NETWORKING
There are many groups out there and locally that you could go to and join for meeting people and networking.You can find local groups on facebook, linkedin, and meetup just to name a few, are all business networks which are all online leads for meeting people. Here are some basics for people just starting out, or looking for a refresher.
BENEFITS:
So what are the benefits of networking and how is it done? Well networking allows you to meet others in business, ask questions about how you can assist them and how they can help you. It is a win win and give and take scenario.
It is important when going to a network meeting or event that you have an understanding of what your business is trying to portray, what’s called your “30 second” elevator speech. That is what you would say if you were in an elevator and had only 30 seconds to tell someone about your business and have them interested enough to want more information from you.
It is also good to have in your mind before you go into a room 2 or 3 goals that you would like to accomplish for that event. Whether it is to find the answer to a question, get a lead for your business or make a new customer. Of course remembering that you are having that intention however you are going in with an open mind and not the “pushy type.”
It enables us to have self mastery which is about making the most of the resources that are available to us. There are tons of ways you can get free advice and support on a variety of topics that will help you when you are starting out in business. For example local small business centres, offer a wide range of free services. You’re your local centre for more information. It is about taking action for yourself and being prepared for your new business or present business.
My father in law is a farmer so I think of it like a farmer’s field. If the first row of ploughing is off, then the rest of the field will be off. So we need to look at the starting point which is ourselves and what is happening with us first. Networking will help us get out there and show people what we all have to offer.
So what is the best way to network? Well having great eye contact when you meet the person, smiling, and having a firm handshake is extremely important because that first impression is important. There is nothing worse than shaking a limp hand! Or a wet one! So being aware of your presense, body language, voice inflection and how you say things are all important to making a great first impression.
Who you are, what you do and what problem you can solve will give the person a quick indication of what you do. Always ask the person what they do and how you can help them. It opens up a dialogue for conversation and good flow.
Here are some other questions as suggestions:
- What is your business and what do you do?
- What is your target market?
- How can I help you?
- What is the best marketing method that has worked for you?
- What kind of referrals are you looking for your business?
- What social media networking works best for your business?
- What problem in the market do you solve?
- Where is your business located and how long have you been in business?
All of these questions open a dialogue and will help you if you are not used to networking.
EXERCISE: As an exercise in a networking situation, pick a partner, someone you do not know. You are going to walk up to them and make eye contact, shake their hand and in 1 min. tell them who you are, what your business is or what business you want to explore, and what help you are looking for. Then switch- you are going to do it again for your partner. The goal here is to be aware of handshake, smile or not, approach and then you can talk about it generally afterwards and give the person feedback.
So example, I’m Darcelle and I help business owners and entrepreneurs create financial growth and sustainability for their business, and I offer strategic steps to help them ensure they are accessing their brilliance.
So build your business by finding great partnerships and not trying to do it all on your own. Building great relationships and having open communication with people and learning from them. Networking and getting out there and realizing that everyone is in the same boat when they enter the room and have to think about what small talk they are going to have so being prepared is important.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder. Darcelle mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners how to use systems and their brilliance to increase their profits and create mo*ney making businesses by showing you steps to take to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through tele-classes, through her online products, and her Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com and sign up for her Fr*ee audio on 12 -Tips to Profiting in Business, and her Fr*ee Ezine “Inspired Business”. Also check out www.strategicbizbuilder.com
