There are many keys to success. This year make networking one of your most important keys. We have a fresh calendar in front of us. Now is the time to make plans for your business this year. In addition to marketing efforts or hiring quality staff, having a strong network is important to the success of your business. here is some of my advice for networking this year:
Set Goals
Setting goals is incredibly important for any aspect of your life that you want to be successful in. Networking is no exception. What are your networking goals? Join a professional network or trade group? Build a social networking presence online? Add 10 key players to your inner circle? Great! Write down the goals and the steps you will have to complete to get you there. If you do not belong to any professional networking groups, your first step will be to brainstorm what kind of groups you want to belong to and which groups are available in your area.
Choose the right networks for you
There’s nothing wrong with being on different websites or attending meetings across several groups. But if half the things you are doing aren’t either a) bringing you clients b) bringing you strategic partners, joint venture opportunities, etc or c) bring educational value that will help you as a professional, you might need to cut the fat. Your time is precious. With so many options available, it is imperative that you choose wisely. Stick to the networks that give you a positive return - and determine what a positive return is to you. If you are just starting to join networks, choose the ones that you believe will bring you the best connections, the most education, and quality referrals. One solid client that is a pleasure to work with is better than 5 difficult clients who just flat out aren’t worth the trouble.
Follow through
If you RSVP for an event, inform the host if you can no longer make it. If you show up at an event and meet people, do not promise to call them Tuesday if it is not a promise you can not keep. It it perfectly appropriate to say “I have a packed week ahead, but let’s talk the week of the 15th and schedule a time to get together for lunch.” If you mention that you have a great contact for them, absolutely follow through with that information. You would want them to come through for you, wouldn’t you?
Sticking to these three points will be incredibly important as you continue on your networking journey. What other advice have you heard that has helped you gain networking success?
I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Alaia Williams and I am your new Networking Maven here at Everyday Networker. I am a Professional Organizer based in Los Angeles, CA (though I work with clients nationwide) and I am the Founder and Organizer of the Los Angeles Small Business Owners Group. I’m excited to be here and can’t wait to share everything I can about networking with you.
I believe that networking is essential to growing your business. Whether you are a manager, business owner, or freelancer, having solid business connections can really be the thing that keeps you afloat in a sink or swim situation. Networking opportunities are all over the place. The options are seemingly endless when you think about all the offline AND online networks out there. A person could easily spend all day networking. But for most of us, the purpose of networking is to grow our business - and we have to do more than just network (even though networking is HUGE). Time is a precious commodity. How do you choose the right networking opportunities? Great question! My hope is that through this blog, I can not only help you improve your networking skills, but I can also help you determine where your time is best spent.
If you have any questions about networking that you’d like to see me answer in the blog, feel free to contact me any time.
We’ve all heard the phrase before. Good fences make good neighbors. Boundaries are important to keeping good friendships and other relationships.
This is even more important when you have friends that own businesses. If you are always out there as a potential client or customer for someone, you have to be able to clearly state if you are interested or not interested in that business at this time. If you may be interested in the future, tell them. Be honest - because you don’t want that person to follow up with you and not know what to do.
If you are going to be interested next year, or when your business is doing better, or never - tell them. If you say you aren’t going to become a customer and they never talk to you again…they weren’t really a friend in the first place, were they?
You don’t want people being nice to you because you might give them money. Friendships are real, and they are different from business acquaintances, and you have to keep them apart in your mind. For your own well being.
If you celebrate Halloween, you’re going to be wandering the town with your kids letting them run to doors and get some candy. Or you might be taking your kids to a town party where they have a safe, indoor Halloween environment for the kids to enjoy candy and games and music.
Either way, if you’re around other kids…you’re around other parents. That means you can network. The best part is on Halloween you don’t have to worry about small talk. Halloween costumes make for phenominal small talk. You can start by complimenting their kids’ costumes. Compliments go a long way to break the ice and this is an easy time to make that happen.
Take your kids, take a pillowcase for collected candy, but don’t forget to put business cards on your Halloween list of things to take out of the house!
We talked about how to network in summertime, when less people are networking. Now we’re into the Fall season and by golly, people are ready to drop kids off at school and get down to business.
How can you benefit?
Make a new plan for networking. Write down all the events that are going on during the month (start with your local Chamber of Commerce website) and then pick at least one event a week to attend.
If you’re looking to meet friends of your networking friends or expand your network, host a party!
It could be a simple BBQ in the backyard or you could ask one (or a few) of your networking buddies that do direct sales (like Partylite, etc.) to come by and you could have “Networking by Candlelight” - supporting a local business while having great ambience for a party.
People love customized t-shirts. They love wearing them and love reading them on others.
But is a t-shirt a good way to help your networking efforts?
It depends.
If you have a fun t-shirt that says something fun and interesting, yes. If you just have a t-shirt with a business name and list of services…not so much.
Testimonials could be fun, but anything beyond your logo and company name will not be as professional, so make sure it’s worth the trade off.
In case you missed it, that key piece of advice was to call speakers in advance and schedule a lunch. It’s a bold move but not a bad one. If you are remotely comfortable with the phone, pick it up and get to know someone.
On the other hand, she says to bring only five business cards. Uh…yeah…don’t do that.
When you’re networking in-person, follow ups need to be gentile and varied to make sure you aren’t seen as a stalker or the “creepy person that won’t stop calling.”
If you’ve tried calling someone a few times and aren’t getting a response, wait a week and follow up via e-mail or a short, personalized note or postcard.
Don’t keep trying the same thing when it isn’t working.
Friends tend to think that they can ask for all the free advice in the world because, you know, you’re friends.
Unfortunately there are limits to any relationship and you don’t want to be in a position where you are testing the limits of your friendship with someone else.
Keep the lines of communication open and ask your friend how they feel about what you are asking. Even by asking you are reducing the risk for misunderstanding, because it shows you care.
We’ve all heard the phrase before. Good fences make good neighbors. Boundaries are important to keeping good friendships and other relationships.
If you celebrate Halloween, you’re going to be wandering the town with your kids letting them run to doors and get some candy. Or you might be taking your kids to a town party where they have a safe, indoor Halloween environment for the kids to enjoy candy and games and music.
We talked about how to network in summertime, when less people are networking. Now we’re into the Fall season and by golly, people are ready to drop kids off at school and get down to business.
If you’re looking to meet friends of your networking friends or expand your network, host a party!
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