Skip to main content

To Network or Not to Network

Last week, my husband and I were invited to a birthday party for one of his co-workers. Amidst the gifts, cake, Cheetos and mile long buffet I chatted with his work family about bowling, the weather, the state of the economy—anything I could think of that would entertain without offending. As a work-from-home business owner, I enjoyed the chatter and was humbled by the fact that these people who were strangers to me would welcome me into their circle. I also felt a bit ashamed. As these kind people shared their war stories, all I could think of was—I bet they could use a marketing consultant. Luckily, I had the sense to know that this was not the appropriate place to sell my marketing strategies. As a business owner, it's a struggle knowing when to sell your wares and when to take off your business hat and be a civilian. It's not an easy call. Your network is often the lifeline of your business. Making connections means making sales. But some places require caution. Weddings (I've confronted voracious sales folks at one or two), graduations, and birthday parties are times for showing restraint. If someone asks about your business—go ahead and share the details, but avoid the hard sell. In locations such as grocery stores, coffee shops, community festivals, your local park and other areas where casual conversations happen, size up the audience and the opportunity. If the situation looks favorible for promoting your business—go for it. Be friendly, be honest and make the connection.

Read How Networking Helps in Promoting a Start-up Business for more tips about building business relationships.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Responsible Record-Keeping

Maintaining your businesses financial health is a combination of planning, organization and financial management. Many businesses have been sunk by bad record keeping. Here’s an example. A dear friend, who happens to be an accountant, hired a furnace expert to solve a heating problem. He came to her house, identified the problem and quickly got to work. The repair took a short time and her furnace worked marvelously. She thanked the repairman profusely and sent him on his way. He told her the bill would arrive in the mail. Two weeks passed. No bill arrived. Another week passed and no bill. She called his office to remind him to send a bill. Another week passed and she called again. The bill never came. Bad business? Yes. Rare? No. Ask a dozen people and you are likely to hear similar stories. If a client has to ask you multiple times for an invoice, your business is doomed. A few simple steps when you start your business will save you headaches and lost business down the road. First,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Tips to Keep Customers Happy

A happy customer is a return customer. And courting return customers is easier on the bottom line then expending resources always searching for new customers. But small blunders can send even the most loyal customers to the competition without even a wave goodbye. A little upfront time spent improving your customer service approach will save the headache of trying to repair damaged customer relationships. Respond to Emails and Phone Calls A company that quickly returns customer phone calls has an edge in building customer loyalty. Trust exists when customers know their concerns and questions are taken seriously. A customer that trusts a business is more likely to continue purchasing from that business and recommending it to others. Honor Appointments There is nothing quite as frustrating for a customer than scheduling an appointment with a business or service provider only to be kept waiting. Or worse yet, to be stood up. Remember, customers may need to take time off...
Post a Comment
Read more

Writing the Essential Business Plan

It's tempting to jump in with both feet when starting a business. There's so much to do, from choosing a company name to finding employees. Before adding too many items to your to-do list, though, take a deep breath, sit down at your computer and write out a business plan. A business plan serves two main purposes. It is a resource for leaders within your company to follow throughout the life of the business. It is a resource for others such as investors and creditors to learn about your company. Each business plan is unique to the company that creates it. Length and content may vary based on the audience that will view the plan. If you are writing for investors, focus on the financials. If you are writing for creditors, include information that explains how they will be repaid. Because your company is a growing and changing business, your business plan will also change, but by including key information about your company you will always have a jumping off point for makin...
Post a Comment
Read more