The Power of Networking

The Power of Networking

Have you noticed that your customer base hasn’t increased in the past few months, do you have a plan? We are prone to feel safe and comfortable in our network of people but to grow your business you have to continuously make new contacts.

There aren’t many businesses that can survive on a small customer base so it is in your best interest to get out of the office and attend social functions and meet new people. There are countless networking groups that gather weekly to meet new people and increase their business. I attend one of them and although it took about 5 meetings before I had earned the trust of other attendees it was worth the effort.

It is amazing what spending 30 minutes with another business person can do for your business. I had been trying to meet a certain manger for 3 months and during my one on one conversation with another business owner she told me that the manager was her neighbor and she could arrange a meeting for me.

Let’s say you meet 10 new business owners at one of these meetings or social functions, once the trust is earned you now have 10 more people advertising for you and it didn’t cost you anything but your personal time. This type of networking is a two way street as they also expect you to promote their business. Word of mouth advertising is the greatest tool available but you must provide a superior experience or it can become the worse form of advertising.

Leaders should make a weekly commitment to build a larger networking base by getting out of the office, how often have you had an opportunity just walk through your door? If you are setting there wondering why hasn’t my business grown then look at your daily schedule and see what actions you have taken to help it grow.

The power of networking is incredible but it requires the ability to speak freely and honestly with people. If you attend a function and stand in the corner or talk with your buddy then you are wasting your time. Mingle with the crowd, pass out business cards and request business cards from other business owners or representatives. The next day follow up with phone calls or e- mails; track your business growth for several months and I think you will see the positive results.

You don’t want to forget to thank the people that helped you promote your business and ensure you are promoting their business also. Networking is hard work but it’s great to meet new people everyday and help each other out, it’s a great feeling of teamwork and satisfaction.