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If you’ve spent the winter months taking care of the details of your business, spring is a good time to get out of the office and build your network.
Business Networking That Works
By Linda HamptonNo matter what your business is you will greatly benefit from improving your networking skills. Networking is not collecting business cards. Networking is creating a group of people from which you draw clients, resources, referrals, business opportunities and immediate answers to questions you have. Your own network, your group of people is also called your “sphere of influence.”
Networking is all about building relationships. Begin to treat everyone like a VIP client. It will benefit you to develop your networking skills. Get to know people, your vendors, your clients, your potential clients. Find out who they are, what they do, what they value and what they worry about. Your success is not based solely on the good job your service or products provide. Your success depends on the depth of your sphere of influence and your ability to use your network to help yourself and others.
Having a strong vital network is not much different than having strong vital children. Neither will spring up overnight. You can’t just put the baby in the crib and walk away. You’ve got to tend to that network just as you would to the baby.
The primarily tool of a savvy networking is recognizing the importance of relationship building. Focus on creating valuable, authentic relationships and the results will follow. Before you go to networking events, join a professional organization or attend a workshop give some thought to what you’re looking to accomplish. Then create a plan of action. Start by asking yourself these questions:
- How many hours a week or month can you spend networking?
- What is your networking budget?
Now get clear on who you want and need to meet by focusing on your ideal client:
- Those you enjoy working with
- Those that need your help
- Those who will happily pay you what you’re worth
- Those who will tell others about you and refer other clients
As a client attraction business coach, I work with my clients to find solutions to overcome challenges they encounter in their businesses. One of the most common is “I don’t have time.” Well here is my answer. Make time! People do business with people they know, like and trust. Have you ever sought out someone to pay money to that you either didn’t like or trust and felt it you would be more comfortable if you got to know the person’s character a bit first. The KLT factor is extremely important to building a business and building a relationship.
Here are a few things you can do to build the KLT when networking:
- Change your thinking from “What’s in it for me?” to “How can I help them?”
- Introduce people in your network to one another.
- Share valuable information and resources.
- Finds ways to make yourself indispensable.
