Today we met as the Osceola Chamber Small Business Council for our annual retreat and planning session for the upcoming year. (I serve as the Communications Chair this year). It was interesting that in a discussion of how to help the Chamber keep members there was a lot of discussion about helping members learn how to network. The discussion ranged from a better orientation to a year long effort at handholding with a lot of discussion in the middle.
The bottom line is that if you are a business owner or salesperson trying to grow your business, you must become more comfortable with networking in order to be effective. One concern we discussed today was some business peoples unrealistic expectations to join the Chamber, attend and event for the first time and expect a truckload of business to fall in their lap. They get to a room full of people they don't know and realize it is hard to walk up to people you don't know and introduce yourself, or to stand by yourself and wait for people to walk up to you.
Networking CAN be a very valuable tool, but it is developed over time and is not an instant big win, but it is many small relationships that build to a large success over time. Some of the ways to make it effective are to join groups and participate in bigger ways than just attending an event. Serve on a committee, volunteer to help with an event, be an ambassador, go to a leads group. The more you go the more you will get to know the people in your business community.
Another important tip is to have a goal when you go to a meeting. It may be as simple as committing yourself to introduce yourself to 2 new people you haven't met before. The SECRET is that everyone else is there to meet people and they will appreciate your introduction! (We all deal with the same challenge of building up our courage sometimes). It is also important to look for ways to help other people be successful and they will return the favor! Look for ways to give other people business and send them referrals.
The real key is to get out there and do it consistently, one or two meetings or events will not make your networking and effective part of your plan.
http://www.pipmarketinggroup.com/
The bottom line is that if you are a business owner or salesperson trying to grow your business, you must become more comfortable with networking in order to be effective. One concern we discussed today was some business peoples unrealistic expectations to join the Chamber, attend and event for the first time and expect a truckload of business to fall in their lap. They get to a room full of people they don't know and realize it is hard to walk up to people you don't know and introduce yourself, or to stand by yourself and wait for people to walk up to you.
Networking CAN be a very valuable tool, but it is developed over time and is not an instant big win, but it is many small relationships that build to a large success over time. Some of the ways to make it effective are to join groups and participate in bigger ways than just attending an event. Serve on a committee, volunteer to help with an event, be an ambassador, go to a leads group. The more you go the more you will get to know the people in your business community.
Another important tip is to have a goal when you go to a meeting. It may be as simple as committing yourself to introduce yourself to 2 new people you haven't met before. The SECRET is that everyone else is there to meet people and they will appreciate your introduction! (We all deal with the same challenge of building up our courage sometimes). It is also important to look for ways to help other people be successful and they will return the favor! Look for ways to give other people business and send them referrals.
The real key is to get out there and do it consistently, one or two meetings or events will not make your networking and effective part of your plan.
http://www.pipmarketinggroup.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment