… Your business’s survival and growth depend on it.
And there really is no excuse to not network, of course, with the goal of making new contacts and ultimately new business development. With today’s challenges, we must get creative in how we reach out to prospects – i.e. in-person networking may be limited.
- Get back to the basics. In basketball terms, it’s called playing “small ball.” Do not look at the big picture, divide the court in two – i.e. break your networking efforts into pieces. This will make it more manageable.
- You own the phone. Today’s 20-somethings cringe at making a phone call – “text me” is their usual response. Fair enough. This means you have that one advantage over these young “entrepreneurs,” so use it with gusto.
- Go back to your emails and mine for old clients and possibly new ones you missed contacting. Most business owners are not aware of the wealth of information stored on their phones and in their emails. If you have been in business as long as we have, you have amassed a wealth of contacts.
- Try new and different technologies, such as LinkedIn. We have made new contacts and referrals by consistently using LinkedIn as a business source. It is a great way to widen your influence and circle of business and industry contacts.
Of course, there are other ways of networking from home or the office, but this is a great start. Stay tuned on tips to navigate a sea of people without fear.
If you have other ideas or an opinion on this topic, let us know, we would love to hear from you.
