So you think that this post doesn't apply to *YOU*?

Hi

Networking is essential for any business, but what is networking?

Quite simply, it's making contacts for business and career purposes.

Are you networking your affiliate programs or do you think that this post doesn't concern you?

Could it be that you have some misconceptions about making connections via networkiong?

Here Are The Ten Biggest Misconceptions About Networking...see if your reason is listed below:

1. "Networking is manipulative" says Teresa, who owns a nanny agency. "I don't like the idea of twisting someone's arm to get that person to do something for me."

It's true, you can't exploit others and expect to build long-term relationships. the way to avoid manipulation, though, is to give more than you receive. And, when you want something, be up-front and overt about it. Saying, "To build my business, I give free workshops for young parents to show them how to find and manage a nanny. Do you know anyone who'd like an invitation?" will prompt a better response than a "hidden agenda" such as, "so do you know anyone with kids under five?".

2. "I tried networking last Thursday. It doesn't work."

To cultivate a bountiful network takes months - maybe even years. Don't have a 'microwave' mentality. You can't ZAP a relationship for thirty seconds. Networking is a long-term process.

3. "I just do my job. I don't need to network at work. what's the point?"

Smart employees use networking to stay in touch with internal customers and suppliers. Their networks alert them to problems before those problems get out of hand and they also help them to spot emerging trends.

These employee's break through bureaucratic bottlenecks. They use their personal contacts to get things moving and speed things up.

They build communities and gain support for projects and proposals. ?They collaborate and cooperate.

They create ad-hoc, cross-functional, problem solving teams. when somebody says "I need it yesterday" they come through. By networking at work or within the online community you develop your reputation as somebody who can be trusted to get the job done...and well!

4. "Networking is for people who are struggling to get their business off the ground. I have enough customers and don't need to network any more"

No matter what your title, or how long you have been in business you never outgrow the need to network.

You can use networking to your advantage. For example, it will ensure that you business remains competitive by networking with people who have similar jobs or businesses.

That's the best way to benchmark, to check out the best practises and compare yourself with people who are one rung above you on the corporate ladder.

5. Networking is boring, and uncomfortable."

If your conversations skitter over the surface, you need to find out how you can sidestep superficialities and get down to business.

Learn how to go beyond the chit-chat into conversations that can help solve potential customer problems, come up with new ideas and access valuable resources.

6. "I'm not looking for a job or any more work at the moment. I don't need to network".

Absolutely the worst time to begin networking is when you need to - after you decide to change jobs, lose your job or find your business in lean times.

Now is the time to be networking.

By increasing your visibility to your peers people will think of you when they want a particular job done and it will even lead to new opportunites along the way when you least expect it.

7. Networking has never done a thing for me or my career"

That's hard to believe. People can provide access to vital information - news of potential jobs, insights into industry trends and great ideas for a business of your own. sometimes a single conversation can change your life.

8. "Sure. I know how to network. You just hand out your business cards".

Handing out business cards isn't networking. most cards end up in the waste paper basket. To make contact, you must create a real human connection.

9. "I wasn't born with the gift of the gab. I'll never be any good at networking."

Nearly everybody feels like this. Hardly anybody feels that conversation comes naturally.

You can do it. All you need is the networking know-how. All of us can easily learn how to become better and better at connnecting with people effectively and comfortably.

10. "Networking is a waste of time. I leave networking events asking myself, 'why did I bother to come?'"

Most people who attend these events haven't actually figured out what they want to achieve from the event.

If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it!!

Go to networking events with goals in mind. That way you will find what you are looking for.

Now can you see why networking is essential for your business?

It can be done on or offline. Build a network of your own and keep in touch with them. Give and you will receive.

Let us know if you have done any networking and what your results are.

If you are still not convinced and don't think that networking is suitable for your business then we would love to hear from you too.

Gary Wilkinson




The Affiliates Club

Gary -

> 10. "Networking is a waste of time. I
> leave networking events asking myself, 'why
> did I bother to come?'" Most people
> who attend these events haven't actually
> figured out what they want to achieve from
> the event.

In a former life, I was a member of a Chamber of Commerce. I joined the Small Business Presidents' forum. I went to the "business after hours" functions. I joined the "Ambassador's Club" (or whatever it was called). My partner and I even wrote registration software for the Chamber's two day business expo. Guess what I got out of all of that? A glass block to sit on my desk.

Am I saying networking is not important? Absolutely not. Actually, I'm asking what I could have done differently.

> It can be done on or offline. Build a
> network of your own and keep in touch with
> them. Give and you will receive.

You've given us some great points on *why* we should be networking. Now show us *how* to network. Give us some tips on how to network both offline and on.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


Discover The 26 Tips That Can Help You Create an Awesome Marriage - And Get a Free E-book!

Networking can be a powerful way to grow a business, if you do it right. The problem is, most people network pretty much at random. Even most networking groups are pretty random as they relate to your business and the types of people who become your customers.

Here's an article I wrote a while back with a slightly different twist on traditional networking solutions: Tightwad Networking for maximum referrals. In a nutshell, the point was to remember that when networking, net comes before work. So, one key to effective networking is to first gather in your net those people who best match your customer profile AND who know other people who fit your customer profile.




Tightwad Marketing: lots more small business marketing articles, all free!

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!

You talk about the importance of having a "net."

I agree.

To promote my book Timing the Real Estate Market and my system for tracking trends, there are about 50 "chosen" (my choice, not theirs) financial experts that I mail to consistently.

Just last week, Sanford Goodkin (the most well-known real estate guru in San Diego) devoted an entire newspaper article to the wisdom found in my book.

To me, this is how you leverage your efforts. Go to and keep after the centers of influence ... because when they take notice and talk about you, you can believe that 1000's of others will take notice too.

Robert Campbell

Recently


How to predict upcoming real estate trends

Rick,

I network through 3 separate Chambers of Commerce, and used to be in a fourth one. Each is in a different Parish (Counties to those unfortunates who don't live in Louisiana. LOL) and being self-employed, I'm the one who pays for all those memberships. One Chamber is local with the other two being 50 miles East and 75 miles North of my home-based business.

In addition, I'm a member and attend regular meetings of other local groups, SW Louisiana Fishing Club, Profit and Loss Luncheon, Republican Roundtable, NAIFA/LAIFA, and the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance. These memberships represent a wide spread mix of contacts for geography, industry, etc.

With the one local Chamber I serve on 2 different committes (down from 3), and attend seminars, lunch meetings, business after hours and lots of open houses. When 90% of the attendees are exchanging business cards (or nothing but words), I'm passing out custom imprinted ink pens, screwdrivers, pocket memo books, letter openers, pocket-size mirror/compacts, small self-stick vinyl calendars, business card magnets, or other specialty items.

Just this past week, I received an order from a new customer who I passed a catalog to at a June meeting. She bought 150 pocket FM radios with her employers logo imprinted on them. Her hotel will give them as gifts to top customers during the year.

The Chambers of Commerce memberships and various events I attend give me and my business products a lot of visibility that I wouldn't have otherwise. It also helps to make me a local business for my more distant markets where I sell face-to-face.

My memberships might not be as valuable if I was in retail, but in b2b sales, the advantages I gain are well worth the few hundred dollars I spend annually.

And I have recovered some of my dues in sales that I have made to all 4 Chambers. Some have bought custom molded membership plaques while others have bought ink pens, decals, stadium cups, coffee mugs, and plastic convention bags.

I have gain additional customers from every organization that I have named above, whether direct of from another member or contact made at one of the meetings.

I doubt I'd have gotten have the business I have from those events if I passed out the same paper business cards as everyone else.

By using the products I sell, I demonstrate the real value to the recipients, as well as showing my belief in my media.

It also demonstrates that my media is the best targeted media that money can buy. All of the mass media use a shotgun approach, putting a message out there for everyone to see or hear, when the seller is trying to reach only 1% to 90% of the audience, depending on their product or service. My media can be directed using a rifle approach to achieve a one on one connection to prospects and customers with no waste.

Fortunately, with my products and personal service, 90% or more of these Chamber memberships are potential customers for me. Depending on your product or service, the same membership may only have 10% or less who need it.

As they say in automobile lingo, your mileage may vary!

Dennis Bevers


My b2b promotional advertising bizopp - Additional dealers needed - I can't reach them all!

I'm in the office of one of my real estate clients and overheard a phone call. The crux of it was this...

Agent: Nothing is selling right now.

Pause while listening to other end of phone

Agent: There are plenty of buyers and a fair amount of stuff on the market. It's just that nothing's selling.

Pause while listening to other end of phone

Agent: The sellers are asking too much and none of the buyers are willing to pay what the sellers are asking. Like 18 months ago units in Any St, we couldn't give 'em away at $145... now they go for $250 and the sellers want near $280 but no-one wants to pay $280 for them. And the price is too high for investors like you to make any money.

Michael Ross


When the real estate market goes down... make money with your own business or businessette

Dennis -

> When 90% of the attendees are exchanging
> business cards (or nothing but words), I'm >passing
> out custom imprinted ink pens, screwdrivers,
> pocket memo books, letter openers,
> pocket-size mirror/compacts, small
> self-stick vinyl calendars, business card
> magnets, or other specialty items.

> The Chambers of Commerce memberships and
> various events I attend give me and my
> business products a lot of visibility that I
> wouldn't have otherwise. It also helps to
> make me a local business for my more distant
> markets where I sell face-to-face.

When I was on the committee for the Business Expo, one of the other committee members asked me when I was going to put out a cool screen saver. Quite frankly, I missed the boat on it. Had I had my wits about me, I would have created a screen saver and handed them out on floppies (or mini-CDs) as business cards instead of the dead old paper type card. That would have given people something more memorable that they could hold on to like you are doing.

If I ever join another chamber, I will definitely do something more along these lines.

BTW, I tried to click on the link that you left and got a "page not found" error.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


Discover The 26 Tips That Can Help Make Your Marriage Awesome - And Get a Free E-book!

Here's the correct link for the home - www.CuttingEdgeAdvertising.com with my corrected bizopp link posted below.

Dennis Bevers
BASSCO, Inc.


Corrected link to my bizopp recruiting page!

Michael,

As you know, sales activity is one of the key leading indicators that predict real estate trends.

After a market has risen to the point where it is now overvalued, reality will eventually set in and the number of buyers (ie. sales activity) will start to decline.

As Warren Buffet says: "Be greedy when everyone is fearful, and be fearful when everyone is greedy."

Buying extreme pessimism and selling extreme optimism is the most reliable formula for making higher returns in any market - including real estate.

Best wishes,

Robert Campbell


How to read the market's signs of a possible real estate crash