Is Your Business Networking Producing Results or Are You Just Socializing?
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I am the first to say that I’ve been guilty of networking to socialize, and, as a result, was not always producing sales. Let’s face it, to some of us, networking is fun. But, networking in the wrong market is a waste of time, if you are spending more than you are making.
It’s important to laser target your market. How do you know who your target market is? You can tell when you make the most money with the least amount of effort..
Face to face networking is important to develop lasting and strong relationships. Even though much business has gone online, there is still plenty of value to sitting down and seriously getting to know someone. However, you can go on coffee dates until you get the jitters, but if you are just shooting the breeze, and not seeing green, you may as well have made your own cup of joe at home.
At a networking event, be very clear on what it is you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to get right to the point. Avoid boring the person with all the features and details. Not everyone will be your customer, but if you ask for what you want, with intention, that person will probably be more apt to give you a qualified referral.
Never tell a potential client you are looking for anyone who would be willing to be your customer. Instead, specify the exact type of client, partnership or service you are looking for.
Don’t expect to get results the first time you insert your foot in the door. Relationships take time. However, you can tell fairly quickly if the group will eventually yield results. If it is not an appropriate fit, move on.
I recently attended a monthly networking meeting, whose title was all about business owners who succeed. Sounded promising, right? After getting together for coffee with a couple of the members, I learned a group of them had been discussing why I had chosen to attend. They made the assumption that what I was offering was too expensive for most of the members. I guess they really wanted to succeed. LOL Needless to say, I haven’t been back.
You get what you pay for.
Would you like to learn how to network with results by laser focusing on your target market? Give me a call and let’s discuss your business needs. Call Rebecca Olkowski Business Connections Expert i at 818-515-7880.
Rebecca Olkowski is a Club President for CEO Space, a private entrepreneurial organization. For more information about CEO Space, please visit http://ceospacelavalley.com
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