Online Business And Networking Your Way To Recognition
It doesn't matter what personality trait we are
. Introvert or extrovert, talk the back leg off a cow or struggle to make a noise in the crowd, we need to learn about networking. Luckily there is a format for just about everyone.
The online business world is not unlike the rest of the world. People do business with people that they get to know. People do online business with people that they get to trust. People who have a successful online business venture will refer to people that they like.
So the key for all of us regardless of personality traits is that we have to develop relationships.
Networking then can be seen as the development of relationships and as we learn more about our niche we network with those who are closest to us and support our efforts. People that we leartn to trust such as our mentors and those that have reached out to us.
Networking is more than a single event. Meeting people at a conference and taking their business card. Networking is follow through and it is based on give and take.
When used wisely networking will generate leads for your business but of course networking is not something that we all do naturally. Follow these tips to improve your networking outcomes.
Find some groups on facebook and follow the group members. Learn what they are doing and participate in any webinars or phone hook ups that they may be offering.
If you find some information that you think may be of interest to group participants then forward it onto them. Make sure that you add comment to these group members at least once a week.
If your business is of interest to local business people in your town then you should investigate groups that meet face to face and see if you can be of value in these groups too.
List your skills and make sure that people in these groups know what you are good at and what you can offer them. make sure that you take your business cards with you and leave them with people.
Look for places in your local community where you can volunteer your services. Many small country towns have theatres that struggle to get people to work them. Ask yourself where could you skills be used to the best effect.
The tourist bureau is another place where you could meet interesting people and get your business cards or post cards out there in the community.
Join some local community committees and learn about what they are trying to achieve. Is there anyway that you or your business venture could help them reach their outcomes.
Don't just do these things once or twice make it a regular habit and make sure that you talk to people who you are working with. You have to rememeber that you are doing this networking so that people will get to know you, trust you and want to do business with you. They are not going to do this if you remain a casual acquaintance.
You need to involve people in what you are doing. Involve the people that you meet either face to face or through cyber space in the happenings of your business. Share your success with them. Share your plans and your goals.
Keep an eye out for opportunities to sell yourself as an honest citizen who is working on the development of a legal and real business opportunity.
Doing these things will get you known in the community and that is what you are trying to achieve.
Probably the most important lesson to learn when networking is to offer to help other people that you meet. This is not to build a kudos bank but to generate the impression that you are a decent human being.
Give referrals wherever you can. If prospects are going cold on you offer to introduce them to one of the groups that you have met on a social media site.
Giving and sharing information and helping others is the main thrust of a good networking plan. You won't know what other people know until you start talking to them.
Even the experts don't know everything and if you are keeping current with information in your niche you may suprise some of the experts with the depth of your knowledge.
Whether working with social media sites or face to face you will need to find out from people how you will recognise a good prospect that you can refer to them.
Ask them straight out; "How will I recognise a good prospect that I can refer to you?" They will appreciate this and will probably ask you the same question back. Make sure that you have a quick and correct answer for them.
Try not to worry about the number of connection you make in the early stages but work on the quality of the relationship. This may take time to develop but you never know where a good relationship will take you. Your name may get dropped in the best places and before you know it people are phoning you or emailing you for advice or help.
Networking is an essential componant of any business venture. The online business owners should not approach networking as though it was a scary prospect or a necessary evil. Focus on how you can help other people. Use all the tools available to you to build your networks and remember to spend this time focused on others and not yourself.
by: Stephen Farrington
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