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Building a business through networks

by thomharvey87
2 replies
For those of you who have built a solid business through networks, I'm wondering what you've found is the best way to go about it.

Outside of attending, BNI, Chamber of Commerce meetings etc, how did you get around quality prospects and meet new people?

Right now I'm thinking of reaching out through LinkedIn, finding private networking groups (invite only types of situations), sending out letters and reaching out to the small network I have now.

If you have any other tips or advice I'd love to hear them, at the moment I'm kind of stuck as I've done the BNI/Small networking meetings and they were AWFUL.

Any help is much appreciated.
#building #business #networks
  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by thomharvey87 View Post

    For those of you who have built a solid business through networks, I'm wondering what you've found is the best way to go about it.

    Outside of attending, BNI, Chamber of Commerce meetings etc, how did you get around quality prospects and meet new people?

    Right now I'm thinking of reaching out through LinkedIn, finding private networking groups (invite only types of situations), sending out letters and reaching out to the small network I have now.

    If you have any other tips or advice I'd love to hear them, at the moment I'm kind of stuck as I've done the BNI/Small networking meetings and they were AWFUL.

    Any help is much appreciated.
    I have personally found that there is a bit of etiquette needed when attending local meet and greets. I personally show up and simply watch, pay attention to who is talking to who, and who is pointing to who. If you know someone, walk up say "Hi, how you doing?" but keep it short. Spend more time listening... Pay attention to the larger "clichés" figure out who they are and where you can meet them AWAY from the meeting.

    Between meetings "Run in to" the players of these gatherings. The next meeting you are now able to walk up and say "Hey nice to see you again... yada yada" If THAT guy/gal is talking to you, then all those that talk to him/her will come to you. Its simple human nature, and let the networking begin!
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  • Profile picture of the author Underground
    Networking's great. And should be done right. That is in the way Savidge said. Listen more, and avoid throwing yourself at everyone trying to sell there and then.

    One thing though, that really gets to me, is how on every thread like this they are simply asking for easier or better ways to sell without either:

    A. Mentioning what is they are selling.
    B. Mention that they are selling some commoditized service like web design or ppc or whatever it they learnt about in a 20 page piss poor WSO last week, but gloss over that as if it's not important.


    Rarely does anyone ask the more fundamental question of how to find out the size of the market your going into, what your competitors are doing and how you can outdo them, and how to create offers and services that people will actually want.

    You can learn the best prospecting and sales techniques in existence but if you're selling crap with no professionalism or stuff people don't want, it's not going to make a blind bit of difference.


    What are are you selling?
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