Networking and Growing Important Business Relationships...
By Stu Leventhal – Guru Marketing tips
You have to make connections to really grow your business. It is not enough to just offer great products or services at great prices. Relationships form the strength of an organization. Forming partnerships and alliances is how a company grows into markets that they otherwise would have a tough time entering into.
Meet the right person and your career can blossom in any industry. The right person can open doors for you that you never knew existed. But you have to get out and mingle to take part in networking. You must hone your social skills to be able to connect with strangers. Get comfortable with talking about yourself because you have to ask all the people that you already know; if they know anyone who can help you with growing your business.
We all know people and they know other people. If you do not ask for an introduction, no one will ever think to introduce you. When a friend tells their other friend about you and your business that is your foot in the door.
So the best networking is done offline but you do use all of the modern online communication stuff to help you converse and keep in touch. People who fail at networking usually go after gaining too much volume of new connections. Know that you cannot handle meeting 1000 new people on a single weekend and expect to form lasting, fruitful business relationships with each person. That is wishful thinking.
A good networker learns how to make the most of each connection that they have so that they do not really need so many connections. You want quality people in your network not just thousands of people.
You have to nurture a relationship before you can ask someone to purchase something from you or to hire you. Yes, you can meet someone the first time online in a chatroom or on social media but understand that the person is also meeting plenty of other folks online beside you. It is often quite more difficult to convince a person whom you have never met face to face to do business with you, although it does happen all the time.
Are you trying to connect with specific folks whom you have identified as those whose acquaintance can help further your career? Yes, it is important to try to drum up new business anywhere and with anyone but you will do better if you have a set goal of meeting specific people whom you know can help your business. Not everyone you network with has to become a customer of yours; some may be the bridge that can get you to new customers.
First you identify who the type of customer is that you would prefer doing business with. Next you make a list of people whom you know are already doing business with your ideal, new, customer prospects. Now you have to brainstorm on how you can meet those people already serving your potential client pool. What is your strategy for after you meet some business professionals that already serve the customers you want to supply things for? Are you prepared to offer a commission for any new customer they send your way? Will you propose forming a partnership with your new friends? Are you going to try to purchase their customer mailing list? How about discussing putting ads on each other's websites.
Did you ask your new business friends if they would like to be a guest blogger on your blog? Guest blogging is a great way for each of you to introduce your selves and your services to each others fans, audiences and customers.
How are you going to keep in touch now that you've made a few new business acquaintances? Did you get their biz card? Do you have software to punch their biz card info into a system that will help you communicate timely and keep track of your relationship building progress with all of your networking partners? Does their biz card list their social media accounts? Have you asked which social media platforms they use most?
Did you practice your proposal pitches the day before attending an important networking event?
You may only get one chance to pitch your idea for a joint venture together with a new acquaintance. Think, why should another person want to work with you? What do you have to offer the partnership? How will the other person benefit? Bear in mind that few people will help you for free so there has to be something in it for both parties. People helping people, is what networking is all about.
So let’s say you have identified a person who can help your business; now what?
Ask yourself if you know anyone who knows the person you wish to meet. If so then you need to ask your friend to introduce you. Coach your friend on what to say about you. If your friend agrees to hook you up with a meeting then make sure you ask your friend about the prospective networking partner. Find out all you can about the person before you get together so that you can make the most of your meeting.
You always have to prepare for any meeting with a stranger because you never want to risk embarrassing your friend who is going out on a limb to help you. If you let your friend down they will understandably shy away from introducing you to anyone in the future.
Remember to make a big deal out of thanking people who introduce you to potential networking partners even if the meeting does not pan out in a business way as you had hoped. If an introduction does turn out to be very fruitful for you and your company then it is customary for you to buy your friend who introduced you a gift or take them out for a nice diner to say thanks.
Networking is common sense mostly. You have to be polite and gracious, smile and be cordial. Try to win the person over with your personality before you start pitching sales offers. We do business with those we like and feel comfortable with. We also want to trust a business acquaintance and know that we can rely on a vendor, supplier or service before we commit to buying from or hiring a new company or professional.
Once you are introduced to a VIP business connection, a celebrity or an industry leader or influencer, you need to be prepared to make the most of your introduction. This person can propel you or your business to stardom so act accordingly. You must bring you’re A-game!
Meet the right person and your career can blossom in any industry. The right person can open doors for you that you never knew existed. But you have to get out and mingle to take part in networking. You must hone your social skills to be able to connect with strangers. Get comfortable with talking about yourself because you have to ask all the people that you already know; if they know anyone who can help you with growing your business.
We all know people and they know other people. If you do not ask for an introduction, no one will ever think to introduce you. When a friend tells their other friend about you and your business that is your foot in the door.
So the best networking is done offline but you do use all of the modern online communication stuff to help you converse and keep in touch. People who fail at networking usually go after gaining too much volume of new connections. Know that you cannot handle meeting 1000 new people on a single weekend and expect to form lasting, fruitful business relationships with each person. That is wishful thinking.
A good networker learns how to make the most of each connection that they have so that they do not really need so many connections. You want quality people in your network not just thousands of people.
You have to nurture a relationship before you can ask someone to purchase something from you or to hire you. Yes, you can meet someone the first time online in a chatroom or on social media but understand that the person is also meeting plenty of other folks online beside you. It is often quite more difficult to convince a person whom you have never met face to face to do business with you, although it does happen all the time.
Are you trying to connect with specific folks whom you have identified as those whose acquaintance can help further your career? Yes, it is important to try to drum up new business anywhere and with anyone but you will do better if you have a set goal of meeting specific people whom you know can help your business. Not everyone you network with has to become a customer of yours; some may be the bridge that can get you to new customers.
First you identify who the type of customer is that you would prefer doing business with. Next you make a list of people whom you know are already doing business with your ideal, new, customer prospects. Now you have to brainstorm on how you can meet those people already serving your potential client pool. What is your strategy for after you meet some business professionals that already serve the customers you want to supply things for? Are you prepared to offer a commission for any new customer they send your way? Will you propose forming a partnership with your new friends? Are you going to try to purchase their customer mailing list? How about discussing putting ads on each other's websites.
Did you ask your new business friends if they would like to be a guest blogger on your blog? Guest blogging is a great way for each of you to introduce your selves and your services to each others fans, audiences and customers.
How are you going to keep in touch now that you've made a few new business acquaintances? Did you get their biz card? Do you have software to punch their biz card info into a system that will help you communicate timely and keep track of your relationship building progress with all of your networking partners? Does their biz card list their social media accounts? Have you asked which social media platforms they use most?
Did you practice your proposal pitches the day before attending an important networking event?
You may only get one chance to pitch your idea for a joint venture together with a new acquaintance. Think, why should another person want to work with you? What do you have to offer the partnership? How will the other person benefit? Bear in mind that few people will help you for free so there has to be something in it for both parties. People helping people, is what networking is all about.
So let’s say you have identified a person who can help your business; now what?
Ask yourself if you know anyone who knows the person you wish to meet. If so then you need to ask your friend to introduce you. Coach your friend on what to say about you. If your friend agrees to hook you up with a meeting then make sure you ask your friend about the prospective networking partner. Find out all you can about the person before you get together so that you can make the most of your meeting.
You always have to prepare for any meeting with a stranger because you never want to risk embarrassing your friend who is going out on a limb to help you. If you let your friend down they will understandably shy away from introducing you to anyone in the future.
Remember to make a big deal out of thanking people who introduce you to potential networking partners even if the meeting does not pan out in a business way as you had hoped. If an introduction does turn out to be very fruitful for you and your company then it is customary for you to buy your friend who introduced you a gift or take them out for a nice diner to say thanks.
Networking is common sense mostly. You have to be polite and gracious, smile and be cordial. Try to win the person over with your personality before you start pitching sales offers. We do business with those we like and feel comfortable with. We also want to trust a business acquaintance and know that we can rely on a vendor, supplier or service before we commit to buying from or hiring a new company or professional.
Once you are introduced to a VIP business connection, a celebrity or an industry leader or influencer, you need to be prepared to make the most of your introduction. This person can propel you or your business to stardom so act accordingly. You must bring you’re A-game!
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