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Lovin’ That Rubber Chicken!

June 2007

 

6 Steps to Successful Networking

Any entrepreneur knows that being a business owner is more about sales than anything else, whether it is hot tar roofing, algae scraping or pooper scooping. It doesn’t matter what you do, you must be a sales person to make a business work.  One method that has continually proven successful for many businesses, including mine, is regular networking.

 Now I know what you all are thinking, “if I have to eat one more rubber chicken dinner with a bunch of people that I will never hear from again, I am going to poke my eyes out with a spoon”. Fear not, I have the magic steps to make networking one of your most successful investments.

Do I have to eat the food??? 

Ok, so the rubber chicken isn’t the best bang for your $50, but it isn’t the grub we are after is it? We want to see that cash in our pockets at the end of the month. We want to build our current client relationships and make new ones while they are all in one room, not by making 50 different cold calls to 50 different offices. So get your Imodium and your business cards ready!

Here are 7 steps to make networking work for you! 

1. Sign up for at least 2 different networking groups and go consistently, says Jo-ann Vacing, Director of the Calgary Chapter of E-Women Networking Group, it will expand your contact base tremendously.
2. Go with a goal of making contacts, not sales! Sales will not happen in your first visit and maybe not your second, you need to slowly build relationships on trust and a foundation of consistent appearances. People want to know they are not dealing with a fly by night business.
3. Hone your message and make it sexy and SHORT! If I have to hear one more message that uses “cutting edge”, one of a kind, ground breaking, blah, blah, blah.  Kim Duke, Sales Diva, calls this “info dumping” and don’t worry, we all catch ourselves doing it. Jut learn to recognize that glazed over, “rather have a colonoscopy than talk to you” look and cut it off!
4. Go with your gear! There is nothing worse that meeting a contact you would like to follow up with and they don’t have a business card or they ask to write on the back of yours! How Tacky!
5. Learn how to listen.  People want to be asked about themselves, make listening and asking questions your priority in these meetings. Make them enjoy their time with you rather than making them desperate for an escape route.
6. Stand OUT! This is the time to pull out your best red shoes, your most fabulous peacock blue shirt, the purple streak in your hair – I don’t care, just stand out but keep it classy!
7. Follow Up! If you are not going to take the time to follow up with the connections you have made, then you might as well not even go. This is the most crucial step in making this marketing component work. Even if a sale never comes from that person, you never know who they might connect you with in the future.

So the next time you are thinking that you need to pump up your bottom line, think about investing some time and money into the right networking group for you. It may take some time to find the right one but it will definitely be worth the wait, just don’t forget to take an antacid with you. You might just need it. 

 Author: Kathryn Bechthold, The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc.

 Kathryn Bechthold is the creator of The Mompreneur Networking Group Inc and The Mompreneur Magazine.  She provides information, inspiration and education to Mompreneurs looking for success with running their own businesses and balancing their family lives. She has been nominated for a Bennett Jones Emerging Enterprise of the Year Award, has begun to franchise her magazine and started a  Mompreneur Networking group  all while raising her 15 month old daughter. She’s a champion skinned knee kisser and an award winning boogeyman chaser! For a free online subscription to The Mompreneur Magazine,go to www.themompreneur.com.

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