[Corrie is a senior TeamMom member]
How to Network in Person
by Corrie Petersen
Have you ever gone to the grocery store and talked to someone standing in line at the check out stand and wished you had a business card to give? Did you know that what you did there is a form of networking? Networking is when you talk to people about your business and they talk about theirs.
The appropriate way to network is to talk to people and learn as much as you can about their business. You need to gather business cards and learn about their target market so you can refer people to them. When you refer people to the business owners you meet at networking events, they will begin to trust you and they won’t have a problem referring people to you.
There are many ways to network with people. The most popular way to network is online using social networking sites. One thing you need to remember is there are a lot of people that don’t use the internet to find what they are looking for. That is one reason why it’s so important to network offline as well.
Think about the business you are in right now. How many of your customers or clients are local? Look at all of the people in your community and how you could help them if they were to know about your website and business.
There are several ways you can network locally. I will share these with you in this article.
• Business after Hours
Most communities have Business after Hours meetings. These are local events where all different types of business owners gather together. These are usually sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses.
• Breakfast before Business
These are not as popular as Business after Hours meetings, but you can still go to them and meet some great people. You may get a whole different crown when you attend this type of meeting.
• Training classes or sessions
Some communities offer training classes or sessions. When you attend these not only will you learn new things, but you will meet people that you can network with.
• Conference
Have you ever attended a conference for women or men? Maybe you attended a conference for a product or service where there were people networking all the time. You can do the same and help them even if they don’t live in the same city or state as you.
When you attend any of these meetings, you need to make sure you bring some items with you. You will want plenty of business cards. Bring a stack in with you, but have more in your car just in case you run out. You should also consider bringing flyers, brochures, or postcards with you.
When you collect business cards from others, make sure you write down who each person’s target market is and what they think their ideal customer or client is. After the event you need to think about the people you have contact with and see if any of them can be helped by any of these people you have met. Also, remember these people when you are networking.
Referrals are the best for everyone!
About the Author:
Corrie Petersen runs a successful Virtual Assistant business. She submits articles for her clients at more than 20 sites saving them time and getting their name in front to more people than they thought possible. If you’re ready for maximum exposure from your articles, check out her site at http://www.virtualfreedom4you.com.
P.S. Are you looking for more work at home information? Check out http://www.WAHM-Articles.com
