If there isn’t a medical name for shyness, then there should be. It is a crippling trait that can prevent even the most intelligent or attractive people from reaching their full potential. When we were teenagers a lot of us suffered from it, especially when dealing with someone we liked of the opposite sex. That rush of unwanted hormones would make us blush bright red, and our tongues get tied in knots. Most of us grew out of it, but sadly some folks are inflicted with it throughout their lives. Telling someone to “just get over it” will probably make them even worse so they withdraw further into their shells.
Get Involved. Community software defined networking will get you involved in your community and that can mean a great deal to you personally and professionally. I care deeply about clean water and preserving Maine’s environment. I get involved in projects that support my desire for these initiatives. Through this I have networked with hundreds of Maine residents and have gained several business referrals. Keep in mind that my business is a Business-to-Business model and your business is a Business-to-Consumer model, so all of your connections are potential customers!
I had no motivation to be a success with those people. I advise you take a moment and figure out how you are helping those people you brought on board. What motivation are you giving them to make the business work? Help them and it helps you. This may take some personal development and further education on your part, but it will pay off greatly in the end.
Here’s how to determine your best target market. First and most importantly, no one can do business with “anyone who breathes” or “anyone who has skin.” If that’s part of your business networking club elevator speech or introduction, you need to get much, much narrower in your description.
Do you need to know what you are doing? No. If that were true, most businesses would never get off the ground. There is tremendous support both from other businesses to government sponsored development corporations to point you in the right direction. Many small business networking groups generate workshops on management topics, not to mention the glut of information on the internet. Line up a group of trusted advisors and take their advice.
Don’t overlook your “competition,” but don’t expect to build your business there. Many of us join groups with others who do what we do. That’s great for getting information about the industry and making connections within it, but you probably won’t find customers there. Don’t focus all your attention on your industry group.
How does a professional speaker develop a speech? They have three basic parts that they work on in a prepared presentation: structure, content and delivery. Think about these questions before your next business to business networking event and you’ll never be at a loss for what to say (and how to say it). Here are three sets of networking tips sheet based on this presentation format. Next time you are wondering how to network, start with this basic set up and have answers ready to these questions.
Keep it simple – in this age of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) it pays to deliver information as quickly and easily as possible. Pretend everyone of your website visitors has ADD. Now, how can you change your website to deliver what they’re looking for ASAP?
Literature search. If you cannot identify possible contacts through membership rosters, try doing a literature search. Using the computer facilities of a local library, search periodicals for articles that reference the target company. Many times, articles will quote employees whom you can’t contact. Your goal is to network with these individuals.