Networking

Let’s talk about meeting people. Often called different things like Marketing, Face-time, Networking, and Visibility, I hope to give you a unique spin on it.

A lot of people have various fears and assumptions about what networking is and is not.

A stuffy room full of old business weasels in suits, smoking cigars and talking about how they’ll get the last dollar from the dying hands of the sheeplike masses. – Actual quote from TM

Here’s the thing. (It’s a bit of a secret, but I’ll let You in on it.) The people at networking meetings are… people like you and me. They’re just folks that are hoping to bring their product or service out to as many people as possible. It’s my experience that they’re all pretty good people, too! Not money-grubbing bastards, corporate weasels, or slimy glad-handing sale jerks.

In fact, those people all have jobs in big corporations. Networking meetings are more usually filled with entrepreneurs and startup businessfolks that are really doing it for a good reason.

So, where do you network?

Find some groups in your town. I recommend Free Networking International. Just go and see what it’s like. The daytime events are usually more structured. You go, get an opportunity to say what you do and who you’re looking for, and you get to talk to a couple of people, and learn about a dozen or two more.

There are also mixers and socials that are more freeform meet and greets. You just go, and mingle, and talk with whomever you run into.

Which works best for you is based on your personality. Check out a couple!

So, how do you network?

This is the important part. Please read this part carefully.

Too many people go to networking events to try to sell their stuff and worse… to get people to become their salesmen and referral source!

Don’t do that! People that do that are doomed to fail at networking and get burned out quickly.

Want to be a success at networking? Go meet a lot of people, find out what sort of prospect is good for them, and learn about their business. Take notes, probably right on their business card, and then save it in a binder or whatever system you can use that you can rummage through quickly.

Just go and meet people. Get them into your physical network. Don’t just grab a card and throw yours. Get to know them! Every Real Estate agent is different. You can refer different ones to different people.

Offer value first. Get them a lead, a prospect, or a vendor that they can use. They will remember you! And, they will feel great about referring you to someone.

Don’t go to sell. Go to connect.

As a bonus tip: The above goes for Twitter , FaceBook, and everything else online, too! Meet people, make connections, introduce people, and offer value first!

People will get to know you as a giver and a useful person. Your name gets known by people that could use your products or services, by vendors that might be able help you, and by “big name” people in your industry that might be willing to do some sort of joint venture.

People buy from and refer people to those that they know and respect.

Go become the person that Everyone knows and respects (and grow your business)!!

I want to be your Get IT Started Coach!

Let’s get your website working for you. How about your blog?
Does it have your “voice” and does your social media plan work?
Do you Have a plan?

You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to Get IT Started!

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