All year we’ve been working on honing your networking skills and strategy. Unfortunately, this is one of those areas in business where you may never feel comfortable or like you’re doing enough.
But, don’t lose hope! Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or some combination, you can master your own networking strategy and achieve your networking goals.
It’s like the old, cliché break up line… in networking, you may need to come to the realization that, in fact, “it’s not you, it’s me.”
Are you sticking to your networking strategy?
Or, better yet, do you have a networking strategy? If not, this is your biggest area of opportunity to see results in your networking efforts. As in most things in life, your success (or failure) is the result of the preparation and planning you put in at the beginning. In regards to networking, do you know your:
- Networking Budget
- Business Goals
- Marketing Strategy
Once you know these three things, you can outline your networking strategy. Then, all you have to do is stick to it!
Do you know what your networking goals are?
There are lots of great reasons to concentrate on networking. However you will only have limited success if you don’t have an objective. So ask yourself…
- Are you looking for new clients or referral partners? Or even networking for a job?
- Have you attended the number and types of events you intended to?
- How well have you followed through with contacting networking leads? (Both immediately after the event and in developing a long-term marketing campaign strategy.)
Take a minute to review and even write down what your networking goals are. Consider how your strategy is setting you up for success in achieving these goals.
Have you developed a long-term strategy for working your networking leads?
There’s no point in working to building a networking lead list if you aren’t going to follow through with them on the back end. This is truly where the work of networking begins! Until you work your networking leads, they are just that. Your job now is to turn those leads into partners. Follow these steps (and click here to learn more) to get started:
- Determine where your business is lacking.
- Follow-up.
- Set aside time each week for networking.
- Give!
Now that the year is coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your networking successes and shortcomings. Give us a call at Piccolo Marketing at 615-348-7768 to get started!
