Business Sense
With…. Robert A Arthurs
Learn how startup, grow and run a business

Confessions of the True net worker

Networking is a skill whereby you strategically meet to people and meet contacts that can provide you with different kinds of information, leads. Etc, whether it’s a new career or otherwise. The larger your network the more chance you have to use your contacts. Each networking situation is different; some are large group introductions what you have a two-minute sizzler to deliver your message. Some are the mixer type functions with cocktails hors d'oeuvres, or at the golf coarse (some of the best networking is done when playing golf) each situation calls for a different type of introduction.
15 questions have to be asked before you go networking.
1) What is my outcome, 2) What am I going to do with leads, 3) What's my follow-up, 4) Do I have strong belief and knowledge in what I am promoting, 5) Do I sound and look happy, 6) Introduction relevant to each audience and situation, 7) Listen and look for clues of when it’s the right time to introduce your business in when it’s not. 8) What is the different between you and your competitors, what’s your uniqueness (without running down your competitors) 9) Do not over socialize, many people approach networking as party as in college days (but do make it fun), 10) Start a database with all your leads, 11) Work your database don’t wait for fate to hook up with people, invite them for coffee to get to know them, think of how you can promote them and they can promote you, 12) Be a good listener, give the person your connecting with the same level respect and listening to find out what they do.13) Know when to turn yourself off, remember the old adage you can't sell a salesman, 14) Have the ability to be real, and the ability to say thank you sincerely, 15) Last but most important, with all these new leads, what I do with all the business? Can I handle it, and have I decided how large my company is going to be? Do I want to cottage based? Am I going to be small business? Or medium-size business, these are questions that need to be asked before you go looking for business. I see many people going out networking it every single function they can get their hands on, but yet never do anything with leads.
Or real death rattle for business, take on all this business and can’t deliver!
Now go have fun! Smile!