Recently while reading the 29% Solution by Dr Ivan Misner & Michelle Donovan two things jumped out at me. Glenn Kirkwood a BNI colleague said to me there are so many tips in this book, just really look. Here are a couple of tips he pointed out.
Block out time to Network
There are four steps to changing a behavior: want it, learnt it, try it, and live it. For most of us, advertising won't produce enough new business to keep us going indefinitely. Networking, if done strategically and exceptionally well, has the potential to generate all of your new business by word of mouth. It is ultimately about generating referrals over time for your company. The time & energy you spend on networking are part of your sales & marketing program. Set aside the time necessary to be successful.
Profile Your Preferred Client
This directs you towards the diverse people you need to meet and helps to mold & clarify your message - i.e. how you describe your business when introducing yourself to someone in a networking encounter. You can be more effective at networking your business when you're able to profile your preferred client to those listening to your message. When a listener identifies a match, there's a good chance you'll get a referral.
Happy Networking
Glenn
