Blog post by Maria Medina, Business Coach at The Coaching Network
I often get asked how I grew my business through networking, so I’d like to share some quick tips.
Networking can be broken down into 5 parts:
- Attending
- Participating
- Connecting
- Following Up
- Delivering
“80% of success is showing up” – Woody Allen
In order to benefit from networking you have to show up. You can’t expect to join an organization and then have your phone ring, or email ding, just by having your name listed on the directory. In order to make the most out of your networking memberships you need to ensure you show up frequently.
“People do business with people they know, like, trust, and value” – Ty Bennett
When you show up to an event, I encourage you to get to know people. Let them get to know you and begin to build that trust and value, before trying to “sell them”.
Ask them about themselves. There’s nothing people love talking about more than themselves. Ask about their business, their day, and their personal lives (if appropriate). Then, as you learn about them, share relevant details about yourself that allow them to get to know you.
Once you build rapport with people, you can start connecting with them. Again, not by trying to sell them your products or services, but by seeing how you can mutually help each other. Invite them to other events and make additional introductions.
Did you know that 48% of salespeople never follow up with a prospect/contact? And that only 10% of them make three attempts?
80% of sales are made between the fifth and twelfth contact – National Sales Executive Association.
Don’t be discouraged if after two or three attempts at reaching out to a person you’re not getting a response. You may have to keep going to that fifth or even twelfth contact in order to catch them at the right time.
As you schedule your follow-ups and start to build your value within your community, make sure you deliver. Did you say you’d make an introduction? Remember to make it. Did you say you’d send them a link to an event? Make sure you send it.
And remember:
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou
For more tips on networking, business growth, and professional development, please make sure to follow The Coaching Network on social media and visit our website thecoachingnetwork.com
Feel free to reach out to Maria Medina, Business Coach, The Coaching Network with any questions or comments you may have about this post. She would love to hear your feedback to improve her recommendations and answer any questions you may have.
