By Minesh Baxi

Use these 10 questions to determine how focused you are on Networking

1. I have at least 400 people in my network who receive information from me at least once a month
2. I have a compelling 30-second commercial
3. I focus more on selling through my relationships than on selling to people directly
4. I have marketing materials like business cards, brochures and a website, which showcase my expertise. They have a clear, attention getting headline, bulleted points about what I can do for my clients and a low risk, irresistible offer

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By Biba Pedron

Networking is my favorite, low-cost marketing tool. However, a large number of people often find it a challenge to get results and turn prospects into clients, simply by networking.

So here is another very effective marketing tool that requires no skills, can be applied to your business immediately and will help you to gain many new clients.

Simply get testimonials from your current clients!

Testimonials from satisfied customers are typically the best way to promote your business. And it doesn’t cost you a thing. So, stop selling and let your clients and raving fans do it for you. Continue Reading »

By Larry Baltz

You’re sitting in a room full of eager business owners at a networking event. One by one, everyone stands up and introduces themselves, hopefully gaining the opportunity to find one or two new prospects in the crowd.

Unfortunately, most business people stink at Introductions.

Take for instance the remarks made at a recent event I attended. A hotel sales rep introduced himself and stated that his hotel offered beds, meals and meeting rooms. Oh really? How many hundreds of hotels offer that, I thought. What he said was essentially the same introduction used by all the hotel sales people in the room that day. Continue Reading »

By Bette Daoust, Ph.D.

If an event falls into the area that is part of your expertise, find a way to attend and learn from others. Every time you attend an event, you should be able to come back with information that you can use for your own business. If you go through the display booths, you can pick up good information about what others are doing in the marketplace. It is also a good forum for developing new business relationships. This is much easier if you are simply a participant at the event. If you have a table, you will be more restricted in movement. People that drop by your table will have an interest in what you do but most often these events only provide you with exposure. I tend to let others display and wander around the room. This gives me additional information and ideas. While attending a special event, it will pay to mingle with other attendees and listen to what they have to say. You will gain more insight as to what the crowd is looking for. If you decide that you want to speak at this event the following year, you will have some insights about what they thought was good and also what they thought was useless. Go to these events with an open mind and learn as much as you can. Do not go with the thought in mind that you have to go because it might be good for business. Turn up your enthusiasm and get the most out of it. These special events are tools that help you towards being more successful. Continue Reading »

by: Sue Seward

How important are making connections to your success? It’s extremely important and here’s why as well as some of the ways you can learn to be a better connector!

First of all this is a people business! It’s all about people and what they want! If you don’t find out what they want by connecting with them you’ll most likely flounder in this business! Continue Reading »

by: Patricia Weber
Do you do any embarrassing things in business networking? Many of us who sell, at one time or another, might confess to some dozen or so common mistakes with business networking; these are just three of the top most regretful, most ineffective and sometimes embarrassing ones. If you find one describes you, read the brief remedy that anyone - introvert, shy or even extrovert - can easily put into action. Continue Reading »

by: Terry S. Hall
The essence of business success is measured by achieving 100% of 3 key goals: Profit goals, Balance goals and Referrals goals. There are hundreds of books that have been written on each of these topics. Today we look at referrals. There’s no business like referral business. In fact, referrals are the Holy Grail of business development. Referred clients take less time to close, produce higher gross profits and refer you more quickly. Continue Reading »

Every time you share your ideas you bring value to others. Ideas come in many forms. They can be as simple as a suggestion, create clarity out of confusion, or give insight that is transformational. Your ideas are a reflection of who you are, how you think, what you feel, and what you’ve learned from your own experiences.

Willingness to share ideas is powerful. There is no way of assessing the impact we have on someone else by offering them our point of view. Each of us is unique. Our experiences are unique. Our perspectives are unique. No one has traveled your road, been faced with your specific challenges, or possesses your knowledge. You are uniquely qualified to be you. Your ideas matter.

This is part of the series “Personally Speaking: Volume 1“ to purchase the entire series click here.