Networking is Marketing

Today I heard marketing described as every impression you make on a customer or prospect by Robert Mano of Mano Y Mano Consulting at the Clovis Chamber Seminar Series.

If that's true, then networking is marketing. It's not selling. Doesn't that make you less conflicted about networking? Everyone likes marketing - it's sexy! it's glamorous! it's exciting! And no one confuses marketing with selling. It's just the process of getting into a position where you can sell.

• Networking is a process you go through so that you can be in a position to sell.

How long does this process take? Sometimes the person you just met is looking for your product and they're ready to buy. You can say this is just luck, but if you weren't networking right then, you might never have met that person. The right time is just as important as the right message.

• Luck is being in the right place at the right time. So how can you be lucky if you don't go any place at any time?