Getting to Know People<\/strong><\/p>\nNetworking online and in person is all about developing relationships and building on those relationships before attempting to turn the conversation towards doing business with you.<\/p>\n
Last night, I was part of a closed group of 4 people, getting to know each other and having a great conversation when\u00a0Kate marched up\u00a0and interrupted the conversation (not a good start). \u00a0She pushed into the group and proceeded to hand out her cards and tell us about the product she was promoting, without even introducing herself.<\/p>\n
Before I knew it, she was gone, on to her next conquest. \u00a0She didn\u2019t even recognize me, despite having met me twice before and my face being in the local newspaper every month as President of our local chamber. \u00a0She didn\u2019t ask any of us what we did or ask for business cards so she could follow up, it was all about her and what she could do for us.<\/p>\n
So I have to wonder how her business is going.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nBeing an entrepreneur means growing as a person<\/strong><\/p>\nAfter all these months, you would think she would have learned something. \u00a0But not everyone realizes the power of self-development and how important continuous learning is when you are en entrepreneur. \u00a0It\u2019s rare to see me without a book or two close by and I\u2019m continuously working on improving myself. \u00a0I don\u2019t know everything and never will, but at least I can learn something daily to help improve my business in some way.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nEffective Networking = More Business Revenue<\/strong><\/p>\nI highly suspect that the past 8 months have not been productive for Kate and yet she has not changed her approach.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure she\u2019s met hundreds of people \u2013 but never taken the time to develop a relationship with any of them. \u00a0I doubt she\u2019s heard back from many people that she gave her card to, since her approach is so unfriendly and downright rude. \u00a0And Kate has no way to follow up with anyone she met because she has never once asked for any business cards.\u00a0 As a result, she is the classic example of a network marketer who never makes any money. \u00a0But the same principles apply whether you are marketing online or offline; have a brick and mortar business, network marketing, direct sales or home based business. \u00a0Networking is all about the people you meet (not you) and the relationships you develop, including the initial contact and thereafter.<\/p>\n
As you go about networking online and attending parties this holiday season, remember these lessons and you\u2019ll go into 2011 with new and stronger relationships that may potentially help you build your business.<\/p>\n
Rachel<\/p>\n
P.S.\u00a0 Want to know what happened next\u2026.<\/p>\n
Later in the evening, Kate came up to another group I was in, interrupted my conversation with a potential client (a big no-no if you want me to like you), asked me if we\u2019d met before (only 4 times now Kate) and handed me her card yet again.<\/p>\n
Seriously?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Back in April, I posted comments about how to effectively network online and offline and gave a real life example of what not to do.\u00a0 Last night, at a local…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Update to "A Valuable Lesson in Networking" blog post - Rachel Haviland, PhD<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n