Network Your Way To The Top
by Leni Chauvin, The Client Attraction Coach (tm)
How would you like to have a fan club filled with
people who know, like, trust and respect you? People who have a very
clear understanding of what you do and exactly the kind of client
you are looking for.
People who will actually go out and find clients for
you, and, best of all, they'll never charge you a cent!. Sound like
a fantasy? It's not. It's all possible...if you know how to network.
So what exactly is networking? If you look at the
word "network," you'll notice that it is both a noun and
a verb. If you think of it as as a noun, it is simply the people you
know, your contacts. As a verb, it is to make use of your contacts
in an intelligent manner by sharing information and giving support.
Notice I said, "to make use of." I didn't
say "to use." There is no room in networking for people
who use others exclusively for their own personal gain. Networking
today is about forming and cultivating mutually beneficial relationships.
The surest way to be on the receiving end of the relationship is to
always think like a "giver"--never a "taker."
The objective of networking should be to help other
people succeed. The more you help others, the more they will want
to help you. It is a simple law of nature: what goes around comes
around.
Like anything else in life, though, networking is
work--netWORK. You need to have very clearly defined goals and objectives
in order to succeed. You need to have systems in place to make sure
those goals and objectives are met, and you must have a plan of action.
Here are just few tips to help you build your business
through networking:
Know who you know!
You cannot even begin to network, unless you know
who is in your network! Make lists of everybody you know through family,
friends, your children, hobbies, sports. For everyone on your list
write everything you know about them, e.g., their hobbies, where they
grew up, the type of dog they have, who their friends are, etc. Update
this list weekly.
Know who you want to know.
Then figure out how to meet them. This is where you
need to have a very clearly defined plan of action. Learn everything
about the people you want to meet, and then figure out who in your
network shares the same interests. It is very probable that they will
know someone who knows the person you want to meet.
Understand and appreciate your value to the
people in your network.
We all have unique interests, talents, and experiences
which can be used to help others. Revel in knowing that you can touch
the lives of everyone you meet if you are prepared to share your knowledge
and resources with them.
Develop systems to organize your information
so it is readily accessible.
Whether it's a Day-timer, a contact management computer
program, a Rolodex, or good ol' index cards doesn't matter. Use whatever
works best for you and allows you to retrieve information quickly
so you can pass it along in a timely manner.
Strategize ways to consistently get your name
before the people in your network.
You want to be at the forefront of their thinking
so when a potential client presents him/herself to someone you know,
that person immediately makes the connection and makes the referral.
Give, give, give!
Give freely of yourself, never expecting anything
in return. Trust that what you put out there will come back to you.
It may not come back immediately. It may not come back directly. It
will, however, come back eventually. Just give.
© Leni Chauvin
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Leni Chauvin has been helping ordinary people build and market extraordinary
businesses since 1993. The strategies in her Attract Clients Galore
Marketing System(tm) have helped thousands of solo professionals get
more (and better) clients without having to spend a fortune to do
it. Subscribe to Leni's newsletter for tips to help *you* grow *your*
business. http://www.SuperstarNetworking.com
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