Do What Others Don't 01/22/09
To some businessspeople, networking is something to try when they’re hurting for business. However, networking is actually a primary strategy for generating business relationships that lead to more referrals. When done correctly, networking is a proactive strategy for business growth, not a reaction to slow business.
I think the most important single idea in networking is to do what others don’t. Doing what others don’t gives you an edge. It can position you head and shoulders above your competition. It helps you stand out in a positive way and, when you do, people are attracted to you and your business, and your success grows stronger, deeper and more durable.
So go beyond the norm. Take the time to gather information for improving your business by getting straightforward feedback from people. This will help you identify your business’s strengths and weaknesses so you can take corrective action. Some more ideas that most people don’t take the time or effort to implement are:
- Adopt the attitude of a host at networking mixers.
- Use your influence and professional status to help members of your network solve problems.
- Learn to specifically ask for referrals.
- Take every opportunity to educate yourself on how to better your business and your networking efforts.
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8 Responses to this article
This is a great tip Ivan.
Michel Richer
I totally agree with you Ivan. I am proud to say that I follow at least three of your tips, however, need to remember the fourth on all ocassions – specifically ask for referrals. It’s not the ‘English’ thing to do, however, I am prepared to ask and will ask from now on as of yesterday.
I love this input as well.
One of the things I have found to be very helpful is to actually go to a Meeting or an Event with the Attitude of “I am going to help someone get what they are looking for.”
In doing so as I am asking people what they are looking for, very often I have discovered two or more people that “Need To Meet Each Other” that are here at the very same meeting…. and I find a lot of joy in connecting them immediately. Very often what happens is that they will immediately see the favor I am doing them and they often try very hard to do the same back….but in either case, it gives me a lot of joy to see that they get something out of it.
When it comes to point number three (- “Learn to specifically ask for referrals”), I believe I have come up with a fantastic way, in a clever business card tool (RipCard.com) that enables me to directly “Solicit a referral”, and one in which I am able to exactly Track Back whom referred me the new client.
The cool part about this is that the person I have in front of me right there at the meeting, will see that I am prepared to, as well as serious about ENSURING that they will get a “finders fee / benefit” from sending me a referral.
I have found this to be extremely effective.
Alf@RipCard.com
Founder and inventor
http://www.RipCard.com
DO WHAT OTHERS LOVE
GOD BLESS YOU ALL…..
MAY YOU HAVE
THE DOOR IS VERY NARROW.I STAND AT YOUR DOOR AND KNOCK.
VERY FEW WILL PASS.
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE THERE ARE MANY ROOMS.
I can identify with Ivan on this. Networking face to face is an important step people can take to enhance their businesses.
I absolutely identify with Ivan in that I believe that networking is a positive strategy for the growth of your business. Networking has to be approached in the most relaxed and natural way possible. In this way, people will come to you and the conversation will grow from there.
I am an example of this. Recently, I was at my son’s hockey game and a lady who I have not seen in a long time, walked up to me and asked me what am I doing to look so good. I thanked her and started to talk to her about my wonderful vitamin mineral and mangosteen liquid supplement that I started to take only a few months ago. She had many questions for me which I gladly answered, and she is now