping small businesses that are ready to grow, but struggle with how to consistently attract more clients. Visit http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com for more great marketing information you can put to use in growing your business today. Find Kevin's Kansas City based KPD Marketing practice at http://www.ABCDgrowth.com and subscribe to his free ezine called ABCD Grow.
MORE RESOURCES: Get the most out of networking during BREW this week Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Networking group builds businesses | Local News Brunswick News Motivated and inspired: Two local women create networking-based company to empower women Press of Atlantic City Global $50+ Billion Industrial Networking Solutions Market Trajectory & Analytics to 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com Business Wire Businesses grow in-house networking expertise to meet new challenges Channel Asia Singapore 3 Helpful Networking Projects for Your Raspberry Pi TechNewsWorld Data Center Networking Market Competitive Landscape and In depth Analysis by Recent News 2021 to 2027 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Interface Shares its top Networking Predictions for 2021 GlobeNewswire What Is Your Social Networking Style? Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley Smart Grid Networking Market Analysis, Insights, Trends, Key Players, Drivers and Forecast KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Home Networking Device Market Is Expected To Grow At A CAGR Of 5.55% In The Forecast Period Of 2020 To 2027 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper State of the Cities Post-Event Virtual Networking - Denver Business Journal New York Business Journal F.C. Chamber Hosts Virtual Networking “Luncheon” Falls Church News Press challenges opportunities of integrated networks Medical Economics What’s the secret to successful networking? - Lawyers Weekly Lawyers Weekly Is Palo Alto Networks Stock a Buy? The Motley Fool N.J. cannabis business community packs online networking session in preparation for legal marijuana NJ.com Wireless Mesh Networking (Wmn) Market Future Demands, Companies, Trends, Share and Size Forecast 2021-2027 NeighborWebSJ SSi Canada Partners with SES Networks to Deliver New Satellite Capacity into Northern Canada Business Wire Networking giant Ubiquiti alerts customers of potential data breach BleepingComputer AirHop Communications Joins the Open Networking Foundation to Collaborate on 5G Near-Real-Time RAN Intelligent Controller Business Wire F5 Networks will buy Volterra cloud computing startup for $500M in latest major acquisition GeekWire DMS Announces #1 Rank On Best CPA Networks For Advertisers List Valdosta Daily Times Why Ceragon Networks Stock Rocketed 54% Friday Motley Fool 5G networks and the public cloud Light Reading Massive Growth of Edge Computing Market by Top Key Players – Nokia Networks (Finland), Huawei (China), Juniper Networks (US), Dell (US), Cisco Systems (US) KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) Market 2021 Demand, Trends and Forecast | Intel Corporation, Juniper Networks Inc., Palo Alto Networks Inc., CERTES NETWORKS INC., RSA Security LLC KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Global Data Center Fabric Market 2021 | By Top Leading Vendors like Juniper, Extreme Networks, Cisco, Huawei, Arista Networks, Ibm, Avaya, Hp, Brocade, Dell, and More… KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Juniper Networks and Türk Telekom Create Joint Innovation Path for Accelerated Open RAN Development and Deployment Business Wire Application Delivery Networks Adn Market Features of Investment Opportunities 2021-2026 , Top Keyplayers – , Array Networks, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Dell, Inc., Citrix Systems, Inc., etc. KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper IntegrationWorks launches OT to IT networks connector IT Brief New Zealand Optical Transport Network Market has Huge Growth in Industry | Tejas Networks, Juniper Networks, Ciena, Fastech Telecommunications, etc KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper Juniper Networks and Türk Telekom establish Open RAN 5G partnership DataCentreNews Europe Promos start to reveal networks' 2021 inauguration branding NewscastStudio Maine's medical networks plan large-scale vaccination clinics Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Brazil to allow Huawei into 5G networks Developing Telecoms A New Holographic Photostimulation Solution Technology Networks How to prioritize networks on Android TechRepublic The new social networks - Meltwater Bizcommunity.com 'Pivotal role' Open Networks Project plays in energy transition to continue through fifth year Current News Scripps Moving Multicast Networks onto Ion TV Stations TV Technology We Think Aviat Networks's (NASDAQ:AVNW) Statutory Profit Might Understate Its Earnings Potential Simply Wall St The World Social Forum and the advances of global citizens networks PRESSENZA – International News Agency Stakeholders Are Competing for Control of Radio Networks Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence TV Networks Shift From Coverage of Electoral Tally to Storming of Capitol The New York Times LatticeX Summarises Guidance On Stablecoin & Cypto-Payment Networks The Taiwan Times Joint UN-INTERPOL operation disrupts firearms supply to terrorist networks in West Africa and Sahel UN News 'An absolutely disgraceful moment': News anchors express shock at revolting turn at U.S. Capitol USA TODAY Expression Networks Enjoy Open: Gaultier Takes Crown - Professional Squash Association PSA World Tour Stocks To Watch: Bajaj Finance, Den Networks, HCL Tech, L&T Finance Holdings, PVR, SAIL BloombergQuint How to Network When There Are No Networking Events Harvard Business Review Hulu Live Is Adding These 14 Networks to Its Channel Lineup Clark.com - Clark Howard Remote Networking as a Person of Color Harvard Business Review China's Secret War for US Data Blew American Spies' Cover Foreign Policy |
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