| |
| |
|
Networking Information |
|
|
|
You MUST Be Visible
Have you ever noticed how visible large corporations are? Take Coca-Cola®, Nike® and McDonalds®. They are everywhere. Just ask anyone what comes to mind when he/she hears the words soft drink, running shoes or quick burgers. More often than not, you'll hear these brand names immediately. We've been exposed to these companies so much that it's natural to think of them immediately. We recognize them as experts in their specific industries. What's the lesson here? Visibility. As a small business owner, you MUST be visible. If your business isn't visible to potential clients and customers, then you might as well close the doors. Visibility is proactively marketing your business in order to effectively attract new customers. Sure, you may have a somewhat consistent client base, but resting on your laurels or just relying on your current client base as your only source of revenue carries an incredibly high risk, one that has been the detriment to countless small businesses. Visibility is one of the MOST crucial determining factors in the success of your small business. People can't do business with you if they don't know you exist. How can you proactively be visible? First, remember you are the number one asset of your small business. More than just getting your name out there, you have to get your face out there in the marketplace. Prospects can turn up in some of the unlikeliest places and when they do, it's your face they need to see in order to consider doing business with you. For example, take Donald Trump. Whether you admire him or despise him, he's everywhere. A few years ago, who would have thought that he would be hosting one of the most acclaimed network series on television? Who would have thought that he would have a brand new bestselling book? Even while experiencing financial uncertainty in his primary business enterprise, Trump is still going strong. Why? Visibility? I hear you say, "But, I'm just a small business...I don't have the same endless budgets to be as visible as all those corporate types." As a small business owner, you don't have to have a big budget to be visible. The secret to small business visibility lies in tapping into the solid gold value of networking. Networking is the high performance vehicle by which small business owners can drive their exposure towards a successful finish. But the caveat is...it's up to you to take advantage of the opportunities that you do have for networking and to also create your own new opportunities. Networking is all about people. It gives you the chance to meet new people, make new contacts, exchange ideas and interact with others. This can seem particularly challenging for small business owners who run their businesses from home. It can also seem challenging for those who don't live in larger cities, but rather in smaller towns. But, there are several ways of navigating these challenges. Consider the valuable networking opportunities with each of these ideas. One last thing about networking...its not net-sit, net-eat, net-drink or net-hide-in-the-corner-and-don't-talk-to-anyone. It is netWORK. Chambers of Commerce: Even the smallest of towns has a local chamber group. Membership fees are typically based upon the annual revenue or number of employees of a business. If you are a brand new business with limited funds, consider opting for an individual membership at a minimal fee. This will still give you the opportunity to participate in chamber events and meet other people in the business community. It will also give you the opportunity to determine whether your area chamber offers the networking opportunities for which you are looking. Professional/Industry-Related Associations: Do you belong to a group or organization relevant to your area of expertise? If so, when was the last time you attended one of its meetings or functions? Do you even know what it's doing these days? Sure, you may be a member of such a group, but are you an active member? Simply paying your annual dues and not participating is not only a waste of money, but also a waste of a valuable networking and visibility opportunity. I hear you say, "I don't have time. That's like consorting with the enemy. They're my competition." Rest assured that the time you don't take to make the most of this opportunity to network is time that your competition is taking to maximize its networking opportunities. Look at it this way. What potential value can you offer one of your competitors that might result in a mutually beneficial situation? How can you benefit from working together? One of your competitors may be able to provide you with a solution to a problem while you can offer a solution to one of his/her problems. Unless you network, you'll never know. It would be a shame to miss such a valuable opportunity simply because you decide that you don't have time or don't want to face the competition. The Internet: Whether you run your business from a small town or even from home in an isolated rural area, the Internet has made networking a worldwide possibility. If you don't have a business web site, then you are missing your absolute best potential for visibility. Maximize your marketing potential by investing in a business web site. The exposure it generates for you will produce a valuable return of your investment. However, it is vital that your web site presents your business in a professional light. If you design your web site yourself, but are not a professional designer...if you scrimp and try to develop a site on the cheap...and if your expertise is not in knowing what content to include in a web site to attract clients...you are presenting yourself to potential clients and customers as an amateur or fly-by-night operation. This is the LAST thing that you want. Sure, you'd be visible-in a VERY bad way. In addition to having your own web site, the Internet offers other opportunities for increasing your visibility through networking. Search for professional and/or industry-related web sites in your area of expertise. Post comments or suggestions on industry-related discussion groups or blogs. Dig a little and you will find valuable resources such as industry-specific forums that offer countless networking opportunities. Remember, if people don't know you exist, they can't consider doing business with you. Although this sounds like simple common sense, I regularly see small business owners who have no concept of the visibility factor. You MUST be visible. When it comes to being visible, they mistakenly think that they "don't have time", "can't make time", "can't afford the investment", "can just hide in their offices and expect the phone to ring" or any other flimsy excuses that gets them nowhere. The time to drop that rock is now and increase your visibility. Jeanna Pool is President of CATALYST creative, inc., an award-winning graphic design, web design and marketing firm located in Denver, Colorado. She helps small business owners who are really good at what they do, but struggle to market their services effectively to attract more clients on a consistent basis. She can be contacted at http://www.catalystcreativeinc.com, info@catalystcreativeinc.com or call 303.380.9100.
MORE RESOURCES:
LinkedIn delivers 4th-quarter performance that tops Street as networking sites ... - Washington Post
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Practice Makes Pefect What is the problem when people try to describe what they do and they stumble over their words and never consistently repeat the same message?Have you ever gone to a networking event and the person next to you is trying to describe what they do and they keep miscuing the words? This happens so often at these events. The major problem, besides focus, is the fact that they have not practiced their spiel. Unforgettable First Impressions Part 1: Discover the CPI People like others whom they are like. So if you want to make a flawless first impression, it is your duty to discover what you have in common with every person you talk to. Social Network Software My neighbor - a lovely man I've known, and have had social contact with for years - is the COO of one of the world's largest companies. He's read my books, is familiar with my concepts, and is a fan. Unforgettable First Impressions Part 2: Its All About Them! Jean de la Bruyere said, "The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you. Building Great Business Relationships If you're in a business relationship with anyone - a client, vendor, or customer - how important is that relationship to you? Do you value the relationship? Do you want to nurture it?A business relationship, like any relationship, is a two-way street. The expectations of both parties needs be clear and easily understandable. Networking - Facts to Ponder Right here in Europe, the very last continent to enter into its growth cycle, there is only around 0.5% involved and we are right at the very beginning of our growth cycle in network marketing. What I Do Is Not Who I Am... The Networking Factor Ah, the personal touch that continues to make a big difference for the better in our lives and the lives of those who have an opportunity to experience a personal touch from us.If networking and effective communication are centered on other people, can we effectively network or communicate without the help of other people?For the sake of argument, let us define networking as: finding out what another individual wants or needs and then fulfilling the want or need of that other person. Networking Skills: Arguing in Context If you're fond of a good debate, you know how to annihilate someone else's position in an argument while still somehow managing to keep a friendly rapport with that person. This tactic is frequently used by politicians and lawyers, and one that will no doubt come in handy in online networking. Write It Down! Why would you want to write information on paper when you have a business card in hand?Putting it on paper can mean a number of things. It can simply mean putting notes on the back of someone's business card, or it can mean to take extensive notes in a notebook. Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business. Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships. Are You Really Listening: The Importance of Strong Communication Skills Let's face it, when most people think of IT professionals, the image that comes to mind is the guy or girl with the glasses huddled behind a myriad of computer monitors, incapable of communicating with anyone other than their keyboardIn today's competitive IT marketplace, this person also is exactly the type that no employer wants to bring on board and will, in fact, avoid at all costs. Strong communication skills are one of the most important traits employers are looking for either within the corporate environment or in consulting projects. A Vital Habit For Selling Big Ticket Items I hope the title of this article aroused your curiosity! What could this habit be that will help you sell Big Ticket Items?It has nothing to do with copywriting or creating beautiful web pages. But it does have to do with something even more important - building relationships!What is this habit? Well it has many names but the most familiar one is probably is "networking". The Anatomy of a Brain Cramp; The Retainer and the Lavalava - Communication In life, you have to successfully work with people to get anywhere. You can't avoid it. Getting Leads How many leads do you pass on?As a reminder, you must give a lot before you can expect any leads from the group. You must be able to define your best customer, give your pitch and describe what you do best. The Foundation of Networking: Its Not Rocket Science Commandment 1LoveWhen we choose to simply love, our giving and receiving becomes unconditional. We can listen and not be caught up in the vicious cycle of judgment. Growing Your Network of People Can be Easy and Fun! A few years back when I moved to Charlotte, NC for the first time, I came with high hopes of starting my business for the first time. We picked Charlotte because it was a growing city with a lot of potential. Networking Networking: Is it who you know or what you know that counts?Who you know gets you into the door, what you know keeps you there! Majority of the people who are in the work force today have got their opportunities through people that they knew or know. Networking in my opinion is the key to starting a successful career. Talk Isnt Cheap The most successful organizations have good communication skills. Survey after survey bears this out. Your Front End While surfing for traffic or browsing your safelist emails, you are sure to have noticed the very large number of networkers promoting similar, if not identical, programs. Empowerism and Profit Rally are everywhere, as are health related and telecom based MLM opportunities. Sticky Situations: Nametag Best Practices Because a person's name is the single context of human memory most apt to be forgotten; because self-disclosure is the single most effective way to build rapport and connect with people you just met; and because initiating the conversation is half the battle - your nametag is your best friend.However, improper creation and wearing of nametags can work against you (and your business) if you're not careful.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
