Are you actually networking or are you just going to a lot of meetings?
I sell promotional products. Virtually anything imprinted to be given to a target audience. My customers could be literally anyone from the elementary school volleyball team to a multi-national corportation, and anywhere in between. My target is wide to the extreme.
To effectively network, you are the networker. You talk to people about your business and learn about thier business.
They will hopefully refer their network of acquaintences to you while you can refer your network of friends to them.
Sounds pretty easy but of course it's not. You'll collect and hand out a lot of cards. Contact by follow ups via email or phone, and sometimes refer one contact to another contact. It takes time but it's worth it to build that data base.
Try targeting the areas of business you'd like to attract. I don't mean that you don't talk to people who aren't on your target list, but just try to make sure you're at the right meetings, luncheons, associations, clubs, charities, etc. Be seen and heard where ever you go. Have your elevator speech memorized.
The 6 degrees of separation is a revolutionary concept putting each of us a max of only 6 people away from any one with whom we'd like to talk.
Plan and Network towards your Target.
Promotional Products can be used in networking. There are lots of inexpensive items like pens and scratch pads emblazoned with your name and products which say to the prospect 'Remember me when I've gone.' Rod Winning www.WinningFairWays.com
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