5 Tips on How to Do Power Networking

If you’re looking to promote and build your business, you need to network as powerfully as you can.  There is no such thing as a “business in a bubble”, especially these days with the economy being as shaky as it is.  Unfortunately, though, too many people hold the misconception that focusing entirely on their own projects will help them get ahead.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Why bother networking?

Networking is all about the art of meeting people and using those relationships for the mutual benefit of both.  The fact of the matter is that wealthy people invest in relationships and good businesspeople see their relationships as an asset and seek to build them.  Networking also provides the “social proof” necessary that your business is thriving and prospering.  As more and more people find out about you and your business, they see you as “successful” and as an “asset” to know.

At the end of the day, it’s way more fun to build a business through networking than to sit at home by yourself, in front of a computer, trying to figure it all out on your own.

How to Network in a Powerful Way

In order to use networking to build your business, you need to network in a powerful way.  Too many people think that networking is all about just meeting the “right” people and seeing how they can help you.  This is absolutely the wrong mindset to have towards networking.

Tip #1 – Have a “Value” Mindset

When you network, do not focus on what you can “get” from the people you meet, focus on what “value” you can offer to them.  When you approach people from a standpoint of looking to “help” them as opposed to looking to “take” or “get” from them, you’ll find it easier to build a relationship of trust with them and this is the “golden goose” in business.  You want people to trust you and to start coming to you because they see you as a person who can help them and offers value to them.  Trust and the whole art of establishing trust in business is the most powerful asset you can have in business.  If you approach your networking with “value” mindset and focus on how you can help and provide value to others, you will not only network with much greater ease, you will establish trust much quicker as well.

Tip #2 – Use the Law of 5

The “law of 5” refers to the goal of making it your aim to meet, at least, 5 new people each and every time you network.  If you are always meeting 5 new people and others around you are always meeting 5 new people, then every time you meet a one new person, you have connected to 5 new people through that one person.  By networking with the intention of meeting 5 new people each and every time you network, you essentially increase your network by 25 exponentially.

Tip #3 – Be the “Connector”

“The Connector” is someone who knows people and then links them.  Help others out with their networking too.  Whenever you meet someone new, think of another person you know that might be valuable for them to know as well and hook them up.  This is not only a great way to offer value to others but it helps you to become seen as the “go to” person when it comes to meeting people that others might want to meet.

Tip #4 – Get an Online Presence

Don’t neglect social media as a way to continue to building the relationship beyond the initial contact.  Social Media also helps people see that you are serious about continuing and building that relationship with them.   If you’re reaching out to them through Facebook or Linkedin, they feel gratified that you remember them and are still interested in knowing more about them beyond the moment of initial contact.  Your interest in them seems less superficial.

Tip #5 – Follow up

Always follow up your initial contact with some kind of short email thanking them for meeting you.  This seems like something common sense but you would be surprised at how many people don’t follow up after networking.  By not following up, you lose an opportunity to reinforce the friendship that was established during the initial moment of contact.  So no matter how pressed for time you might be, always follow up after the initial meeting.

By following these 5 tips you will be able to make your networking more powerful and quickly build the contacts and relationships you need to grow your business.

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Source: http://www.mlmtipsandadvice.com.au/5-tips-power-networking/

Monica Keena Shawnee Smith Katherine Heigl