| How many times have we started a new business | | | | your customer, you have made a great connection |
| endeavor and start hitting as many networking events | | | | and they are going to look at what you have done as |
| as possible? For which, I have been guilty of that a | | | | great "customer service". |
| time or two in my career. We often have a tendency | | | | Networking is not necessarily "in your face" sales. It is |
| of forgetting about our own backyard. As business | | | | about building relationships, connecting people, helping |
| owners, have we taken the time to go around to our | | | | others grow their business while creating strategic |
| new neighbors and introduce ourselves or our team? | | | | partnerships to grow yours. |
| Why not? I am sure time is probably the first answer | | | | I once took a Realty group on an adventure doing the |
| people give. So they go out and purchase 1000 flyers | | | | same thing. They went to businesses, performed |
| to send out to the surrounding zip codes to announce | | | | tasks, got new clues and collecting items off the wish |
| their arrival. Direct marketing is a good thing and I really | | | | list of a couple of students (brother and sister) in need. |
| do not see the end to that but there is nothing like | | | | This particular team ran through the course as though |
| good ole fashion networking and hospitality to make a | | | | it really was the Amazing Race, not really thinking |
| lasting impression. | | | | about the wonderful places they were visiting. When |
| Let's use a new Hair Salon as an example of covering | | | | they completed the course and went to the school |
| your backyard. Not only is the business owner trying to | | | | with backpacks, the children came to the counselors |
| develop a new team, they are developing a new | | | | office to meet them. A 5th grade little boy gave that |
| marketing campaign, new customers, establishing a | | | | team more character than any stop I could have |
| mission statement, business plan and a vision. Just to | | | | added. He asked simply, "what about my other sister"? |
| name a few! | | | | The team,momentarily speechless, asked the |
| We all know that laying a good foundation with team | | | | counselor for the 1st graders list of school supplies and |
| building is the start of something big. Why not spend | | | | told the children that they would be right back. |
| the day going out to neighboring businesses in a | | | | The team went to a local pharmacy chain store and |
| scavenger hunt setting, getting clues, performing tasks | | | | asked for the manager. They shared with the |
| and doing things that allow you to spend a few | | | | manager what had happened and convinced him to go |
| minutes in several businesses in your neighborhood. | | | | to the back and look for a princess backpack. |
| Here is the prize...... take a few dollars out of your | | | | Together, they all including the manager proceeded to |
| budget to get school supplies and a backpack for a | | | | find a Princess backpack and all the school supplies on |
| child in your neighborhood school. Not only has your | | | | the list. Back to the school they went and now as all |
| team learned about the businesses in the | | | | three children arrived at the counselors office, they dug |
| neighborhood they have also just given back to the | | | | into their new backpacks with great excitement. |
| community. | | | | Do you think this team experienced "The Art of |
| When you really look at the Art of Networking, it is | | | | Networking"? They definitely have a good start. Do not |
| about "how can I help you"? not "what's in it for me". | | | | forget the follow up to keep the relationships going, |
| When customers come into the salon and start | | | | continue to build your network, ask "how can I help |
| sharing their problems, there may be someone in your | | | | you?" and make sure your backyard is covered! |
| neighborhood who can help. Now you are a hero to | | | | |