Bill Stroud is an experienced small business consultant who is committed to helping entrepreneurs succeed. He is especially interested in empowering entrepreneurs to be able to work successfully and profitably from anywhere using the internet and technology tools. His website and Free-E-Course at SuccessOnTheBeach.net are devoted to this endeavor.
Networking meetings, why do we go to them? Why? Because someone told us when we started out in business to network, network, network. It seemed like a good idea. Hand out your business cards, get a bunch of other people’s business cards, follow up and referrals will come pouring in. Right? Wrong? All too often you end up never calling the people you met, maybe except for (single guys) that cute copy saleswoman who approached you by the cracker and cheese plate. And referrals, did you give any? No. Because other than some small talk about the weather and the “my name is.. I sell…"you really don’t know any of these people well enough to stake your hard-earned reputation on making a referral to them. Guess what? They feel the same way about you.
While I understand the benefit of this when you first start out since it is usually a low cost marketing option, gives you an opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs and hone your public speaking skills, in terms of getting actual business, I have found this process extremely disappointing. From talking to other entrepreneurs (admittedly many of whom I have met while networking) I find that very little business is actually a result of all these meetings. One of the main reasons for this is that the quality of contactss at these events is usually quite poor.
Why is the quality of contacts so poor--both literally and figuratively?
1.)Because everyone at these meetings is looking for the low hanging fruit.
2.)Everyone at these meetings thinks they are going to get a ton of referrals etc. from the people they met at these meetings.
3. Since everyone at these meetings is looking for the low cost marketing methods, the people at these meetings do not usually have money for marketing or other business services which cost money.
Therefore, if they do not have money they are not able to be, surprise, surprise, customers. Remember the whole point of your business, to make money. You can’t make money from people who don’t have any!
The one thing you quickly discover after being in business is that time is the ultimate commodity. You must spend it wisely or soon you will be broke! Finding efficient ways to market your products and services are a must. Finding profitable ways of marketing is even more of a must. To learn how to do both Sign Up for my Free E-Course
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