The keys to a successful network
Over the many years since I first became a business owner in 1990, I have noticed the incredible value of having strong relationships with contacts. Networking with these contacts, or reaching out to someone new for networking purposes, is an important aspect of any marketing plan.
Personally, I’ve run a home management services company, helped run a drum repair and teaching business, been a radio host, blogger, and writer in various fields (review, blogging, freelance, published author). Many of the strong relationships we built in each of these industries over these 30 years remain valuable contacts today.
Understanding what networking entails is vital, you need to be aware of and be prepared for the hidden behind the scenes activities that make it all happen. Before starting a campaign, think about how your communications should reflect your company’s image. This can include color scheme, design, logos, links, and other intricacies that reflect your brand. Also consider the visual effect of your communications: whether it appears clean, concise, attractive and uncluttered. Clean, crisp and simple is the best way to go.
Networking means you need to have something to offer. Will you include their name in your ad? Can you feature any aspect of your business, political, or community projects in your client’s email newsletter? Can you partner with them for a special sale or rally your staff for a volunteer activity? Can you offer them great resources, for no other reason than simply to help them? Will you refer clients to them? Maybe you can be a mentor, provide advice, offer services, discounts to your staff, coupon exchanges. Networking campaigns will vary over the years and you may need to find reasons to reach out and reconnect with those contacts (at least once a year).
It’s equally important to have a plan in place so that when someone reaches out and does something nice, you can quickly and efficiently express your gratitude.
Keep a brief record of the communications you have had with your networking group. It’s easy to use a simple program like Excel to create a short worksheet where you can enter names, contacts, and the latest campaign draft. Color code the worksheet so you can see at a glance who you need to follow up with. Every time they contact you, be sure to offer something: a helpful link, a contest they might be interested in, a discounted product, a giveaway of some sort, a networking idea they might want to join, or check if they need more. content for your blog.
Finding new networking contacts is rarely a problem. Start with your current stack of business cards, your vendor, employee, and customer lists. Don’t forget your personal phone book where you have a list of people you already know. Send each of them a quick note letting them know how much you appreciate them, what you appreciate about them, and how you hope to work together in some way, or maybe you’re reaching out just to let them know how you’re doing. doing and what you are doing.
Check out local job centers for information on businesses in the area that complement or compete with yours. Small business advisory groups, workshops, and events can be found through your local library and government offices. Don’t forget to contact the staff while you’re there; At least introduce yourself, invite them to communicate, and hand them your card. If you’re going to an event, have plenty of business cards handy. Write on the back of your card (or theirs) a note about the conversation and what you promised to do, i.e. you may have said “I will contact you tomorrow to let you know who my son’s baseball coach is.” and you have also written it down on the card he gave you. After the event, it’s easy to take a look at the collected cards remembering all the people you met and contacted, referring to the conversation, and keeping your promise.
Keep an eye out for articles and interviews with people who specialize in a field similar to yours — learn about the steps they’ve taken, the successes and mistakes they’ve experienced, the resources they can recommend. Visit their websites and try to find out why they chose that design, the layout, the images, etc. Reach out to them to let them know that they have influenced you, that you liked their article or interview, or that you would love to connect with them on social media. Search like-minded websites for resources, helpful links, and articles. Check their media pages to see where they’ve gotten exposure; maybe the media listed there would also be interested in you.