Improve your business networking strategy
Most businesspeople engage in networking activity because, at some level, they want to see business results. More often than not, business referrals are top of the list in terms of desirable outcomes from an entrepreneur’s business networking strategy.
In a new business TV show produced by yourBusinessChannel, networking expert Andy Lopata shares his latest business networking advice on what businesspeople can do to improve the odds of getting the referrals they are looking for.
In this show, Lopata explains that you need more than just strong networking relationships to win referrals. The referrer needs to persuade a third party on your behalf, so you need to make it easy for them to do so, and will probably mean adjusting your current business networking strategy.
In his business networking advice, Lopata recommends putting yourself in the shoes of your referrer. What many people overlook in their business networking strategy, he says, is that your contacts don’t know as much about your business as you do.
You, your business, or your skills and expertise, are at the centre of your own business networking strategy. However, in order to get referrals from your business contacts, the person referring you needs to understand exactly what you have to offer, how your business works, and the opportunities you are looking for.
You need to step into the shoes of your referrer and think about what information they need from you, in order to persuade a third party to send business your way, says Lopata in his business networking advice.
Lopata suggests that you need to imagine what kind of conversation your referrer will have with their contact. Does your referrer understand the kinds of problems your prospective clients have? Do they understand how you can help these prospective clients?
In his business networking advice, Lopata explains that it is essential that you make these points clear to the person who may refer you, and that you do so in simple terms that will make it easy for them to remember.
If this is not part of your business networking strategy at present, you need to watch this show to find out how it’s done!
