Three Ways to Connect With Your Network

Three Ways to Connect with Your Network

Successful networkers know that networking is a really great marketing strategy for their business. Networking offers plenty of opportunities to meet people who fit your ideal client avatar and other people who know and are willing to introduce you to your ideal clients. But how do you get them to do that without being “salesy”?

Relationships.

Most people show up at networking events to gather business cards, tell anyone who will listen all about what they do, schedule appointments to tell them more, go in for the hard sell, and most times come away disappointed. (I bet you know a few people that fit this description, I bet you also steer clear of THOSE people.) Those are people that give others the wrong impression about networking. But, in all fairness…they don’t know any better. That’s how they’ve always thought it was done.

“Networking is not about selling, it’s about RELATIONSHIPS.”

People who truly understand the power of networking and serving others benefit both personally and professionally when they focus on building lasting relationships with the people in their network. There are three ways you can begin to create connection with the people in your network.

1. Make it all about them. Stop thinking about what you’ll get out of the meeting and start thinking about what you can do to help the people in your network.
2. Coffee and conversations. The best way to get to know someone is to spend time together. Ask questions about them and their business to get a better understanding of who they are and how they help their clients.
3. Make introductions. It’s easy to refer people once you know who they are and what they do. Asking them who they would like to meet goes a long way in helping to understand how to introduce them to your network.

When we network with a focus on creating relationships and the understanding that we are there to help others succeed, that’s when networking truly starts to work. It’s when the people in the room feel connected to you and therefore they begin to understand how to help you grow your business.

Learn more about relationship focused networking and making a great first impression with your thirty-second message at https://30secondsuccess.com and get your copy of Laura’s new book “30 Second Success: Ditch the Pitch & Start Connecting!” Available now at https://30secondsuccess.com/book/

Guest blog written by Laura Templeton
Author, Speaker, Connector, Coach, and CEO at 30SecondSuccess.com

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Kim Marie Branch-PettidKim Marie is one of the leading women business owners in charge of an organization which includes more than 5200 members worldwide, now entering their 40th Anniversary Celebration. Her motivational speeches have been heard all across North America. With 28 years in the banking industry in all forms, including mergers and acquisitions, she has been and continues to be involved in fund raising for non-profit organizations, as well as a member of California Women for Agriculture, Sequoia Guild, member of Vistage Trusted Advisor Group and WPO-Women Presidents Organization, Phoenix, AZ. Also, she is a past board member of ASBA (Arizona Small Business Association). Her specialties include trainer, motivator, connector with years of experience in bringing businesses together for a ‘great fit’.