Posted on June 15, 2009 in Marketing

Marketing Tips For Small Business Owners - Two Good Reasons to Network

Author: Pamela Starr
Pamela Starr is a marketing expert and the creator of The Starr Marketing Method. She publishes a weekly ezine offering free marketing ideas. If you have tried marketing your business, and are frustrated with your results, check out Pamela's free ezine and free report Easy and Affordable Marketing Tricks at: http://www.PamelaStarrOnline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

photo by stanrandom

Many small business owners hear that they need to network in order to get new clients. They rush out to a local networking group and are frustrated because they didn't meet anyone ready to buy today.

Networking can absolutely help your business grow, but you probably aren't going to experience immediate sales. If you approach networking with the right goals in mind, you will find that over time, your business will increase.

Here are two appropriate goals for networking:

1. Meet new people

This is one of the ways some people get confused about networking. Often, a group sponsor will invite you to a meeting and tell you to "bring lots of business cards!" That sounds appealing, doesn't it?

Passing out business cards is NOT networking. The only person who benefits from that is your business card printer! In the same vein, collecting lots of business cards isn't networking either.
There are two reasons why you want to meet new people.

Determine if that person is a potential client for you.
Determine if that person is a potential referral partner for you.

That is it. Collecting a lot of business cards from people who will never use your service and who will never refer others to you is simply a waste of your time.

2. Further solidify a business relationship with someone you previously met.

Often, you will see the same person at multiple events, but you never really get to know that person. And, they never really get to know you. The key to solidifying a relationship is to provide that person with information or answers they need. When you see them, ask questions about their business.The next day, you can email them with information you think they might find interesting. It might be answers to one of their questions, a link to a website, or a news article.

In reality, why you contact them isn't as important as the fact that you contacted outside of the normal networking event.

Pamela Starr is a marketing expert and the creator of The Starr Marketing Method. She publishes a weekly ezine offering free marketing ideas. If you have tried marketing your business, and are frustrated with your results, check out Pamela's free ezine and free report Easy and Affordable Marketing Tricks at: http://www.PamelaStarrOnline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com