5 Strategies for you to Build Your Business Network
Over the last ten years, strategies for business development and techniques have been drastically altered. The phone is now almost unusable to make the first contact with a potential client or postage. Cold calls? Forget it. It will be challenging to get past the caller ID if you're unidentified. Unsolicited email? You'll be tagged as spammers.
Today the success of business development relies on developing trusting relationships and using those relationships to meet with new potential customers. These relationships are the foundation for your network of business contacts. It is crucial to keep growing and nurturing these relationships because an overwhelming portion of your business's growth is due to relationships within your network. KEVIN O’MALLEY
Here are five strategies to establish and expand your business network to grow your business.
Always seek referrals from your customers. They are likely to know people similar to them who require the product you offer. It's OK to request recommendations and permission to use their names as an introduction. With a reference in your possession and a reliable customer on the back and you can make a phone call or send an email to get an introduction. When your prospect is introduced to or is aware of the name of an acquaintance, you stand an increased likelihood of success with your initial introduction.
Testimonials from your customers are your biggest advocates. Ask them if they'd like to endorse the product you offer or services. They are likely to agree because they want both you and your company to be successful and, in particular, it will reinforce the decision they made to purchase products or services from you. The testimonial can be a short statement or a more extensive case study that shows how the product you offer helped solve the problem. Once you've obtained the testimonial, you'll find a way to post the testimonial. The testimonial must be placed on your site. It is also recommended to search and find publications or websites that might like to publish your case study.
Take part in Industry Meetings Be sure to attend Industry Meetings that face-to-face meetings aren't over. Participating in industry-related meetings such as tradeshows, conferences, and conventions is ideal for developing friendships with coworkers, building networks, and making new acquaintances. If your business has a national organization, be a part of it and participate in the meetings. When your service or product is utilized locally, sign up for your local Chamber of Commerce and attend the meetings. Since it's expensive for you to go to meetings, increase the value of your attendance by trying to arrange individual meetings before the meeting and find other ways to boost the number of people who attend the conference: seek out speaking opportunities, host coffee breaks or arrange an educational seminar.
Blog Everyone seems to have one or is thinking of making one with good reason. Creating a personal blog on your corporate website is an excellent method for your clients and potential customers to get to know the business philosophy of your company, you, and your company's products and services. Your blog is a platform to share stories that show your knowledge or opinion on a controversial topic in the industry. Blogs also permit comments and allow interaction, which can help you build new connections and expand your network of business contacts. Additionally, it can bring traffic to your website as search engines have begun to detect keywords within blogs.
Be Social Increase the reach of your network of business contacts through social media websites and applications, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and social networking sites. LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to begin and expand your business's network. Twitter can be a microblogging website that can help you with your blog. But, before jumping onto social media, it is essential to be aware of the media and how it functions and how to use it to help your business.
By combining proven business development strategies with innovative techniques for using social networks, your social network will expand your business.
