Business Networking remains an excellent way to increase contacts, sales prospects and your customer base. These five tips for successful business networking serve as a quick reinforcement or reminder for some, and a valuable guide for those business owners who are new to the realities and benefits of business networking. Business networking is all about developing links to individuals, building relationship that can be trusted and becoming an active promoter for those in your network. Full circle networking, i.e., success, occurs when your links become active promoters of you and your company. Can you say Reciprocation? Many elements of today's online social media and interactive websites involve part of what makes good business networking successful. Social media is a good thing and should be a part of your networking. The benefits of live networking mixed with proper use of social media are many.
Here are my five tips for successful business networking.
- Research, Focus and Target Research and visit several networking groups. Don't waste time with groups that will not provide the type of connections your business needs. Target the right groups and the correct people and opportunities within the groups. Targeting is important if you intend on getting what you need, reaching your contact goals. Find the right size group. Large groups require a lot of work, a lot of time to work properly. Do you have the energy and time?
- Be the Real Thing If you're not genuine when entering into new networking relationships and do not reciprocate and actively promote those in your network - the gigs up. Also, remember the Golden Rule, "Do unto others, as you'd have them do unto you." Be professional not a bothersome bore. Find groups and people you enjoy, people who are fun to be with. It makes being yourself more comfortable. Also sharing someone you really like with others (remember - you're their active promoter) so much easier.
- Ask Good Questions and Really Listen to the Answers Nothing separates the seed from the chaff quicker than than those who are listening impaired. I'm not talking about a hearing impairment. It's simple to remember why God gave us one mouth and two ears - good listening takes a minimum of twice the effort. Check it out: Ask those who are close to you if you're a good listener (kind of funny to think I'm asking a potentially listening impaired person to do this). If the answer is no, you've got work to do. Study and work on becoming better at the art of listening.;Then, when you ask good questions, you will gain insights into how you can become a valuable resource in solving the networking puzzle and becoming an active promoter for those in your network. Remember asking good questions is a great way to get to know people. Your most valuable networking links will know how to ask questions of you and importantly, how to listen.
- Be the Reliable Expert Here's where the rubber really meets the road for your company. To Be or Not To Be. Notice I didn't write become a reliable expert - of course you've got to start somewhere. Becoming an expert is an active decision requiring ongoing study and diligence. I'm guessing you may already be an expert in some ways or of some thing. What is your business truly 'the experts' of? What is your business known for. Let's assume (and hope) your business is know for many great things. Are you reliable, does your business have reliability at its core? If so, makes sure you have the concise and persuasive answers to the Who, What, How, Why and When questions your networking links should be asking and need to know.
- Set Goals This one is all about setting contact goals. For example: make four calls per day to people you have been interacting with in networking opportunities. Touch base - remember a quick call to reinforce new relationships, to provide genuine not superficial contact, goes a long way. Make calls to those who you can benefit and who can benefit you. Remember to contact a fixed number of existing customers too - every week. Set goals for attending networking events and using online social media. Is that one or two per events a week? Do I interact daily or several times per week online? What do you want to accomplish? Business networking has to be active to succeed.
Well there you have it. I've got a saying I've used for many years: Always be planting seeds - planting seeds by your deeds. It speaks to the need for a business to always be marketing and to be known and recognized for outstanding delivery - excellent throughput.
