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Referrals

Networking is not a spectator sport! What I mean is you need to DO something with those cards you've gotten from people you've connected with! Have a follow up strategy! The majority don't, many of my business coaching clients come to me to help them create systems for following up-save money, time & frustration!

Two of the most effective & least expensive marketing strategies are: Networking & Follow up. They're tied together. Networking is a waste of time, money & energy without follow up, & follow up is more effective when it is preceded by networking! Regardless of who you've read-Seth Godin, Jeffrey Gitomer, or Jay Conrad Levinson's Guerrilla Marketing (one of my texts for my Guerrilla Marketing Coaching program), all say Marketing takes at least 80% of the entrepreneur's time & budget! More, if you are a solo-entrepreneur & in business less than 5 years! That's me. Networking & follow up-both in person & online has about 45% of my time & budget.  Being trained in Guerrilla Marketing Strategies, my own coaching businesses are based on low cost marketing principles.

Networking is more than showing up & interacting...That alone, stops many cold! I stress that you don't need to interact with every person at the event! It's having conversations with as many or as few as you, the individual, is comfortable with...Networking does not have to be torture...If you are somewhat of an introvert-preferring a few close friends and taking energy from the inner world of concepts & ideas...I recommend going to a networking event with the intention to connect with 3-5 people-this makes the follow up aspect easy & a natural extension of your attendance!!

Then, there are those EXTRAVERTS, some say-those "out there", born with the gift of gab & effortless networking...Well, I am an extravert (no surprise, there, eh?), and while networking seems to be a natural extension of little ole me, treating each event as if I'm the host not a guest, gives me a purpose-to make sure everyone is comfortable! I get my energy from the outer world of people & things...The inner world of ideas & things, (being alone) drains me! I know this about how I work best & make sure I have an opportunities for much people- contact in combination with my working by myself! It's very helpful to know how you operate in the world-extraversion-introversion & how that impacts how we show up in the world, your life, your business, your choices & your ultimate success & happiness!

One of the ideas I stress in my seven (7) week Teleseries & Group Coaching Program-"Get Hired Now/Hire Yourself!" is that it doesn't matter how many cards you get from people in the room. IF you haven't really connected-had a real conversation, then, why follow up? There is no rule demanding that you MUST connect with EVERYONE there!

It's much better to have built a relationship with a few that you can follow up with & have a reason to connect & further the relationship-meet for coffee, a long call, or an email! This can be the start of a business referral source, might be a potential client or even, a new friend! Why just collect business cards & have no real reason to talk more? That's a guaranteed networking strategy designed to NOT generate business!

Networking is a great for making connections-getting business from this most effective marketing strategy takes a consistent Follow Up System-now THAT really makes $en$e!