Good Old Fashioned Networking - Filling your Networking Toolbox
(Page 3 of 3 )
Now this is a big one which a lot of people miss on: always carry a supply of business cards with you. Don’t leave the office without them! Be certain that your website URL, your email address, and your site RSS feed URL are included on all of your business cards, brochures, and other promotional materials. Never let any materials leave your office without them.
When meeting someone for the first time, you only have a few seconds to make a good first impression. Be courteous and well groomed at all times. Look professional and be professional. The payoffs include self confidence as well as potential customers.
You have to know how describe your products and services in less than 30 seconds. Develop a brief and punchy description of what your business can do for your customers. This capsule of your business is called an Elevator Speech. Write, rewrite, and practice one until you can present it with ease anywhere and at any time. Listen carefully to the other people you meet and ask them questions. Most people are more than happy to talk about themselves, if given the opportunity. Many are also more than willing to help you with your problems. Remember that a good listener is usually remembered as a polite and very professional person. You will also gain much in the way of customer and market research. In fact, read Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People on how to develop this art.
Conclusion
Spending the entire day marketing on the Internet will result in many new customers and clients. Getting out into the real world, meeting and talking with people will develop even more. By listening and sharing your knowledge with others, your business will grow beyond your wildest dreams. All you have to do is a little old fashioned networking.
(This article originally appeared in the October 2004 issue of Plug-In).
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
