Skip to main content

Ad Exchange

Networking is Critical for your business

Small business networking is critical to your business success. You must build relationships through networking.

You will need to make this your priority for the first few months of operations. Likewise, you cannot rush this process. Not only that, but you’re not going to go to your first network event and get six clients. But there’s a good chance that you will come away five or six quality contacts.

Networking For Contacts
Once you make the contact, your work is not over. You then have to spend time following up with meetings, proposals and sales calls. But this time is much better spent than chasing down one-shot clients. Work with people who are, or who can put you in touch with, steady clients. These are the contacts that will support your business long-term.

Don’t expect to walk out of every event with a handful of paying clients. Do expect to generate quality leads and referral sources. These referrals and leads are the crux of small business networking.

You need to have many leads and contacts in your funnel at any given time. Some of these will be hotter at different stages. They will be ready to move into paying client status at different stages and different dates. Networking keeps you in contact with these people throughout their buying phases.

The Bottom Line on Networking
Contact and referrals are what will lead you to long-term, steady clients. The kind of clients that will make your business a success. Getting out and attending networking events may appear to be unproductive socializing. Realize that the contacts you make will generate an enormous return on your invested time. Start your network today – you never know where it will take you.

Comments

Most Read This Week

How Can Criticism Actually Benefit Your Business?

For years, businesses have been told to avoid negative reviews at all costs. The common wisdom was that one negative review could undo the positive impact of dozens of glowing testimonials. However, recent research suggests that this might not be entirely true. In fact, a few negative reviews can actually be beneficial for your business. While it’s true that negative reviews can damage a business’s reputation, they can also provide valuable insights into customer experiences and areas for improvement. A study by the University of British Columbia found that negative reviews can actually be good for business. The study showed that low star ratings and negative comments from unsatisfied customers can have a significant impact on shoppers’ purchase decisions. Why Negative Reviews Can Be Helpful Authenticity: Consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical of businesses that only have positive reviews. A few negative reviews can make the positive ones seem more credible. Customer Insights: N...

How to Craft Credible Predictions

The ability to make reliable and insightful predictions is a valuable skill in a world flooded with information. Whether you’re an analyst, a business leader, or simply someone who wants to understand the future, crafting credible predictions is essential. We can explore the key principles to guide you in creating forecasts that are not only informative but also impactful. Focus on Your Expertise: The foundation of a strong forecast lies in an in-depth understanding of your chosen domain. Avoid venturing into areas where you lack expertise. Instead, focus on your strengths and leverage your knowledge to generate predictions that are grounded in reality. Unravelling the Underlying Dynamics: A compelling forecast goes beyond simply stating what might happen. It delves into the “why” behind the prediction. Explain the causal relationships driving the phenomenon you’re forecasting. Use historical examples to illustrate your points and demonstrate how past events inform your current predict...

Shining a Light on Unintended Consequences

In the fast-paced world of business and innovation, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new trends and practices. We're often focused on immediate benefits, overlooking the potential for unintended consequences.  But these hidden side effects can have significant impacts, both positive and negative. By analyzing trends and common practices, we can uncover these hidden implications and gain valuable insights. This ability to see beyond the surface is a hallmark of leadership. It demonstrates a keen understanding of complex systems and a willingness to question assumptions. Let's look at some real-world examples: New-customer campaigns:  A company might launch a campaign to attract a large number of new customers. While this can boost sales in the short term, it could also attract a customer base that the company is ill-equipped to serve, leading to dissatisfaction and churn. Social trend piggybacking:  Jumping on a popular social trend might seem like a good wa...