Networking: Making Contacts That Turn Into Business
It has been said that success is not so much in what you know but in whom you know. Over the past 35 years in business, I have found this to be true. Business is about relationships. Knowing people who believe in you and your work, people who will recommend you, refer to you, and open doors for you can make the difference between a marginal and a stunning success.
This means that you can use your mouth to make the business contacts you need to succeed! In today’s world, you can contact virtually anyone you need to know through networking.
No matter how large a business becomes, business is still about relationships. It is done person-to-person with the exception of some online sales. Through networking, we can use person-to-person contacts to establish relationships that will lead to business. Through networking, anyone can become well connected.
In my experience with helping small businesses and home based businesses become succesful, networking is the single best way to start and build a small business.
If you do not count the sales I get off my website, most of my sales each year come by way of networking.
Think about it. Wouldn’t you prefer to do business with someone you know and trust or someone who has come recommended to you by someone you know and trust? Most of us would. For this reason the more people you meet, the more likely you are to find people to do business with.
And also remember the phrase “Out of touch, out of mind”. The more you keep in touch with the people you know, the more likely they will turn into customers and clients, or give you referrals to those who will become customers.
How do you get started in networking? We will talk about that tomorrow. So go out and have a profitable day!