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.
There are lots of myths about networking, so let's debunk a few:
Myth 1: The more you network, the more effective your networking activities become
Truth 1: It's much more important to become well-known in 1-2 circles than to spread your networking activities over many different groups.
Myth 2: The cocktails and drinks circuit is the way to network to success
Truth 2: Networking with strangers to build business is about as effective as going to a bar to get married!
Myth 3: Networking is all about getting more people to know what you do.
Truth 3: Networking is all about getting people that already know you to share opportunities where you can be helpful to each other.
* Make 2-3 phone calls a day to connect with people from past jobs, former clients, or influential people who have expressed interest in you in the past.
Here's why you're not going to meet your business soul mate at a networking event:
• You aren't going to do business with someone after meeting them for a few minutes.
• Businesses are built on relationships
• Most of us have major trouble in explaining what we do
• Networking with strangers is not targeted or specific and is completely random.
• This type of networking is exactly as effective as cold calling, which is the least effective marketing tool there is.
So am I saying that networking is a waste of time? Absolutely not, what I'm saying is you need to start networking smarter:
* Network by having coffee or lunch with people one on one. Get to know them and their business. But aim first and foremost to make them a friend. The rest will follow naturally.
* If you're going to network with strangers, go with the goal of making 2-3 lunch or coffee dates with people you find interesting.
* Ask every happy customer you have, for just one referral of someone who would be interested in your type of goods or services, then call and use their name.
* Create a network "hit list" of the exact kind of businesses you want to network with. Make the list and put it in your little black book or on you computer contact list. Focus your networking on only those people - or others who can refer you to those people.
* Join non-business groups and spend time doing non-business activities: Civic, social, religious, recreational, musical, athletic... the list is endless. Establish relationships with people in your group.
* If you do go to a "mixer" event go with a targeted goal in mind. For example, your goal might be "to meet three people on my target list"
Next time, I'll show you what to do and not do!
There are lots of myths about networking, so let's debunk a few:
Myth 1: The more you network, the more effective your networking activities become
Truth 1: It's much more important to become well-known in 1-2 circles than to spread your networking activities over many different groups.
Myth 2: The cocktails and drinks circuit is the way to network to success
Truth 2: Networking with strangers to build business is about as effective as going to a bar to get married!
Myth 3: Networking is all about getting more people to know what you do.
Truth 3: Networking is all about getting people that already know you to share opportunities where you can be helpful to each other.
* Make 2-3 phone calls a day to connect with people from past jobs, former clients, or influential people who have expressed interest in you in the past.
Here's why you're not going to meet your business soul mate at a networking event:
• You aren't going to do business with someone after meeting them for a few minutes.
• Businesses are built on relationships
• Most of us have major trouble in explaining what we do
• Networking with strangers is not targeted or specific and is completely random.
• This type of networking is exactly as effective as cold calling, which is the least effective marketing tool there is.
So am I saying that networking is a waste of time? Absolutely not, what I'm saying is you need to start networking smarter:
* Network by having coffee or lunch with people one on one. Get to know them and their business. But aim first and foremost to make them a friend. The rest will follow naturally.
* If you're going to network with strangers, go with the goal of making 2-3 lunch or coffee dates with people you find interesting.
* Ask every happy customer you have, for just one referral of someone who would be interested in your type of goods or services, then call and use their name.
* Create a network "hit list" of the exact kind of businesses you want to network with. Make the list and put it in your little black book or on you computer contact list. Focus your networking on only those people - or others who can refer you to those people.
* Join non-business groups and spend time doing non-business activities: Civic, social, religious, recreational, musical, athletic... the list is endless. Establish relationships with people in your group.
* If you do go to a "mixer" event go with a targeted goal in mind. For example, your goal might be "to meet three people on my target list"
Next time, I'll show you what to do and not do!
Malcolm
