Are you jealous of people who work a room with ease? Do you think the secret to successful networking is being born extroverted? Relax. Even the “natural networker” has worked hard to be at ease in a room full of people they haven’t met. Their talent isn’t inborn. You can develop business networking skills with the right preparation.

There are nine quick and easy networking tips to prepare your networking skills. If you are shy, good news, talking to other people is far down the list. Begin with these simple steps to feel more confident when it comes time to meet and greet.

1. Prepare

Know why you are networking. Have a specific purpose. Are you looking for prospects, getting exposure in your market, or positioning for a promotion? Networking isn’t selling and it’s not just for promoting yourself. You can use it to search for resources and build your brand many other things. Keep your purpose clear to overcome obstacles and excuses.

2. Know Yourself

“What do you do?” is the first question you’ll be asked at business events. Yet it’s amazing how many people fumble for an answer. The answer is a subject on which you are the final expert. Write a short self-introduction and practice out loud until it sounds natural. You’ll adjust it as you use it, but the written description is a good place to start.

3. Know Your Market

Believing that “everyone is my target market” will make your networking vague and inefficient. List the characteristics of your ideal client and focus on events that attract these people.

4. Have Materials Ready

It’s embarrassing to come up empty-handed when asked for your card. Have business cards, a small notepad, and a pen with you at all times. Keep emergency stashes of cards at home, in your office, and even in your car.

5. Choose Your Event

The business club president or event host should be able to tell you who is attending, if it’s strictly business or more social, and if it’s informal or has an agenda. You’ll be more confident in knowing the venue is right for you.

Networking is an ongoing cycle of preparing yourself, meeting people, getting to know them, and finding ways to create a deeper bond. Any new task is going to feel awkward at first. Practice and repetition of these nine networking tips will help your skills grow. Someday your “natural” ability will make someone else jealous.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Whether you’ve recently signed up or have been a member for years, membership in a networking organization can be a valuable choice in growing your business. And yet, as members, we don’t always take full advantage of the opportunities our associations, chambers, and clubs offer us. With today’s economy it is even more important to get every bit of benefit possible from the dues we pay.

There is companion to this article, “Joined a Networking Organization? 7 Strategies to Get More Value, Benefits, and Exposure.” Here is a quick review of those seven ideas:

• Know the Benefits
• Develop a Relationship with the Staff
• Be Consistent - Be Persistent
• Be Insistent
• Offer an Exclusive Discount
• Advertise Your Membership

The possibilities of any good-sized organization are nearly limitless, so here are four more strategies to get more worth from your dues.

Strategy #1: Take a Leadership Position

Most organizations have a Board of Directors, committees, or events. They need people to lead these groups and plan the events. In networking, it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. Being a leader means you’re in front of a larger number of people at once, letting them get to know you better.

Strategy #2: Refer New Members to the Organization

The first rule of receiving is to give first. If you make the effort to refer new members to the organization you are accomplishing two very important things that will benefit you in the long run. First, you are strengthening the organization so that it becomes a bigger pool of resources. Second, you are earning the gratitude and esteem of the organization staff and leadership. They will consider your first for referrals and they may even actively seek referral opportunities to show you their thanks.

Strategy #3: Volunteer in the Office

The more you learn about the inner workings of the organization, the better you are able to understand how to participate. By offering your assistance, you are showing yourself to be a resource to the organization and the staff. You will again earn their gratitude and appreciation. And if their office is anything like the Clovis Chamber office, it will be a hub of activity, presenting you with regular opportunities to meet new business and community leaders.

Strategy #4: Offer to Teach & Mentor Other Members

An advanced networking strategy is to establish yourself as an expert. If your area of expertise is something of interest to other members, offer to provide a free seminar or training once a month. Ask the organization to sponsor and promote the event. They may do this in return for the value of your time and knowledge. If you cannot arrange a seminar though them, simply approach and offer to help other members. You’ll again be perceived as a leader and the best way to get is to give first.

When you combine these four strategies, plus the seven ideas from my previous article, you have a wide range of tools to select from. Decide what works for you based on your interests and time; not all of these will be possible. But even one or two strategies to leverage your membership can pay off in the short-term and will definitely make your membership worth more to you in the long run.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

You’re happily networking at your favorite Chamber of Commerce event, meeting like-minded people, sharing information, getting to know each other and building relationships, when you see one coming. The pushy, aggressive, all-sales networker. You’ve never met this person, but the handful of business cards, the room-scanning eyes and the never-still lips are a dead giveaway. You try to duck behind someone else, but it’s too late. They’ve got you in their tractor beam!

What do you do when you’re at an event and you encounter the pushy salesperson? Your dread of – and exasperation with – these people might be one of the reasons you avoid networking. And that’s not good, because you’re missing out on meeting great people who truly want to build relationships.

Here are three plans for dealing with these people and the way they make you feel. Pick and choose from these strategies depending on your personality and what you feel comfortable with. Not everyone will want to use them, but knowing you have options will make your next networking event much more comfortable and productive.

Plan A: Let them do their thing, then walk away

Let them give you their pitch. Just listen, don’t encourage them. You’ll know it’s almost over when they hand you their card. End the conversation with the tone and words that we use in wrapping up a phone conversation. “Okay, great, thank you, I’ll let you know. Nice meeting you. Enjoy your evening.” Shake their hand and walk away.

This might take some nerve because they might not be done with the conversation. But if you’ve decided you just don’t want to invest any more time, end the conversation and move on. They might think you’re rude, or they might not even notice. This move precludes any future relationship.

Plan B: Make them engage you as a person

Don’t act like a prospect by accepting their presentation first; make them consider you as someone with a life and interests that may coincide with theirs. Take over the conversation by asking questions about them personally. Ask if they are from the area, what they did before this job, or how they found out about this event. Do not hesitate to interrupt them! They are being rude by treating you as an “easy mark.” You are allowed the small incivility of breaking into their stream of consciousness.

This is a gentler way to deflect the sales pitch. You are still engaging them, but on a more personal level. You’ve changed the interaction from salesperson/prospect to person/person. There might be an opportunity to develop a relationship based on commonalities you may discover in the regular conversation. Or, they may relentlessly return to their sales pitch. In that case, go back to Plan A.

Plan C: Call them out

If they ask you for the sale right there, the first time you’ve met them, or if they are handing you five business cards “in case you know someone who could use my services,” then you need to call them out. Not by going out back and settling it “High Noon” style, but by telling them that you don’t do business that way. Tell them, “I appreciate your enthusiasm/interest in me, but I prefer to get to know someone a little bit before I do business or refer them to other people. Let’s get together for coffee so we can learn more about each other’s businesses.” You are telling them that they must invest a little bit of time. And that you are looking for a mutually beneficial relationship, as true networkers do.

You will immediately separate out those who are willing to build relationships, but got carried away, from those who don’t care and just want the sale. You may occasionally find those persistent sales people take the coffee meeting as another chance to pitch you. Revert to Plan B or invent an appointment and get out (Plan A)! More often, you will discover that the “pushy salesperson” is actually someone who is under pressure to perform or who just doesn’t grasp the true foundation of networking. Here is your opportunity to gently guide them through example.

You’ll learn that very few people at networking events are actually hard-core, no-frills, all-prospecting sales people. Why? Because they would rather be in the office making cold-calls or setting appointments. Networking is a long-term investment, not a short-term sales plan. They’ve been to a few events, made no sales, and gave up. You’re not likely to encounter these people more than once or twice.

One of the most annoying and uncomfortable aspects of the pushy networker is that they control the interaction. These three plans have the same foundation. They allow us to take charge in a way that is compatible with positive, long-term networking. Once you have these plans in mind, and have given yourself permission to interrupt people, run the conversation and make suggestions, you’ll find that you are much more comfortable with the possibility of seeing these kind of people.

Fortunately, you’ll also learn that people who start with the sales pitch are often just nervous and unsure what to do. Someone told them that networking was selling, so they are selling. Or, they think it’s inappropriate to talk about their lives, so what else to discuss but work? You’ll help them break this pattern, be a more successful networker, and perhaps build a relationship with you. Now there’s a plan that helps everyone.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Every once in a while I run into someone who tells me they don’t need networking. I used to believe that everyone needed networking. But I didn’t want to argue with them, so I would put on my “thoughtful” face and say something very noncommittal. Sometimes they’d give me a reason why they didn’t need it and sometimes they would let the statement just hang our there between us.

I have changed my mind and now believe that there are some people who don’t need networking at all. Are you one of them? If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, then you are a person who does not need networking.

• If you work for someone else, are you guaranteed to never lose your job for any reason?
• If you own your own business, do you have more clients than you know what to do with, who always pay on time, even though you charge far more than the competition?
• Can you walk into any business and meet with the decision maker whenever you want?
• Are you so incredibly famous that you never need to introduce yourself to anyone?
• Are you certain you’ve always picked out the best possible service provider the first time, every time, straight from the phone book?
• Do you know everything there is to know about the right products, services, or opportunities for you and your family?

Of course, no one can answer “yes” to all these questions. The only people who don’t need to network are these who are 100% self-sufficient; who don’t buy, sell, or trade any service or goods made by people; who don’t need any information or resources that they cannot provide for themselves and who have no need to interact with society. In other words, a hermit. Still, some people convince themselves that they are job-loss proof, that their business is the best it could be, and that they alone have all the answers.

Can we try to find someone in today’s world who doesn’t need networking? You could argue that the tribes people of the Kalahari Desert don’t need to network because they are self-sufficient. But look at the word we use to describe them: “Tribes-people.” The very concept of a tribe is a group of people with a common heritage working together for a group purpose. So-called “primitive” people actually have highly developed networking skills because their very lives depend on it. Everyone who lives within a society is dependent on other people to provide some aspect of their survival. We interact on a daily basis with people who provide us with information, knowledge, and the resources we need to live.

Networking is a survival skill in society and in business. In society, we need to interact with other people whether it’s family, co-workers, or clients. In fact, the ability to network is one of the main business skills that will determine whether or not someone grows or shuts down a business, stays in their job in hard economies, and if ultimately any aspect of their business is successful.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Networking is a fundamental business and life skill. It is the ongoing process of building and developing an interconnected web of mutually beneficial relationships. In other words, you meet people and build some kind of relationship with them, whether it’s a deep friendship or occasional business contact. You strengthen relationships by communicating with people, providing them with things they need, finding common interests, and doing things together. The relationship is cemented when the other person finds a way to help you in the form of information, support, or business referrals. It is a cycle of actions, interactions, and follow-up.

As you repeat this process with more and more people, you will have an ever-expanding pool of contacts that you know, have done things for, and can count on them to help you in return. You will be at different stages with different people. Relationships will grow stronger, wane and perhaps end, but an experienced networker will have a net growth in their base of close “friends” and in the sheer number of people they have interacted with.

Not every contact will be a friend, but most of them should be friendly. You may have members of your network who you are not friends with and may not even like, but because you have done something for them, they are willing to reciprocate. The tie will be stronge and more reliable if you have a personal relationship. A non-friendly relationship is only there as long as you can do something for each other.

This process is called “networking“. The result of it is your “network”, a group of people you have some level of reciprocal relationship with.

It’s a very simple series of activities. Go places, meet people, interact with them, and keep track of who, what, where when. That’s it. Simple stuff. So why is it so hard for us to start networking or to do it consistently? Because it’s easy to not do. Today’s business environment is complicated and our daily lives are over-booked, over-stressed, and over-analysed. We find ourselves resisting networking because we are overwhelmed. We’ve overthought the process until it seems like a hopeless complication, not a vital activity that will benefit us now and will compound over time.

If we return to the foundation of networking – a simple process of building relationships – we’ll find ourselves more willing to get started and keep going. Take a few minutes each day to find a way to take simple step forward in any relationship you currently have. Find a way to expand your current contacts just one person at a time. By not overwhelming ourselves with a complicated process, we can grow our network and build our businesses.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Networking has picked up more than a few negative connotations over the years: schmoozing, selling, card swapping and more. There is another, more subtle perception about networking that is not necessarily negative, but that limits us all the same. The idea persists that networking takes place only at large, “mix and mingle” type of gatherings.

These are usually Chamber of Commerce events, called mixers, or sundowners, or after hours, or any one of a number of creative names that still bring up the idea that all networking takes place in a very large room full of people.

Certainly a Chamber mixer can be an excellent way to meet new people, especially if your Chamber works hard to get a good mix of attendees and people are there to build relationships, not sell. But this is a restrictive opinion because networking includes activities, actions, and habits that are extremely diverse and creative. If you believe this is your only networking avenue, you are missing out on building relationships in many ways.

What else is networking besides going to mixers? It includes any actions you take: meeting people, communicating with them in a way that builds rapport, and giving them help they need (i.e. resources, info, leads). It is anything you do that builds and strengthens a mutually beneficial relationship.

This includes:

• Making a supportive phone call
• Inviting someone to coffee
• Offering a referral to a service they need
• Exhibiting at business trade shows
• Learning about their services to share with others
• Going with someone to a large social event
• Setting up a meeting between two friends
• Sending a prospective lead to someone
• Giving first, without expectation of return
• Forwarding an interesting article
• Writing a testimonial
• Conducting or attending training seminars
• Taking people to lunch
• Sending thank you notes

Don’t limit yourself in the future by thinking of networking as an event with a large crowd of people sipping drinks and “mingling.” Think about all the different actions that you can take to meet people, build relationships, and develop your network.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Some people who join large networking organizations are terrifically successful. They not only use the discounts and attend events, but do a few simple things that are easy, but out of the ordinary, to work the system and squeeze every drop of value from their membership.

It’s even more important in today’s economic environment to maximize your benefits. In a live teleseminar conducted in January, Steve Siebold, a world-class speaker and coach, said “Right now you should focus only on profit-producing activities.”

Membership in a networking organization can be a profit-producing activity especially if you leverage what they offer. Wouldn’t you like to be one of their members who benefit the most? Here are seven simple strategies to apply now.

Strategy #1: Know the Benefits

Go to a new member orientation or ask for a one-on-one session with the Membership Director, Membership Chair, or even the CEO. They will gladly tell you as much as they can because they want you to renew next year.

Strategy #2: Develop a Relationship with the Staff

They will remind you of events, give you insider information on policy decisions, and include you in informal focus groups to determine future activities. Staff also gives referrals to callers and make suggestions to the executive officers on whom to use for goods and services. As always, we refer people we know, like and trust. If you organization is almost completely volunteer run, seek out board members, too.

Strategy #3, #4, and #5: Be Consistent, Persistent, and Insistent

Become a regular (be consistent). Other members will get to know you better, see you as a resource and will be more comfortable doing business and sending referrals to you.

Stick with the organization (be persistent) once the newness and initial excitement wear off. Networking is a long-term investment in our businesses, not a short-term solution to poor sales or a job-search.

Make sure that staff is providing you with the benefits that were promised when you joined (be insistent). Understand that most non-profit organizations are chronically understaffed or are run by volunteers. They may be overwhelmed, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease. It’s also gratifying for staff to know that someone is using the benefits they’ve worked hard to find.

Strategy #6: Offer an Exclusive Discount

Membership organizations should always be open to providing more benefits. If you give a discount or freebie to other members, the organization will very likely promote your offer (and your company) without any cost to you. Be sure that it is a truly valuable benefit they can’t otherwise get, or it will look like a flimsily disguised advertisement. The local phone directory provides a benefit that is so good I use it as one of my major selling points. Think the exposure pays off for them? You betcha.

Strategy #7: Advertise Your Membership

Promote the fact that you invest in local organizations. It matters to your customers. For example, a study conducted in August of 2007 by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives found that 63% of people are more likely to buy from a small business that is a member of a Chamber of Commerce. But people have to know you are a member to be influenced. Make sure your membership plaque is up to date, ask for window stickers, use their logo on business cards, letterhead, and your website. If your organization is well regarded, then this should apply whether or not it’s a Chamber.

If you apply these seven strategies, you’ll get the maximum value out of your membership.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

I know why you want to network with me: I’m funny, cool, rich, and have a million friends. Okay, I’m not rich and don’t have a million friends, but I’m popular because I give first, I always seek to refer business, and I’m positive and upbeat.

Are you confident about your networking skills and what you have to offer? Many people aren’t, even though they too have the potential to be funny, friendly, and full of ideas, resources, and referrals. They approach networking with fear and trepidation. Since networking is a vital part of any business development strategy, it’s important to not let this fear hold you back from networking.

For many people, a more confident approach to networking simply requires a clearer picture of what they have to offer. Answer these questions honestly to see what positive skills you bring to the table, and where you can improve for greater self-assurance in networking.

• Are you networking to build relationships, not for prospecting?
• Do you have a clear purpose for every event you go to or action you take? (Are you looking for new contacts, deepening current relationships, finding referrals for your contacts, etc.?)
• Can you tell someone in less than 30 seconds what you do in a way that they can understand, remember, and be able to do something about?
• Are you willing to give first, without expecting an immediate and equivalent return? (Otherwise that is called selling when I expect a return in value for what I’m offering.)
• Can you clearly describe the benefits of your service or product? (This means you understand the difference between features and benefits)
• Do you have a unique or memorable persona or brand? (Make sure you don’t cross the line between unique and weird. Eccentric people have a unique identity that is memorable
• You want people to think of your uniqueness in a positive way.)
• Do you consider small talk as a way to learn about other people, rather than idle chitchat?
• Are you constantly seeking to provide referrals and relevant information to your network?
• Do you have a way to track and keep in touch with your contacts?

If you can answer “yes” to all these questions, you’ll feel more confident when you are networking, even if you are in a room full of strangers. You’ll have a clear agenda that isn’t hidden and that works for the benefit of everyone. If you’re uncertain or have never considered the answers to these questions, you now have a list of skills to work on. But don’t wait to network until you have all the answers, this is often a work in progress. Just having some of these ideas is a good place to start and as you meet other networkers, you’ll clarify your thoughts and build your confidence. Remember the saying, “do the thing and you will have the power.”

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

If you are in business, you must have a strong network in order to thrive. As a chamber membership director for 6 years, I have seen people come and go. One big difference between those who thrive in their business and those who closed their doors has been the ability to network and create an interwoven system of beneficial relationships.

A manufacturer needs dependable suppliers, reliable workers, and robust wholesalers to distribute their product. Retail store need sources of goods, positive relations with neighbors, and excellent customer service. All business owners need some networking skills, but there are three types that absolutely must develop strong personal networking skills to survive.
These types of business people will succeed or fail based on their networking skills: sole proprietors, people in their first sales job, and home-based or direct selling business owners.

Sole Proprietor

The challenge for a first time, one-person business is the sheer number of different skills they must master in order to be successful. They may be a fabulous graphic designer with strong computer and art skills, but they also need to know: marketing, accounting, sales, etc. DaVinci was a genius and mastered many disciplines from architecture to irrigation, but most of us don’t have the time, IQ or desire to become the DaVinci of business. Therefore you need an absolutely reliable source for either 1) learning enough of these skills to survive or 2) where to outsource these activities so that you can focus on your true passion which is what makes you money.
You also need a supportive group of people who understand the unique trials and tribulations of being a micro-business owner. They can reassure you that what you may be feeling is normal. Or they can guide you when you go off track. Your network will be a vital feedback mechanism to help you continue to move in the right direction.

Unless you have venture capital backing, between the two fundamental resources of time and money, you probably have less money than time. You need to leverage every dollar you have. You do not have the resources to experiment with the best and most effective advertising tools. A networking can save you thousands of dollars by providing you with feedback on their experience.
Assuming you’ve bootstrapped like many businesses in the U.S. you’re probably not going to have the money for advertising anyway. You won’t be able to afford newspaper ads, the yellow pages, mass mailings, radio or television. So how are you going to find customers? How are you going to show them the value of your product or services? You have two choices: cold-calling or networking.

First-time Sales Job

Being a sales person is hard. It takes perseverance and a thick skin, especially if your new boss has given you a list of business names, set you down at a phone, and said, “Here, make some sales.” This is sometimes a weeding-out process. One source says there is a 30% turnover in sales jobs. If you do not want to be part of this statistic, you need to make more cold-calls and be the best closer ever (“coffee is for closers”). Or if your soul cringes at the thought of being willing to increase your rejections and harden yourself to being solely about the sale, you can become an expert networker.

By meeting people, making connections, and helping others, you’ll create warm leads. This is where you still may be calling someone you haven’t met, but you know someone they know. Or you’ve been given an insider tip that they are looking for your product. The close rate is much higher. You’ll feel more comfortable talking to a friend of a friend.

The holy grail of selling is the “hot referral” (someone who is ready to buy, you just need to take their order). If you do not have a network, the only way you are going to get these is if your company spends money on advertising. And if you’re working for a local office of a major firm, you are going to get this. Do you think that the company is going to give these hot leads to the brand new salesperson or are they going to the experienced, senior sales person who has done the time and paid their dues? So where else are you going to get these leads? From someone in your network whom you’ve developed a relationship with and who believes in you enough to send you their friends and acquaintances.

Home-based or Direct Selling Business

You’ve heard the saying that you are “in business for yourself, but not by yourself?” For many of the excellent, reputable multi-level this is absolutely true. You are the business owner, with all of the benefits and responsibilities of proprietorship. But the company whose product you represent provides you with materials, advice, training and a very large network of representatives who are learning the product and the business along with you.

Like the sole proprietor, you rarely have a large, national marketing campaign creating business for you. In fact, this is one of the major tenants behind the direct selling industry: the savings on advertising is passed to the consumer. So the only way you are going to make sales is through networking. The company wants to see you succeed, but they cannot do the work for you.

How will you continue to grow your business once you’ve contacted every one of your friends, family, and co-workers? Networking and referrals are the only way you are going to develop a strong team and a reliable income.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

How can networking be like getting rich? They are both simple to do. But if that’s true, why aren’t more people rich and good at networking (which can make you rich)? Because it’s simple, but not easy.

An article in MSNBC.com’s Money section by Harry Domash says that getting rich isn’t easy, but it’s simple. All you need is income, time and discipline. The simple – but not easy – act of saving a portion of your income and then letting it build over time will create great wealth. What is true for building wealth is also true for building a great network.

It takes small actions, time, and discipline.

Take small actions to build relationships with other people. These do not need to be monumental tasks of great effort. It is the small, thoughtful things that give you a great return. Learn about their needs, send them referrals, provide them with information, and generally work to give them value first.

Like investing, networking takes time for your results to compound. If you do one beneficial or positive thing for someone, they’ll think that’s nice but it won’t create a lasting impression. If you do two or three things, now you’ve established a positive pattern that they’ll remember. And if you continue this pattern over a long period of time, you’ve created a friend, and a fan, for life.

The hardest part is discipline. You have to stick with it even if you don’t think you’re seeing results. This is where most people lose interest and give up on getting rich, or building a network. They join a group and pay their dues for a year but never show up. Or they attend a meeting, then let a few months go by, attend another one and eventually lost interest. Along the way they decide that they gave it a try, but nothing happened. They didn’t let their efforts compound. Or they expected to receive something for nothing, they took no action that benefited anyone else, but just decided that the sheer fact that they joined or showed up meant they should get something back.

You don’t get rich off some small deposit. Networking doesn’t work with one or two small, inconsistent efforts either . It takes all three parts of the plan: small actions, compounded over time, conducted with discipline. Decide that you are ready to create a portfolio of positive networking actions and apply your efforts over time. The results will compound – with interest.

About the Author: Beth Bridges is The Networking Motivator™ and creator of the 5 Part Networking Success Plan ™, a simple networking system that can help anyone from business owners to sales agents to college students develop a powerful network. Subscribe to the weekly Networking Motivator Newsletter at www.thenetworkingmotivator.com for a quick boost of networking inspiration, information and motivation.”

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