Social Networking Skills

If you count up the number of people you meet every day, you will probably be astounded. Networking opportunities are abundant in our day to day activities.

Networking can be a critical success path to growing and establishing a business. When you expand your network, you create a sphere of influence which can help spread the word about your company and the services and/or products you sell. Building a network is not difficult but it does require hard work and a little creativity.

Many people can develop a solid contact list but fail to take the next step of cultivating the contacts. To gain the most value from your contact list, identify the people that that have the most potential for helping to build your sphere of influence. The goal is to select the people on your networking list that could be long-term connections. Think in terms of people that can be referral sources, not necessarily those who directly need your services.

You can expand your sphere of influence by actively pursuing opportunities to share your expertise with peers in and out of your industry. Contact an industry trade journal and volunteer to write an article or speak at a local seminar. Expand your network beyond industry insiders by attending local networking events. You can check your local business news journal to find these events where you live.

Maximize your personal network of friends and family members. Even if they are not in the same business, these people have connections, and someone within their networks likely has a problem or need that your business can solve.

Asking customers for referrals may be one of the most commonly known and accessible methods of building a network, but it is also one of the most underutilized. Your current customers are a guaranteed and cost efficient source to acquire new customers just like them And satisfied customers are usually happy to refer their network to you, but many business owners fail to ask. .

The key is becoming networking proficient in how you engage people and subsequently promote your business. A common mistake companies make when building a network is focusing strictly on self gain. They rush through the hand shaking, salutation, and business card trade, then immediately start pitching their product or service. Influence spheres are not built this way.

The goal of networking is to produce long term, mutually beneficial relationships. When you meet someone new, use the opportunity to learn something about them and always look for ways that you can help them. This may mean opening your network of contacts. When you seek opportunities to help others and be of value to them, your efforts will pay off in spades.
Listen to what others have to say and seek ways to be a problem solver, even if the problem is not directly related to your business. Be willing to make referrals and you too will be the recipient of generosity. When you are genuinely interested in others and approach networking with a “how can I help you” attitude you will find much greater success.

Rome was not built in a day and neither is a sphere of influence. Networking takes dedication, persistent effort, and time. It is not about just meeting people, but meeting people and leaving a lasting impression. Focus on the people you meet as you go about your daily business, engage with them, and leave that lasting impression. Over time, you will find that you have more connections that you ever thought possible, and that your business and bank account have reaped big benefits as a result.

Take advantage of networking opportunities in whatever form they take, and you will effortlessly expand your network by creating relationships that can benefit your business. Always have your business cards with you, even when running personal errands so that you can exchange information. All it takes is just one interested party to start the ball rolling with referrals.

Andrew Brown and Small Business Guru provide Coaching, Inspiration and Practical Advice for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. Subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter at http://www.small-business-guru.com

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