You’ve made your choice. You’ve decided to use business networking as a way of “getting” more clients, more referrals and more sales.
What are you “getting” yourself into?
You’re getting yourself into a process where relationship building comes first and business building follows.
Networking is the most effective face-to-face business building tool in existence.
Business networking is all about establishing and maintaining relationships that foster trust, friendship and referrals.
A referral is the act of introducing someone you trust to someone you care about.
People buy from people that they like and trust. People give referrals to people they like and they trust.
Those who are ready, willing, and able to give referral leads want to know that you can be counted upon, and that you can be trusted to “deliver as promised.”
Now you know everything about networking there is to know.
You’re ready to jump in. You’re ready to make the most of every business and social networking opportunity.
You load yourself up with your business cards. You create flyers and brochures to serve as handouts. You practice your introductory “elevator” speech.
You get in your car. You drive to the meeting location. You enter the gathering. You begin to follow your predetermined networking plan.
What is your business networking plan? What goals are included in your plan?
Whether you network to promote your business, get referrals or build a database, you must have goals. You must have a plan.
What is your networking plan? Is it written out?
You may ask, “Why do I need a written plan?”
After all—you may want to go to the event and just “schmooze.” (Schmooze is a technical term for friendly communication in a group setting).
The “all I want to do is schmooze a little” mindset is the companion piece to the selling strategy entitled, “I’ll just go into the appointment and see what happens.”
Effective business networking, and effective selling, can certainly include some “schmoozing.” However, any expectation of consistent networking or sales results without a well-defined strategy falls into the category of wishful thinking.
Your networking goals should be clearly defined within your overall marketing strategy.
If you’re like most business people, you don’t have a marketing strategy. Most business people “wing it.”
Your networking strategy is clarified in your marketing plan. A written business plan includes a marketing plan component.
A well written business plan contains the goals and fully researched projections for your business. It is against these goals and projections that you measure your business successes and shortcomings.
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
I believe that every business should have a written business plan. If you’ve not yet gotten around to the task of developing a full business plan, you can still develop a simple, stand-alone marketing plan, one that places the spotlight on business networking, on a single sheet of paper in an hour or less.
Decide on your networking strategy. Make the strategy simple, e.g. collecting names for your newsletter database.
Decide on your networking goals. An example of a networking goal might be, “Out of the people I talk to at the networking event, I will find three who have an interest in receiving my newsletter.”
Please keep in mind that a well conceived marketing strategy does not equate to a business “quick fix.” As with any marketing or advertising plan you must have patience. Effective marketing is a process, not an outcome.
If you don’t have a networking plan, you’re not alone. 9 out of 10 of my clients ask for some assistance in formulating both a “do-able” networking strategy and an effective introductory “elevator” speech.
If you are interested in receiving a set of questions that will make it easier to complete your simple marketing plan project, please go to the resources section of the BusinessSuccessBuilder.com website and download your complimentary copy of “A Simple Plan.”
Networking Success Tip from Ike – Write out your networking plan. Make your goals accomplishable. Commit to your plan and follow it.
By: Ike Krieger
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Tags: Brochures, Business Building, Business Cards, Business Networking, Business Referrals, Companion Piece, Effective Selling, Elevator Speech, Existence, Flyers, Introducing Someone, Maintaining Relationships, Mindset, Networking Opportunity, Networking Plan, Networking Success, Referral, Schmooze, Social Networking, Success Tip
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For new grads, or for people who haven’t had to network yet in their careers, networking can be intimidating. But, even though it isn’t easy, you can make it easier by following the advice detailed here:
Get into the right mindset.
Your attitude about networking will affect your networking experience like nothing else. You have the power to network effectively or poorly. If you think negative thoughts like “I shouldn’t bother that person. There are so many other people here with better qualities than me.” or “I’m just too shy; I can’t do it,” these thoughts are yours only. No one else knows what your qualities are or that you are shy, until you stand in the corner and not talk to anyone.
Think of your good qualities that any employer or coworker would love to have on their staff – make a list and carry it with you to networking events if you want. This will give you the confidence to approach people. And, also remember that people like to talk about themselves, so an easy conversation starter is to ask where a person is from or what they do for a living.
Pick out what you have in common with people.
This isn’t as hard as it sounds. If you are in book publishing and you are at a book expo, chances are most people there either love books or work in book publishing. Right there is your connection – the reason why you attended the event. Commonalities garner relationships and you don’t have to talk forever about your common interests with one person. It’s perfectly acceptable to move on to talk with someone else after conversing with one person for a few minutes.
Always have an ample stash of business cards with you.
You never know when the situation could come up where you need a business card – at a restaurant, in the supermarket, or at networking or industry events. Be sure to have business cards with you that aren’t old, dingy, dirty, torn, etc. Make sure you dedicate enough money in your business card printing budget so that you can print nice business cards. They are how people will remember you at networking events and elsewhere.
Practice introducing yourself.
Prepare an 8- to 10-second introduction that tells people who you are and what you do. Tailor an introduction to each event you go to, if possible. It’s a good idea to have a general introduction for everyday chance meetings.
You may feel silly at first, but when you first meet someone and are at a loss for words, those practiced words will automatically come out of your mouth and you’ll be seen as a confident and professional business person.
Ask open-ended questions.
Open-ended questions can’t be answered with “yes” or “no.” They invite conversation. Again, ask someone about themselves with an open-ended question and you’ll be conversing and getting to know that person in no time. Be sure to listen and use cues like nodding and say “uh-huh” from time to time to let the other person know you are genuinely interested.
Follow through on any leads.
Be sure to call or email the person you met just to establish some kind of long-term communication. You can just say “I enjoyed meeting you the other night at XX event. Let’s talk again soon!” You should also mention anything that is appropriate from your conversation to remind the person of who you are and the connection you share.
By: Janice JenkinsTags: Attitude, Book Expo, Book Publishing, Business Card Printing, Business Cards, Common Interests, Confidence, Conversation Starter, Easy Conversation, Enough Money, Few Minutes, Good Qualities, Grads, Mindset, Negative Thoughts, Networking Events, Networking Experience, Networking Tips, Printing Budget, Supermarket
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With the economy slowly riding into a recession, we all want extra money. Ever thought about a home network business? Every ten seconds someone is starting to build their business. How do you know what questions you should be asking?
The most critical factor is how your thinking. What you think about, you bring about. How real (in your mind) will you create your success? Before success the mindset is crucial . Are you thinking how much this will cost me? Or, how much you will make this year? The first mindset is for an employee, the latter is the business owner.
Is there a proven system? Has the company gone through the 5 year benchmark that most don’t live past? Is there a track record of years of success?
Are the people teaching leadership, making the money, and been there for a while? Or are the people, who teach the system, been there for 6 months and starting their business? Will the leadership, be the people who mentor me? Can someone else train my people? Also train me?
Is the income opportunity real with proven results? Successful businesses talk with real people. The human factor.
From other peoples experiences you can benefit from: money, time and effort? What would you do with the freed time? Would you spend that time on yourself or your family?
Is the product line unique? Is there much competition?
Do you have to keep a paper trail? Do you have to ship the product? What other expenses then do you have to factor in?
How much money, after expenses, will you have after each sale? If the profit is low, you will have to sell a large amount.
Is it Mlm? Mlm is illegal. It is a poor model for the home network business. Everyone in a money making position gets a small portion of the pie? You want the majority of the pie!
The 21st century is changing the business model. Being present with one self is more prevalent. We are moving away from the industrial age. Opening new frontiers in the information age where people desire leadership and more personal freedom.
People are requesting to spend more quality time with their family. Having a say or a choice in everyday life, including their career choices. Being present and aware of whatever that thought becomes. Daily travel is different then being in rush hour traffic. Watching your child daily is different then going to daycare, to work and back. There are other alternatives and freedom if its sought.
By: Michael E. ZacherTags: 21st Century, Benchmark, Business Model, Business Owner, Critical Factor, Extra Money, How Much Money, Income Opportunity, Information Age, Mentor, Mindset, Money Time, Network Business, New Frontiers, Poor Model, Proven System, Real People, Recession, Small Portion, Ten Seconds
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I don’t know about you but I am sick and tired of being sick and tired…You see I work from Home and have tried everything to get my MLM business off the ground. But I have found out that my upline is dead wrong…I HATE old-school MLM business building tactics.
You see, over the past year I found out that most MLMers and network marketers should just take their stupid flair and fliers they want you to put up in the neighborhood, along with the door-hangers, and hotel room pitches, and put them where the sun doesn’t shine…See what I am getting at?
I am a child of the Facebook age. When I signed up I didn’t know I would have to hunt down strangers at a mall, or spend my day on the phone chatting with broke people. I expected to wake up in the morning and find my email inbox filled with new prospects, distributors, and YES…even cash. This is after all the Internet Age! So I told my Upline to Wake up! My research showed me that 99% of network marketers, don’t have any concept about how Web 2.0 works, Do You?
You need to be aware of how to generate online traffic and lead generation through capture pages. It is of value to have a formula so that you can do this again and again to allow you to build a time-less, work-at-home business that can help protect you against: Market changes, Downline attrition, and Competition
So in this new Internet era of Web 2.0, you will learn how to generate leads online and then figure out what to do with them. So put on your thinking cap cause this is what will ultimately determine if you’re successful or not.
First Step has you developing a blue print for your marketing program. It is vital that you have the mindset needed to work in this industry, inspire your prospects, and also know your current competition. Who knows, they may someday be a part of your downline..
Second Step in your process is to understand how to generate online Traffic using things like blogs, Google Adwords, search engines, articles, press-releases, and CPA networks. Once you know this then you will have to learn how to turn this traffic into live valuable leads for you and your business.
The third step is understand how to find the cash in your list of prospects. You will either promote products or services, such as using affiliate offers or making them customers of our products first, then sponsor them into your opportunity, or you can learn how to create and market your own information product to sell to them.
I have given you 3 steps that you can use right away to move your MLM out of the Mall and on to the Internet. If you found it helpful, I have more where they came from. This formula is helping me build my business bigger and bigger everyday…The world is now my oyster…it can be yours too.
By: Rebecca HolmanTags: Attrition, Business Building, Door Hangers, Flair, Fliers, Google, Google Adwords, Internet Age, Market Changes, Marketing Program, Marketing Web, Mindset, Mlm Business, Network Marketers, Network Marketing, Pitches, Search Engines, Thinking Cap, Upline, Work At Home Business
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You may be thinking about doing a work at home network marketing business because you want to be able to build a residual income to be able to get something that you want to acquire for yourself or for your family. Whatever the case may be you are making a very smart decision because network marketing has created more millionaires than any other in any industry. Here are some ways and tips to help you get going on the right track.
1. The first thing you have to do is have a strong mental vision. You have to know exactly what you want and be able to go past negativity. When you start a network marketing business not everyone will believe in you and for the most part no one will. That’s when you have to learn to believe in yourself. If you do not come a strong positive mindset you are doomed for failure. Read more…
Tags: Business Person, Business Success, Decisions, Failure, Family And Friends, Family Member, Last Time, Marketing Success, Mental Vision, Millionaires, Mindset, Negativity, Network Marketing Business, Network Marketing Companies, Residual Income, Smart Decision, Start Business, Time 3, Workout Partner, Workout Partners
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Network marketing is an awesome distribution system and a way to make massive amounts of money. Unfortunately like all things in life, not everyone is successful so there have been lots of bad things said about it. People say bad things about everything! You can’t escape complaints because there is always someone who has one. This is why network marketing is all about entrepreneurism.
Network marketing hangs itself on the entrepreneur’s heart. With the right training and mentoring you can successfully build a business out of nothing! Now, the cornerstone of any online business is leadership. Leadership is what is between you and your people. The dynamics, the communication, the group settings and the teamwork.
Anything is possible in network marketing if you have the right mindset. Do you think you could earn $2000 a month? What about $5000 a month? Well I know I can. No one is going to stop me from achieving it. It’s not going to happen overnight, but with the mentoring and the systems I use, I’m going to be in the 5% that succeed in this business. This is the attitude to have! If you are of the mindset that your going to try it and see what happens ill save you the hassle. Go put your money in the bank and don’t bother. You will end up broke. As harsh as that was it needs to be said. You will only succeed in internet marketing if you make it a priority and stick with it!
There are 2 types of people that come into this business. People that are looking for something to happen and people that are looking for nothing to happen. Who do you think is going to be in the 5% that make it? Well I’ll tell you now, you always find what your looking for!
Now, your progress. It must be a step by step process. Your recruiting, retailing, e-mailing, calling and talking to people. This is what you do when your working. This all fits into your process. Is your process plotted step by step? Is your leadership unbreakable and focused? It is your energy that is going to determine the success of these 2 things! Are you into personal development? Do you set aside time during the day to better yourself and learn how to help other people? Well if not, you should. Personal development is the gas in your tank. It’s what gets you where you want to go. Every single person on the face of this planet can improve themselves.
The energy you have in your personal development will travel and manifest itself on your decisions and actions. When you have energy to learn how to be a leader, you will see that success is a lot easier in this business than you thought. There are 2 things you must learn to be successful in internet marketing. How to work this business and how to work with people!
The prospecting, the inviting, the product, the following up and the closing. This is how to work internet marketing. There are just a few basics of how to run this business and how to work with people, once you learn these, you are set!
Network marketing is nothing more than franchising turned inside out. It has a franchise opportunity without the upfront cost, plus u can become the franchisor. You get to join the success of the people you help! This is awesome! Network marketing is personal development disguised as a business. Network marketing is the ultimate personal development program, not only do you move product, but you help people! You will help people to learn how to succeed in this business.
Here’s the bottom line: Your in the business of touching and changing people’s lives. You must understand that network marketing is not for everyone. Not everyone is cut out for entrepreneurism. Some people prefer the 9-5 and the minimum pay cheque. Some people like having a boss and being told what to do. You can’t force people to see the benefits like you do. As Morpheus from the matrix would say “I can only show you the door, you must walk through it”. From a completely unbelievably awesome movie, nothing is more true than this.
Network marketing is one of the greatest entrepreneurism’s there is and with the right mentor, training and focus, you WILL be successful!
By: Thomas WallaceTags: Attitude, Business Leadership, Cornerstone, Distribution System, Entrepreneur, Group Settings, Hassle, Heart, Internet Marketing, Marketing Distribution, Marketing Network, Massive Amounts, Mindset, Money In The Bank, Network Marketing, Online Business, People, Priority, Step By Step, Teamwork
