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Are you searching for new ways to boost your sales and increase your business? Wouldn’t you like to make warm calls instead of cold calls? Wouldn’t it be great to get more quality referrals? Whether you are new in your field or a veteran, networking could be the answer that you’re looking for. It can give you a lot of satisfaction and increase your revenue. Years ago, I was new to San Diego and needed to earn extra money (I already Had a full-time job). I somehow landed on selling costume jewelry part-time. Networking was a whole new experience for me and so was having my own business and selling jewelry. I looked in the paper to find out when networking groups got together and made a list and just took a deep breathe and started attending. Within two years, I was making the same amount of money selling jewelry that I made in my full-time job (which I had been doing for 10 years). Networking worked for me, and it can work for you, too. It’s your turn to take the plunge. Choose a couple of groups that are Specific to your industry, what you sell or you have an interest in. Find out when they meet and put it on your calendar to attend. Set an initial goal of attending two networking meetings per week and increase the number from that point as time goes on. The more meetings you attend, the more opportunities you will have. You will find networking groups that meet for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even on weekends. You may or may not be comfortable right away. As an introvert, I was not comfortable right away. Keep in mind, other people attending meetings may also be nervous (it is not just you). Once you are at the meeting, take a deep breath, put a smile on and go for it. Walk up to anybody, put your hand out and say Hi, my name is _____, I do ______. What do you do? Hand them a business card with your left hand and shake with the right. Put your business cards in one pocket and others you collect in the other pocket. This keeps you organized. Keep a pen in your pocket also so you can write notes on the person's business card after you walk away. This will help jog your memory for future conversations. If you are sincere in learning about someone that will show through and they will have a positive impression of you. If you act as though you just want to ‘sell’ and have no desire in building relationships, people will sense that and may not be as open to you. Arrange you business cards. You will have tons of cards after attending many networking meetings and you will want to refer back from time to time. Write where and when you met the person on the card. Look at different ways to categorize cards (industry, where met, etc.) I have chosen to arrange my cards by profession (ex. real estate, salon, mortgage, insurance, attorney, massage, etc.). You want to talk to a person for _____ amount of time and move on to someone else. Have a goal to acquire X amount of busin ess cards each time you attend a meeting. Don't expect someone to do business with you right away. When people feel all you want is $ from them they will not trust you and chose not to ever do business with you. Don't go with the idea of selling your product/service. Go to learn about other people and have them know you. Ask about other organizations/groups’ meetings you might attend based on the person's experiences. Send a note to people you met. It can be about anything. For example, send one that says it was nice to meet you and if I can ever help you, please let me know. Send an article that you saw that reminded you of something they said to you and attach a note that simply says, thought you might be interested in this article. Doing these things help build relationships and will assist you no matter what you do. As your list grows, you can start referring people to one another. When you meet people and they tell you they are looking for X, you can go to your cards and send them the person's name and they both might be able to do business together. If you say you might have a name, information on something, send it to that person. They will appreciate it and appreciate you. So go out and get busy networking. Just thinking about it doesn’t get you your desired results. Doing it does. Have fun! |
