Small Biz Special: Networking & Lead Generating Tips
Filed under: Business Marketing, Business Networking
Jim Malski on TheStreet.com
Jim Malski, business coach with Westport CT.-based ActionCoach, offers small business owners tips on networking in order to generate leads, just click on the play button to watch the video:
If you are looking for business advisors in CT, why not give your business a Business Growth Analysis and gain invaluable insights into four major areas of your business?
Your answers will be used to qualify you for a FREE Business Diagnostic Meeting.
Business Advice Tip #4 – Business netWORKING
How many business owners really view networking as netWORKING?
You work all day in your business, you bust your butt to get warm leads, you worry all the time about getting new clients, so if you are going to attend networking events, shouldn’t you have a plan BEFORE you get there? Why waste the money, if you could actually take some time to relax, spend time with your family, or plan your next vacation. Because any of these would be more productive than to meander around a room full of people without a goal in mind.
Networking is Not An Afterthought (and bad networking is the easiest way to turn off a prospect)
As with all business endeavors – and especially marketing and personal branding – you get out what you put in. So if you are going to get the most out of business networking you need to have a plan before you walk through the door. Here are some great tips from top notch networkers.
- Never go to a business networking event unless you know there will be prospects there that can potentially get you business. Your time is money.
- For every networking event you attend, identify five people you must meet, plus another five backups. Not everyone that you are targeting as prospects will show up at your event so you have to have a backup plan. Ideally, you want to keep the number small so you can ensure you really focus on the people that are absolutely your target prospects.
- Before you go to the event, rehearse what you are going to say to the people you want to meet. Practice in front of the mirror, or with a spouse, friend or colleague. Business NetWORKING is a business art that needs to be practiced over and over again. No matter how long you’ve done it, you still want to keep yourself at the top of your game.
- Read from the experts: If you’ve never read Zig Ziggler or any of the other true experts on sales, then you owe it to yourself to buy a couple of books and really study the science of salesmanship. The statistics say that less than 1% of the population are born as salespeople. The other 99% have to work at it. If you’re one of the 1%, then you’ve got it made. If you’re not, practice, practice and keep practicing.
- When you do get to meet your prospect and after you’ve introduced yourself, don’t start selling. There’s no greater turnoff than the bore that immediately starts pitching you for business – you’ve experienced this yourself. Instead, start asking questions. Ask them everything you can about them and their business.
- Once you’ve hit all five of your key targets, you can choose to focus on your backups, you can go home, or look for the random opportunity. The key thing is that you’ve accomplished your mission for the event. Mission accomplished, so go home because you’ve earned it.
Following these simple steps will make netWORKING more efficient and rewarding for you.
Written by Coach Josh Slavitt, pictured here with his son
Are you interested in increasing the leads in your business?
1.) Contact ActionCOACH NOW at 203 210 7003
2.) Attend one of our upcoming seminars
If you are looking for business advisors in CT, why not give your business a Business Growth Analysis and gain invaluable insights into four major areas of your business?
Your answers will be used to qualify you for a FREE Business Diagnostic Meeting.
Business Seminars
Sign Up for our one of our FREE Business Seminars.
Simply click the link below to get started.
Use Promotional Code "ActionBlog" for FREE registration.
