Networking Is Not Selling

A wonderful woman I met at a meeting I spoke at (Sellwood B2B) on Effective Internet Marketing You Can Do Yourself for Free mentioned when we spoke again that she hadn’t been able to attend recently because she felt she had to choose between clients and a networking group, and what follows is what I wrote back to her hours later when the comment resurfaced in my mind – that she said she greatly appreciated.  Becky asked me to post it because it has some very good points about networking – and the one at the end has been one of my secrets to success for my business!

“You commented earlier about weighing priorities as in clients vs the network groups, and it just popped in my head again, but I think the two can and should be complimentary.  But I’m not selling you on networking groups – this is my intuition telling me to email you back and let you know: in networking we work together to bring each other more clients (we are each other’s part time sales force), to foster a better reputation, and to grow personally by surrounding ourselves with like-minded professionals.

I actually have a great group of professionals, a majority of them are quality women, that meet on Tuesdays at noon at Kennedy School McMenamin’s. I have no idea how far that is from you or what your Tuesdays look like, but I think you would be a stand out contributor and find great value in it.  I happened to invite another woman today that may also be a good fit, she’s in payroll which we need – but actually I see you as an ideal fit.

I gave a networking tip today to the group that was EXTREMELY well received and it has worked wonders for me – invite your prospects and clients to the meetings.  How does that serve them and you?  They are able to do business with people at the group, able to receive referrals from the group and they get to hear about you from some of your closest (networking) partners who may also be client’s themselves (as I would).  I personally make it a point to do business with people in my groups so I can give a testimonial as a client.

Just a few cents I hope make sense.”

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Charles Montgomery

Northwest eSource

(503) 922 – 1446

charles@nwesource.com

http://www.NWeSource.com

I’ve been in the “networking” business for several years. Most people are surprised to learn that I am shy…terrified of  networking events where I know no one….that I am in no way, shape or form a Networking Natural!  (I’ve learned out of necessity.) However, I am a keen observer, and I love to study people!

I’ve noticed that those who are most successful do the following:

• Have fun
• Do not take themselves too seriously
• Never miss an opportunity to connect others (Not connect WITH others, but connect two other parties together)
• Find Power Partners

Power Partners are the people that share the same clients that you do, call on the same types of businesses, etc.  My friend, Sean Harry, says: “They are casting their line and fishing in the same pond as you.”  (Maybe not exactly the words Sean uses, but pretty similar.)  For instance, if you are a realtor, your best Power Partner is a mortgage lender.   If you are Mary Kay Representative, a possible Power Partner would be someone who sells a line of jewelry through home parties.  Think about others who sell to your clients. When you’re at a networking function, seek those professions out.  You’ll find that to be much more powerful than trying to sell your ‘goods’ to the next person you meet.