As January is hitting high gear for many business owners who are getting a jump start on closing sales for 2010, it is important to remind people that even busy people continue to network both in person and on-line. This is one of the main reasons their business is so busy and successful, they understand that when you stop networking and connecting with others you stunt the growth of your business. Think of it this way, if you were dating a person consistently for several months and then you did not hear from that person for the rest of the year, would you jump at a chance for another date with them? Maybe if you were desperate, but most of us would not feel as close to the person who dropped out of sight and would have moved on to connecting with new people. These new people could be your competitors and that means you are losing potential business!
With the internet it is easy to connect with people on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter and not need to leave your office. However, I strongly recommend doing both face to face networking and on-line. Schedule networking events in your agenda early in the month so that you make it a priority in your business and you do not miss out on opportunities to connect with the business groups in the area. If you are someone who is shy and hates to network, serve on a committee or be part of a planning group for a local event that will have you connecting with other business owners or people who are potential clients.
If you are currently using the on-line social networking sites and you do not have many friends, fans or contacts, look for groups on the sites to join so that you increase the odds of connecting with more people. If you are someone who is very private and uncomfortable with allowing everyone to see your profile you can choose to use the options that most of the sites now have for keeping parts of your profile hidden.
Finally, if you have not upgraded your cell phone in years you might wish to consider a trip to the store to see what great technological tools are available to keep you connected wherever you go. A few extra dollars spent to upgrade your phone to a smart-phone will let you get out of the office more and out where potential customers might be. Think smart and use your time effectively so that networking is part of your “to-do” list and success will follow!
All my best to your success!
~Charlene
