Here’s the next in our series on good Business Networking Tips.
Another simple tip to understand how to get more value from the time you invest in your marketing and networking activities . . . .
And that is . . .
It’s Not A Race
Some people approach networking like it’s a race or a competition.
Their goal being to hand out as many of their own cards as possible.
The “more advanced” people focus on collecting the most business cards from other people, (that they can try to sell to later).
Fortunately, these old school ways of thinking are fading out.
But it is still worth mentioning in these Business Networking Tips that networking is about Building your Network.
Funny that !
And the Quality of your Network is determined by the Quality of the Relationships that make up that network.
If you barely know the people in your network and they barely know you, then you most likely will barely do any business with them, and barely get any referrals from them.
You will get most business and referrals from those people that know you well and trust you.
“It’s just logical.”
That’s where formal, structured network meeting like BNI and the Key Business Network can be helpful.
There are many other groups that you can participate in, and the success of websites like Meetup attest to the popularity of this form of marketing.
e.g. http://www.meetup.com/Redcliffe-Business-Networking-Group/
You can use Meetup to find events in your geographical area, or by and subject of interest to you.
And when you get there, take the time to get to know people, rather than just handing out dozens of business cards or flyers.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that . . .
. . . it is much better to make just ONE good connection at a networking event, than to hand out or collect 50 business cards !
A sweeping statement, but just think of how much business that you could do with just one solid business connection, as opposed to having 50 business cards.
A business card is just information – it is not a relationship!
Well, that really is quite simple!
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What should you do now?
- Set an intention to make one good connection at each event.
- Work on building that relationship.
- Want some help or ideas? Just contact us at Hotpink Websites now.
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Quote
In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you’ve got a good team, you can’t do much with the other two.
~ Lee Iacocca
Remember – Business Networking Tips 03
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