Since starting my business over a year ago, I have attended many local networking meetings. Typically, I will attend a meeting twice before making the decision and investment to join. Local networking was one of the most difficult things that I had to get used, and although I still get butterflies, they are not as bad as what they used to be. A huge part of this was having the confidence! Now, I have it!
Some tips that I use when I attend these networking events include:
- Have enough business cards on hand
Fellow networkers really need to be able to connect with you, as well as how to connect you with others who may be interested in your products and services. Isn’t the entire point of networking?
- Don’t even expect to sell or close any business. If you do, fantastic!
People like to get to know fellow business owners before signing a contract. Whether they go home to do a Google search or schedule some additional one on one time with you, it’s not in most people’s nature to just do business with someone they know absolutely nothing about.
- If you decide to join, attend as regularly as possible
Make sure that the day and time of the meetings work with your schedule. As with number two, people want to build relationships with those that they do business with and want to know that they are reliable.
- Have one-on-one meetings
In a one or two hour networking meeting, it’s impssible to know what every one in the group does and needs for business referrals. Schedule quality one on one’s in between the normal networking meetings to discuss services and products in detail.
- Be Respectful
Now this is probably my biggest pet peeve, and it’s something that I personally learned as a child. When you are doing your 30-second or one minute commercial, you want to have everyone’s undivided attention, right? So why not return the favor by giving everyone else your full attention when they are speaking.
Currently, I am an Assistant Organizer of a local networking group, North Dallas Women in Business, and I have met some of the most professional, success-minded women there. I am also a member of a local American Business Women Association’s Express Network group. I can now say that I look forward to networking and meeting other professionals – face to face – despite the occasional butterflies!
Back to Basics: Appreciation
Everyone loves to be appreciated. So are you showing appreciation to your clients and customers? Normally, when a product or service is purchased, a “Thank You” at the time of purchase is typical, but anything more than that like a “Thank You” card is extremely rare. When a “Thank You” card from a business is received, the excitement and surprise causes someone to be more eager to return and do business with that company again. Then, that excitement leads that person to tell everyone that they know that this company believes in appreciating their customers. Most doctor and dentist offices send a “reminder” card in the mail, but when was the last time that you received a “Thank You” card from your doctor or dentist? It’s probably been a while.
Statistics show that it’s cheaper to retain a client than to obtain a new one. So my question for business owners is, why are you NOT showing your clients some appreciation? It’s almost like some marriages, you wine and dine while dating, but when the honeymoon’s over, it’s like you don’t care as much anymore. Sending a personalized thank you card to anyone, if anything, should make you feel good because you’ve done something special and unexpected for someone else. A verbal thank you or an e-mail to clients is a necessity as well, but there is nothing remotely close to the meaning of a tangible card. Once you begin sending personalized thank you cards, go on to send an even more “unexpected” card, for example, a “Thank You for Being My Partner” for Valentine’s Day or a “Just Because” or “Just Checking In” card at any given time. This will let clients and customers know that you really appreciate their business, and don’t feel entitled. These customers and clients will also be more willing to refer other business owners and colleagues to you because you have done something that was special and almost unheard of today.
So you don’t think you have time to send a card? It’s vital that you make time. Consider partnering with a Virtual Assistant to help with sending cards. This is important to any successful business. If your business is already successful, showing appreciation can take it to the next level. The web-based tool that I use has over 12,000 cards. The card that is selected can be personalized with my very own handwriting, personal message and a picture or even my business card. All of this can be done from the computer, and the web-based company prints, stamps and mails the card. A gift can be included as well, for example, a gift card, brownies or cookies, just to name a few. It’s an awesome, user-friendly and efficient tool essential to every business. It will probably take, at the most, 3 minutes to send a card.
Some other ways to show appreciation is to send a “Thank You for Doing Business” card to new clients, and send a card to them either monthly or every other month. Remember, the honeymoon is not over. Also, send a card to prospective clients to thank them for taking the time to talk with you. For one of my clients, a card is sent when someone places an order on her web site with a picture of the product that the customer ordered. Her online sales have increased 250% in the last two months because of return customers and referrals. Not only is this because of the unique, quality product that she offers, but because we are following up and letting the customer know that their business is appreciated.
E-mails, phone calls and newsletters are other ways that to keep in touch with clients and customers on a more regular basis. You may never get the “Wow” response from a phone call that you can get when you send a tangible card. It’s especially awesome when the client or customer says that they were having a bad day, and then they received the card in the mail that absolutely made their day. Now, that’s customer service! It makes you as the business owner feel great to know that you made a difference during a difficult time. So, remember to show some appreciation. “Recognition and appreciation BEATS promotion every time” by Kody Bateman!
