Sandy McAlpine - Lake Norman Blog: How To Increase Your Business Through Networking

One of the things that I really enjoy doing is networking, and I would like to think that through the years I have learned how to be more effective it.  There are a few things that I learn on how to be more effective at networking, and will try to share them in this blog on “How To Increase Your Business Through Networking.”

I have six very basic and simple tips, but I believe they are very effective ways on “How To Increase Your Business Through Networking.”

• Develop Several Groups, Organizations, And Ways To Network -  You not only need to be out in the community you need to be in contact with various segments of the community.  The best way that I have found to do this is to join and associate with different groups and organization within the community.   In other words don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  Some groups that I feel are very effective are:
• The Chambers of Commerce
• Service Clubs like - The Rotary, Exchange, Kiwanis, Lions, and Elks
• Country Clubs
• A Church or Temple, etc.
• PTO, PTA, or other School Organizations

These are just a few of the many Groups and Organization in most communities.  Most people that I know that are good at networking, are also people that want to and enjoy helping others.  The more you do that, the more of a connection  you will have with the community.

• Develop Good Sources Of Contacts That You Can Refer -  These are other professionals or businesses, who are in other professions who you can refer to others to, and who will in turn refer others to you.  For example for me that would be:
• Realtors
• Attorneys
• Insurance Agent
• Handyman
• Home Inspector
• CPAFinancial Advisor.

You also need to be ready at all times to refer these referral sources, by making sure that you have their contact information handy.  Carry some of their business cards with you, or have some of your business cards with these referral sources listed on the back.  Ask your referral sources to do the same for you, after all if you refer clients to them, they should refer clients to you.

• Acknowledge You Referral Sources Or Past Customers When They Refer One Of Their Clients To You – Pick up the phone and say thank you, or send them a hand written note.  Neither of these things cost must, or take much time, but their effectiveness is priceless.
• Learn What Is Appropriate And What Is Not For Each Group – A proper way to network within one group may not be appropriate for another.  Handing out business cards maybe appropriate at a Chamber event, or at service groups like the Rotary, Exchange, and Kiwanis clubs, but not appropriate at a Church.
• Networking Is Not About Being Pushy -  It is about developing relationships, and constantly working on improving them. It is not about seeing how many business cards you can pass out at each event.  Yes we need to be prepared to give our business to those we meet, but it needs to be done in the process of developing a relationship with them.  This brings me to my last point.
• Develop Quality Relationships -  Quality Relationships are developed through bring value to those that you are networking with.  This will not only result in repeated referrals and business, it will also result in those that you were referred them to, to also  share their positive experience with you to others.

There you have it all that I know about  “How To Increase Your Business Through Networking.”   Hope you have found these simple suggestions useful, and are able to put them to use.

 

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