Does it pay to attend networking events?
Networking events have the tendency to strike the fear of dread into many people.
Yet we all ‘network’, all of the time, but we just don’t realize it. We network with our friends at work, and play. We network while attending social events, church, grocery store, and school events and at a family gathering or dinner party… Even online with people that we have never met face to face.
Networking is just interacting and talking to other people and building a rapport or relationship with them. Network is both social and business networks - and sometimes they become entwined.
Organized business networking events are the very best way to start to talk to people about your business - because everyone is there for exactly the same reason. To talk about their own small business!
This setting is the best way to develop and practice how to present your business - because you can listen how lots of other people present their businesses.
It is always the etiquette to spend more time listening than talking, but this is even more important if you have just started your business and are attending your first few networking events.
When you first arrive, just get a feel for things and start speaking to people about what it is they do. Show a genuine interest in their business and, once you get to know, like and trust them, start to think how you may be able to help them. Many times you will find that their product or service is something you can use. This is a good test for you, since you will know first hand how they handle things.
It may be that you, or people you know, will have a need of their product or service in the future. It is at this point that you can start to nurture relationships with people that may want to do the same for you. Also, using their service will prove to you if they are the type of networking partner you can trust to give referrals to those who may need their product or service.
As you read this, there are many business networking events taking place in your area every month, but you want to find the ones that are targeted toward the senior arena.
The main purpose of business networking is to practice and hone your mini-presentation skills, on people that are open and receptive to what you have to say.
Also, they may know people that are interested in helping improve the lives of seniors and may recommend them to you. Many times once they see the dramatic affect you have on others, they become your walking billboard. The best part, it cost you absolutely nothing.
I view networking as the process of planting many seeds. You never know which ones will find fertile ground, sprout roots, grow and blossom - but if you plant enough… some will.
Your success quotient improves dramatically with networking. The more people who know you, the more opportunities will come your way.
Someone you meet and talk to today, could in 1 month, 6 months or 1 year, turn out to be a huge part of your future success - personally or through someone they know.
Join: Reverse Talk….Your plcace to network with other professionals!
Through Reverse Talk you can keep updated on what your business associates, service providers and what others are doing or thinking at that moment or even making friends through it.
