I'm awake. I never got the hang of networking while sleeping.

I really kicked my business up several levels when I started networking several years back. I can't begin to tell you how many different unpaid salespeople I have working for me today. They just keep giving me referrals year-round.

Yesterday, I walked in to a customer's pharmacy in a town 102 miles distant from my home-based business. Almost immediately, Robert told the man across the counter that I was The man to speak to if he needed some caps imprinted or embroidered.

I didn't leave with an order, but did gain a very likely prospect.

I've gained some valuable customers through networking that I might never have reached by any other means.

My longest trail of networking resulted as a satisfied buyer in Minnesota travelled to a trade show in Las Vegas, taking my contact info along, because she was thrilled with the service she received from her salesperson in Louisiana. After the event, she emailed me to let me know that she has passed on my email address and URL at the show. Some weeks later, I was contacted by a buyer in Massachusetts which resulted in a 10,000 piece order of custom 10' measuring tapes. All as a result on a satisfied buyer networking for me.

Networking also has the possibility of downlines, as I discovered when Jerry passed my info on to several co-workers who ordered from me. Then Chet passed my name on to one of his suppliers and three customers. One customer, Tyson ordered, then passed my name on to George who promptly called to buy from me. Subsequently, George passed me on to a fast food restaraunt and a heavy vehicle tow truck operator. Five levels of buyers from one contact, with some levels being 2 to 5 buyers wide. Hey, does that mean you can have a networking matrix?

One of Chet's other referrals didn't buy from me, but passed me on to a good prospect who ordered over $5,000 worth of Bic ink pens, Barlow executive key rings, and a large order of portfolios, some vinyl and some Italian leather.

My latest success with networking has come from one buyer with a federal agency in Washington DC who has passed my name on to several other buyer in DC, Atlanta and North Carolina, which has resulted in orders from the East Coast across to the West Coast.

In addition to networking being valuable in selling products, it also helps me recruit, as some people who aren't looking for a business opportunity, refer me to others who are interested. So now, I'm a bi-level networker, who is building downlines of satisfied customers.

If only I had found out the value of networking 10 years sooner.

Dennis Bevers


My non-MLM networking bizopp!