The market has gotten tighter, people or spending less, finding work is harder to do. So what is a contractor (or any other small business) suppose to do. There are some things that all contractors should be working on right now, weather they are busy or not. If they are done consistently you will be getting more calls and giving more estimates very soon.
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Think about a time when you needed to make a new connection, say, to a reliable auto mechanic. You may have started out by scanning the yellow pages only to realize that there’s no way to know who’s honest and competent. What do you do then? You do what everyone does: they turn to friends, family and acquaintances for a personal recommendation. If the first person you ask can’t offer you a good referral, he or she may know someone who can, and if not, you move on to the next person on your list, and the next. Pretty soon you make the connection you were looking for…even without your set of official networking groups hull!
In order to find new clients, you want to meet lots of new people! That’s where networking comes into play. Do a search online to find the networking groups in your area and look for BNI which is also a referral group. Don’t forget about associations as well, which can be a rich source for potential clients. There are also philanthropic groups such as the Lions Club and Rotary Club that work together to help the community or chosen charities.
To network means to understand what another person does, who their target is and who else they are looking to meet. Networking is not sending mass emails to people you have met for a few moments. For me, networking means I need to know as many different people as possible so that when my friends and colleagues are in need of something, I have a frame of reference to help. Networking is not meeting someone to get you more business. When people learn about what you do and see a need for your services, they will refer business to you naturally. When software defined networking, your goal is to form a relationship.
Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone, including family and friends. Don’t let vanity stop you from giving out your last business card or giving 2 at a time to each person. I have met many people who have totally missed the purpose of a business card. I once asked a person for a second business card, so I could refer his services. His response was “I only have a few cards left and I need them”, as he looked again at his name on the card. Hoarding your business cards only makes your wallet feel full, not your bank account.
Keep in touch with your network to see what they are up to and how you can help them. You never want to turn to your network when you really need them, especially when you have not bothered staying in touch. Call to say hello, send an interesting article, or invite them to a networking event.