How to Grow Your Business Through Networking by Rhonda L. Sher

Be Consistent and Have a “30 second” commercial or elevator speech
When you can tell others what you do in 30-45 seconds in a way that captures their attention, lets them know whom you do business with and how it helps others and leaves them wanting to know more, you have made an impression. Be memorable in a way that is a genuine reflection of you. Practice your commercial until it is committed to memory.

Stay in front of your clients and customers.
Maintain a database of your customers and clients and keep in touch with them. Send emails, articles of interest, postcards, or a holiday greeting. As a rule of thumb, keep in touch with your past customers no less than three times a year. Use promotional products such as calendars, pens, or mugs to stay in front of your customers.

Ask for Referrals – If you don’t ask, you won’t receive
Be sure to let your clients and customers know that your really appreciate their business and are building your business by referral. If they are happy with your services or product, ask them if they of others who might be able to use you or your services. When they give you a referral (and you might leave a form with them self addressed), send them a hand written than you along with a small gift such as a gift certificate to Starbucks. Ask your customers if there is some way you can help them build their business as well.

Testimonials – A third party compliment is the best kind
These are a great way to promote yourself in your brochure, website or by having a third party who is working with your target market endorse you. All you need to do is ask for them. Most people are happy to give you a testimonial if they like your service or product.

Become a Volunteer
Join groups and get on committees. Volunteer your time and get to know people. Finding out about you and your business is a natural outcome to giving of yourself.

Join a Chamber of Commerce
Join a local Chamber of Commerce and attend mixers, networking events and volunteer on committees. Meet new members, be a resource for others and get known in your community. People will seek you out as you continue to welcome and seek them out.

Exhibit and Attend Trade Shows
Trade shows are a great way to meet a lot of potential new customers at once — and for them to meet you. Keep your name in front of customers and give away promotional items to keep your name in front of customers and clients. Develop strategic alliances with others who are vendors and share leads.

Under Commit and Over Perform
Do more than you promise. Deliver your product or service earlier than promised and do exceptional work. You will be rewarded in more ways than you ever imagined.

Let Others Help You
The truth is that most people don’t know what they need. A networking truth is If you don’t ask, the answer is always “no”. There was once a cartoon that said what we lack in know how we make up for in “know who” Networking is simply allowing ourselves to be a resource for others and allowing others to be a resource for us. It is really about relationships and connections with the people we meet.

A few final thoughts

Always thank others for helping you with a personal note and/or a small gift. A thank you goes a long way.
Be genuine. Pay others compliments and be present.
Keep in touch on a regular basis. Use the phone or snail mail more often than email. It is too easy to delete.
Share and be generous. Give of your time, support those who may need some help and be spontaneous in picking up a tab or giving a small gift.
Pay attention to how you make others feel. A wise person said, we don’t often remember what people do or say, but we remember how they made us feel.
Keep your presence in front. Show up at events often, smile and be friendly. Become known in your community.
Practice random acts of kindness. You never know where you will meet someone or when something nice might happen to you.
Praise others both in their presence and their absence. Good word spreads fast and bad words spread faster. Only say good things and be genuine.
Make sure you do what you say and say what you do. In other words, follow-up consistently.
Practice an attitude of gratitude and smile and be friendly.
Have fun!!!
Smile and smile and remember to smile.

© Copyright 2004 by Rhonda L. Sher. All Rights Reserved.