Networking in Your Local Community

There is not much difference between networking online on community web sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn than networking in person. In fact, the principals are much the same.

Social media web sites are exploding and they are an excellent way to connect with people who are potentially your ideal customer. But, how do you get your message across and how do you establish trust? That is a whole lesson in itself, but look at the traditional model of networking and see if there are some parallels.

Traditional face to face networking accounts for 87% of Business development in the marketplace and yet many of us never learn how it is done and fail to see it as a business skill that we have to develop.

It is a competitive out there and it is critical that we understand one simple fact:

“People want to deal with people they know, like and trust”

What is networking?

Networking  is a life skill – not just something you do when you want something.

There are three universal laws that form the foundation of ethical networking:

l. Giving without expectation of receiving something in return.

2. Understand the “Law of Reciprocity”

3. Have an abundance mentality

There are two ways to grow a business:

1. Gain new customers.

2. Encourage current customers to buy more or more regularly.

Networking can open up another area of business development and that is creating an endless supply of referrals from your network.

Every best friend was once a perfect stranger.

Good networkers are great bridge builders.

The best networks are the best listeners .

Networking Process of Loyalty:

1. Strangers – are really friends in waiting.

2. Acquaintance – have established some communication

3. Friend – trust is being built

4. Customer – buys from you or trusts you enough to refer work to you.

5. Client – buys from you more than once, refers people to you more than once.

6. Advocate – is a loyal supporter. They believe that you really care about them.

This is what we strive for to make a stranger an advocate.

Examples of poor networking:

1. The person who networks solely to get business.

2. This person is not interested in building relationships they just want to get the order.

3. This person scans name tags and looks over your shoulder looking for someone better to talk with.

4. This person also never, ever follows up.

Master networkers , on the other hand, earn the right to be given referrals by building bridges of trust and friendship with their network.

Master networkers make networking their number one priority in growing their business.

Master networkers do not make the mistake of only networking when they have no orders. They know it is too late.

Master networkers are persistent and make connections no matter where they are.

Master networkers have replaced the need for cold calling.

Master networkers do not gossip – you never know who the person you are talking with is connected to.

Endless referrals :

1. Follow up when you say you will.

2. Refer business to others regularly

3. Promise good, deliver great, constantly excel people’s expectations.

4. Connect people you meet with people they can do business with.

5. Generously share information.

6. Believe in the networking concept of plenty:

. Plenty of businesses for everyone

. Plenty of opportunities.

. Plenty of ideas.

. Plenty of money.

Become a Sphere of Influence – Which Means:

You are respected by your peers.

You are trusted.

You are a person of integrity

You apply the 80/20 Rule – Promote others 80% of the time, Yourself 20% of the time.

I have a book that I have found invaluable as a “How To” in making connections. I recommend you check it out. It’d called the Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships by Jeffrey Gittomer.