People have gotten weird. They struggle with connecting with people and are at times suspicious and hesitant about strangers…and I totally get it. But, as entrepreneurs (online or bricks and mortar) you need to meet people in order to make sales. One of my favorite things to do is connect people with other people. And, I like to do this in as authentic and comfortable a way as possible. If you’re struggling with meeting new people here are 7 tips to grow your network and make more money without going crazy.
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Listen to the Show
Show Notes
- Issue #1 You do everything by yourself-Networking feels like another thing on your to-do list. And, by the time you:
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- Help clients
- Work with your staff
- Try to share your message-you’re exhausted.
- Here’s what you need to do…you need to get OTHER people to share who you are and what you do. Why do you think affiliate marketing is so attractive for entrepreneurs who create products or people who use their products or services. What if they don’t have a product? You still share your friend’s amazing goods and services authentically. What always happens is they will begin sharing what you do.
- #2-You’re at a networking event and you’re just not sure what you should say….Think about kicking that type of meetup to the curb. If you’re at an event where you feel stilted or unnatural that’s not the right event for you. Instead-participate in fun activities where people are relaxed, have had a beer or glass or wine and are having a great time. There is no expectation at a kickball match other than to connect.
- #3 There’s not enough time to network-if you actively trying to grow your network and grow your business I’m not surprised that this is the case. Do this instead:
- Make your online presence network for you:
- Create a podcast and share what you do
- Get interviewed by a podcaster and share a resource
- Optimize your Facebook business profile so that people can connect with you
- Make your content easy to share
- Create a Facebook group that shares your business and serves your clientele. THEN, once it’s big enough, get administrators who help you grow the community (so you can be hands-off)
- All of these moves create brand surrogates who will share what you’re doing with other people
- Make your online presence network for you:
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- #4 Small Talk Sucks-So don’t do it. It always feels forced and awkward. Sometimes it’s ok to observe the room the first time you attend an event and then connect with people after words.
- #5 Know where you shine-People really need to become a lot more self-aware. I understand that I don’t shine in every situation. So, I’ve made a point to position myself better so that I put myself in situations where I’m at my best.
- Are you a great speaker?
- Love doing live events
- Prefer being at home but enjoy one-on-one conversations?
- #6 Facebook Group Social Etiquette-Facebook groups are a fantastic way to grow your business…but there is an etiquette that you have to follow. I plan on creating an entire resource for this but I will leave with the following:
- Never take actions that will piss off the group admins
- If you’re not sure if it will…ALWAYS ask. The goal is to get the admin to want to share your expertise actively with the group. Which means they have to understand what you’re offering and how it is of service to their community. AND, it cannot be a parallel or competing offer-EVER.
- #7 Are you always going to events alone? Figure out who your allies and wingmen are so that you have support
Bonus Tip
Always be of service
- I have a friend who runs large events in Denver. I help her out when they need an extra set of hands (I also get paid, free food and drinks)
- Tell people about resources that will help them meet their goals
- Get people in front of businesses/tools that will take care of their problems.
Network and Chill
Stop overthinking the networking process. Basically, you just need to focus on connecting with people and helping them. What frustrates you about networking?
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I totally agree with both the small talk comments as well as the Facebook group comments! Some of the things I see in Facebook groups irk me to my core. I used to be so scared to network, but there really isn’t any other way to grow your business easily and organically! Even social media is NETWORKING!
Small talk is so meh. And, I’m doing a whole thing on how to network authentically in Facebook groups. Basically, people forget that every interaction is networking.