I have a new friend who has been in business for about a year and is already enjoying good success. She loves her work, but more importantly, she understands that it is a business and that she's doing it to make a good living.
This isn't an unusual story, most of us know many people like this who are doing well, even in this economy. But my friend is in an industry where the vast majority of the people in it simply have no clue that they need to be running their business .... like a business. They don't advertise, they don't market, and they sure as heck don't sell.
My friend is an independent contractor in a business with others like her. She says the other people actually make fun of her for putting out flyers, posting signs, and taking part in networking events.
One day, a man in a similar business from across the street came over to ask her how she stayed so busy. "What's your secret?" he asked. She started telling him how she reads business magazines and articles to learn more about marketing.
He immediately lost interest and walked away. Wonder what kind of secret formula he was expecting? One that didn't involve learning and hard work, I guess.
Networking tips and the best way to network ... by Networking on Purpose! Professional business networking strategies from Beth Bridges, speaker, and author.
Trade Shows: Are you just replenishing your pen supply?
In the last 3 weeks, I have staffed a Clovis Chamber booth at four trade shows. Were they worth it? Between the four events, we've signed up 19 new members. I also drummed up a great deal of interest for our Speed Networking event and distributed boxes of Clovis Chamber member directories. Definitely time well spent.
What about you? Do you go to trade shows for the door prizes, free food, and entertainment? Or do you have a clear purpose? If you don't know what to do at a trade show beyond pick up free pens, here are a few thoughts:
What about you? Do you go to trade shows for the door prizes, free food, and entertainment? Or do you have a clear purpose? If you don't know what to do at a trade show beyond pick up free pens, here are a few thoughts:
- Reconnect with some of your long lost contacts. Trade shows attract a lot of people - there's got to be someone among all those people whom you've lost track of.
- Pick up on business trends. Take out the program/directory and see which industries seem to be thriving ... and which aren't.
- If you're not buying, at least you're learning about products and services you might need in the future.
- Get your name out there. While it's cheesy to sell yourself to the vendors at a trade show, toss your business card in their bucket. They'll look through the cards and at least learn a little bit about your business.
- Find unexpected opportunities. I discovered that there is a new trade show coming to the area that needs speakers on a range of topics.
Everyone Wants to Network Now, Part 2
A couple days ago, I observed that it looks like the first week in January at the gym when you go to networking events. Attendance is up, probably because people are having to work harder to promote their businesses. Since they don't have money to advertise, they are returning to that reliable business tool called networking.
Jacob Jacobsohn of Networking Insight has also commented on this, noting that traffic on LinkedIn doubled in February this year over last. I wonder if this also have contributed in part to the tremendous growth of Twitter.
If you've started networking because you're in a job search or you're having to range further and work harder to promote your business, don't become a "New Year's drop out." Stick with the program long after everyone else has decided it's too hard or they'd rather watch more TV.
They may have experienced a short term benefit, but you'll be the grand winner in the long run.
Jacob Jacobsohn of Networking Insight has also commented on this, noting that traffic on LinkedIn doubled in February this year over last. I wonder if this also have contributed in part to the tremendous growth of Twitter.
If you've started networking because you're in a job search or you're having to range further and work harder to promote your business, don't become a "New Year's drop out." Stick with the program long after everyone else has decided it's too hard or they'd rather watch more TV.
They may have experienced a short term benefit, but you'll be the grand winner in the long run.
Get Bored Networking? Play This Game ...
If you think you are bored with networking, here's a game you can play at your next event.
Introduce yourself to someone you've never met before. Spend enough time talking to them so that you find out who you know in common or some other connection between you. It could mean that you both are fans of the same sports team, but if you're really bored, the rules of the game say that it has to be a personal connection.
Not that I'm bored with networking! But for example, tonight I went to a mixer. There were a lot of people there that I knew, but quite a few that I didn't know. I introduced myself to two women who seemed to be complete strangers. But after just a few minutes, it was revealed that the husband of one of them went to the same small high school that I graduated from.
Another person at the event started telling me how familiar my name was. I have no idea how she made this leap, but it turns out her grandmother and mine were very good friends for many years. I suspect her grandma talked about mine as much as mine did about hers, because I immediately recognized the name.
See? It's a very small world and I can't imagine that you could go to a decent-sized event and not find someone who knows someone you know.
Have you had many of these small world moments? Please share with us!
Introduce yourself to someone you've never met before. Spend enough time talking to them so that you find out who you know in common or some other connection between you. It could mean that you both are fans of the same sports team, but if you're really bored, the rules of the game say that it has to be a personal connection.
Not that I'm bored with networking! But for example, tonight I went to a mixer. There were a lot of people there that I knew, but quite a few that I didn't know. I introduced myself to two women who seemed to be complete strangers. But after just a few minutes, it was revealed that the husband of one of them went to the same small high school that I graduated from.
Another person at the event started telling me how familiar my name was. I have no idea how she made this leap, but it turns out her grandmother and mine were very good friends for many years. I suspect her grandma talked about mine as much as mine did about hers, because I immediately recognized the name.
See? It's a very small world and I can't imagine that you could go to a decent-sized event and not find someone who knows someone you know.
Have you had many of these small world moments? Please share with us!
Everyone Wants to Network Now
The Clovis Chamber has seen a dramatic increase in the attendance at mixers since the beginning of the year. In part because we've stepped up our promotion efforts. And we've worked hard to find venues and enhancements that are very tempting. I call this two-part strategy the "nagging plus bribery" plan.
The other reason that were seeing nearly 50 - 80% more people at our events is because of the economy. Everyone is having to work harder to maintain their same level of business. With sales going down, they don't have the means to increase their marketing & advertising budgets. So what do they do to keep their businesses going? Networking!
Funny how networking is being recognized as an amazing, low-cost way of promoting your business all of a sudden. People are busier than ever, yet somehow they are finding the time to network.
I hope that we don't see the "New Years/Gym" effect. You know, everyone is enthusiastic as the beginning, but as the year wears on (or the economy improves) they lost their momentum and their interest.
The other reason that were seeing nearly 50 - 80% more people at our events is because of the economy. Everyone is having to work harder to maintain their same level of business. With sales going down, they don't have the means to increase their marketing & advertising budgets. So what do they do to keep their businesses going? Networking!
Funny how networking is being recognized as an amazing, low-cost way of promoting your business all of a sudden. People are busier than ever, yet somehow they are finding the time to network.
I hope that we don't see the "New Years/Gym" effect. You know, everyone is enthusiastic as the beginning, but as the year wears on (or the economy improves) they lost their momentum and their interest.
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