The Power of Networking
There are plenty of things to choose from that you can do to promote and build your business. You can show up on social media, focus on email marketing, offer free webinars and workshops. But my go-to is definitely networking.
I know some people don’t like networking. They feel it’s too formal, or like they’re being put on the spot. If you’re an introvert you may find it draining.
How will potential clients find me?
But when I launched Kathleen Lawson Consulting so that I could help entrepreneurs with planning, systems, and processes, I didn’t really know how to get the word out there. How would potential clients find me? And when they did, how would I prove that I was capable of doing what I said I could?
So I started networking. I introduced myself to lots of different business owners, many who were in desperate need of my services. Or even better, they knew someone else who needed me. I found that almost every time I connected with new people, I landed a new client.
I still wasn’t 100% sure I was doing the right thing, until I heard someone say it out loud in a sales program. That person validated that I had been doing the best thing I could to grow my business. I was networking.
We can all appreciate that victorious feeling of doing something right in our business. I was investing time in building relationships, following up, and making offers when the opportunity presented itself.
Although things started slowly, the more people I met, the more people they introduced me to, and the more referrals I got. I realized the power of having referral partners, those other business owners that you can easily recommend clients back and forth to each other.
As I continued to network, I had the chance to collaborate with other business owners on programs and workshops. I had speaking opportunities in groups where I met more amazing business owners.
All of my contacts, clients and referral partners came and continue to come from networking
All of my contacts, clients and referral partners came and continue to come from networking. Everything that happens in my business is a direct result of meeting people and building relationships. The more people you know, the more your business can grow.
What a powerful tool. But like many tools, if you don’t utilize it correctly, you won’t utilize it to its potential. So it’s crucial to have a system for how you follow up with all the people you meet when you’re networking.
I’m sure we have all had a pile of notes somewhere with people’s names and email addresses. Next to it is a pile of business cards. Maybe you have an endless collection of email addresses from people you met but haven’t had the chance to reach out to yet.
So if you want to take advantage of all of this networking power, you need to have a strategy that will be easy to use, and consistent. First, you need to dedicate time to building your follow up plan and put it in to action. You have to decide:
• When you will follow up
• Where you will keep all of your notes about who you’ve met
• How you will organize all this information
• What specific information you want to have about each contact
I’m not going to tell you this is effortless, but I am going to assure you there’s a way to get it done so that you benefit from all that networking! Schedule a call with me today to find out more.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today