Assuming you’ve already defined your target market (the kind of customers/clients you want to do business with), then your first step on LinkedIn is to get yourself noticed by that target market. That means making your profile sticky and engaging.
Your next step is to build up your connections so you can communicate and be seen by that target audience. This involves joining groups, sending requests to connect and making yourself found so people want to connect with you. It’s no good playing a great game to an empty stadium! [click to continue…]
What exactly is a networking strategy and why do you need one? Why can’t you just show up to networking events and win bucket-loads of business?
A business networking strategy is essentially a marketing plan for your networking efforts. Like any good marketing plan it describes who you want to meet, how you’re going to meet them, how you’re going to help them and what you’re going to say/do when you get in front of them. [click to continue…]
It’s funny how most people go networking with a view to selling what they do, while few people go to buy. Yet there must be somebody buying, else none of us would have anyone to sell to!
As somebody who coaches, writes about and speaks on profitable business networking all over the world, the biggest challenge my clients have is creating tangible return on investment (ROI) from their considerable networking efforts. Most people can now ‘work a room’ and talk about what they do. With the many networking organisations, groups and clubs throughout the world, everybody has somewhere to network. With the explosion of social media and online networking platforms, there is no excuse not to have a conversation. [click to continue…]
So many people attend business networking events, participate in online business networks and have networking meetings. But what do they get back from all of that time and effort? The answer is usually very little. They struggle when it comes to turning networking into business. To explore this, I use the phrase ‘CTC’ in my many networking and referral seminars. It stands for any of the following:
- Card to Client
- Contact to Customer
- Card to Connection
- Connection to Client
You get the idea. It’s about turning a business card into a sale. It’s about converting your networking leads into paying customers and clients. It’s also the hardest thing for most networking business people to do. Here are five reasons why: [click to continue…]
Assuming you’ve already defined your target market (the kind of customers/clients you want to do business with), then your first step on LinkedIn is to get yourself noticed by that target market. That means making your profile sticky and engaging.
Rob Brown is an international authority on networking, referrals and reputations. He is founder of the Global Networking Council and author of the bestseller How to Build Your Reputation.