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Business Networking Will Get You Everywhere

Evan Polin • October 5, 2022
sales consultant, expert business development, non-selling professionals

Business Rule # 1

It’s who you know, not what you have.


How often have you joined professional organizations only to later discover that you didn’t increase your business or get anything valuable from your membership?


You may be complaining because “this is a tough economy or market to sell”, or “the phone isn’t ringing enough” or “I’m not getting results with cold outreach.”  The two top ways to increase business are through referrals and personal contacts. Your professional organizations provide thousands of potential contacts to help you grow your business.

There are thousands of professional associations that can be a rich resource that can net you an incredible amount of business, but you need to know how to use the resource correctly. Someone once said that 80% of success is just showing up, and the same rule applies to working with professional associations and networking groups. If you are looking for a business association where you get a large return on your financial investment without putting in some sweat and hard work, you will be very disappointed. Writing the check is the easiest part of being a member of a professional organization. The real work begins when you attend the events and get involved.

 

Business Rule #2

People like to do business with people they like and people who have similar interests.

To obtain business through a networking group or professional organization, you must get involved. Attend events on a regular basis. Develop a relationship with the staff people and make them aware of the opportunities that you are seeking. Join a committee where you can associate with like-minded professionals and get to know them on a more intimate basis. Once you build a good rapport with the professionals you meet through your groups, referrals will follow. If you follow through on your commitments and others see you as a good resource, your peers will give you business. You just need to learn how articulate the value you provide, paint a picture of your ideal prospect, and ask for the business.

 

Business Rule #3

Attend networking events with vigor.

To be successful, change your mindset when attending networking events. We can all spot that desperate salesperson who is trying to sell everyone they meet. We also know those professionals who attend events with their friends and colleagues, but never meet new contacts. To be successful, you need to move outside your circle and meet new people. Take interest in what those around you do. Go to these events looking to give referrals, not just receive them.

 

Business Networking Best Practices

  • My experience has been that the professional who gives the most referrals receive the most referrals in return.
  • Have a good elevator pitch prepared. Don’t simply rattle off the features and benefits of your products and services, but also talk about the problems your typical clients bring to you and the solutions that you provide.
  • Don’t sell at these events. Most of us won’t close business at the event; we are looking for opportunities to get develop new relationships so that in the future we will invited into companies to see if we can help.
  • Your job is to use these events to build your pipeline and expand your network of contacts. Rather than try to close business at the event, use the opportunity to qualify the people who you speak to and get next steps for a follow up conversation after the event.
  • Your follow up meetings and ongoing relationships will lead you to develop the new business that you seek.


Polin Performance Group provides real-world sales solutions through sales coaching, sales training, business development workshops and speaking engagements. We give you and your team the sales skills needed to maximize sales performance and increase revenue. Let's talk about your sales challenges and together we'll figure out the best solution for your business growth goals. Contact us today.



A professional who gives the most referrals receive the most referrals in return.

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