How do you make your business grow? Experts tackle two tough questions.
Creating a Network
Question: I'm interested in build a network and gathering referrals. How is this done?
Answer:
Effective networking is more than just showing up at business mixers. Business owners who are outstanding networkers are systematic about the process. They create databases of people they know and their contact information, areas of interest and expertise and more. Then they establish ways to keep in touch.
Usually, they don't try to make immediate sales but seek to provide help. Many top networkers say they listen for problems their networking partners are experiencing. That's when people are ready to pat for help that they might not seek when things are going well.
Networks aren't built in a day
Building relationships takes time. You're not going to become a trusted friend, adviser and go-to buy overnight. So commit to the long haul.
Actually write time into your schedule to make calls to people in your network. Personal calls and e-mails are better for building relationships than bulk e-mails and newsletters.
Of course, the best way to maintain relationships is to do quality work and sell quality products. Few people will do business with nice people who are slipshod.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
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