Week Seven ““ Pulling it all together
Week Seven ““ Pulling it all together
Sorry for the late post everyone. I had to put my old Honda Accord to rest due to a very fortunate accident for me. Dealing with insurance claims and new car shopping was a time vacuum that took more out of me than i can relay. The good news is that I replaced it with an Infiniti M45! Oh my! I finally bought a mid life crisis stud car. Look forward to pictures in future posts:-).
Ok, let’s get to work!
There’s never a better time to start networking than the minute you’ve finish your written plan of action. The use of technology today can help you do so much information gathering that developing specific ideas and solutions are often a click away. The sky is the limit!
The benefits
By using networking or word of mouth strategy to market your business you’ll benefit in several ways:
- Save thousands of dollars in collateral material and advertising
- Build personal customer relationships within a very targeted specific market
- Create opportunities for other professionals to assist you and profit themselves along the way
Ultimately you avoid the added cost at a time when funds are likely to be most stretched.
Cutting out the heavy administration of a full on traditional marketing program will allow you to spend time doing the things that you love in your business. You are in control and have the freedom and flexibility to decide your working hours and create the perfect environment in which to do it.
The first step
Whether you are just starting to network or if you’ve been at it for years the first step, is always – coming up with the big idea! To come up with one, ask yourself these three questions. Just start creating lists and add to what you’ve already done.
1. Is there a gap in my current network where synergy can be achieved?
Does everyone know what you are up to and why? Are you talking about your vision, mission and goals to people that you love you? How about members of your church or gym? Are there people in your networks that others can benefit from knowing? Wherever you find yourself you need to have the ability to network, communicate and build connections. There is no time off for real networkers.
2. Can I utilize my hobby/passion/skill?
Thousands of people turn something they love doing (arts and crafts, pet care, health & fitness) into a way of making a living. How can you do what you do well to increase your value amongst your networks?
3. Can I do it better?
What do you need to do to reach a level of excellence within the boundaries of your talents? Remember, talent is found in your recurring patterns of thought and behaviors. We all have talent for something. You need to find yours and use it for the benefit of the world!
When answering these questions, bear in mind that the more you niche your ideas, the better. Rather than aiming to work in all kinds of networks with all kinds of people, think more about special niches with certain groups or types of people. The more niche your business, the more you will understand your networking activities and keep control of things. This will also keep marketing costs low.
All out of ideas?
If you have run through these questions without success, go back and try again! Use the who, what, when, where, why and how analysis approach. If that doesn’t work, try mind-mapping solutions. If all else fails borrow someone else’s ideas. There are literally thousands of articles and podcasts on every idea that you can imagine. Why not buy into someone else’s ideas. There is a growing number of google-able ideas out there.
An idea shared
People often ask if they should talk to other people about their networking ideas. The answer is yes. In fact, that’s the whole point. Share your networking ideas with anyone that is interested. In the beginning, talk to friends and family and the people you trust. Share your ideas with them and ask for feedback. What do they think is a great business conversation starter? Practice your elevator pitch. Get a friend to re-write your vision and mission.
Once you’ve come up with a big ideas, it’s time to write them down in the form of a business plan, which is a far easier task than you might imagine but we’ll cover that part next week!
Is there a gap in my current network where synergy can be achieved?
When thinking about this, yes, there is definitely a gap in my current network. Even many of my close family and friends don’t know exactly what I do. I often have friends mention something to me about life coaching or someone else who is a life coach, and I have to educate them that I am an executive and business coach, and explain the difference.
In this area, I need to reach out to people more and tell them what I am doing. One idea I have for this is to set up a Facebook page so my family and friends can become “fans” and see what I am up to. They can read more on this page about my business, what I do, and what type of people I work with. I also have added my family and friends to my monthly newsletter list so they get a taste of what I do and see it firsthand. Several friends have commented that they didn’t know exactly what I did, and that the newsletter has helped to clarify that. When friends and family ask me how my business is doing, instead of just saying “fine”, I am going to start going into more detail about the kind of work I am doing, how it is benefiting my clients, and who would be good referrals for me. I have lots of friends, and this could definitely be a benefit to me for my marketing strategy!
I have also held back when talking with people at other events. For example, I am taking a class through my church and there are over 25 people in the class. Not one of them (except my husband!) knows what I do. This is a great opportunity for me to start talking more about my business and expand my network.
Can I utilize my hobby/passion/skill?
One thing that came to mind when reading this question is the value I can provide some of my networking groups for free so they understand what I do better. Not only will this help my fellow networkers understand what I do better, but they will receive value from the process, which will make them more loyal to me. For example, I am the leader of The Networking Community (TNC) team in Germantown, and one thing I can do is offer each member a complimentary coaching session on something that will be useful to them. I am not looking for their business; the goal would be to educate them on my services and what I have to offer.
Can I do it better?
What I can do better is finding opportunities to talk about my business. I am noticing that there are several opportunities that I am not seizing. The more I talk about my business and how I help my clients, the more confident I will be in the services and products I offer. The more I talk about what I do, the more confident I will be and the easier it will be for me to talk with people and build my practice. The more I talk about my business, the more other people will talk about me and my business, and the more exposure I will get in the world! I need to make this part of my everyday life.
1. Is there a gap in my current network where synergy can be achieved?
Yes. Part of finding the synergy is indetifying what chacteristics I have and what I am looking for. As I resonate with more clarity, I will more easily draw like minded people to me. But I’ve got to help the Universe out a little bit ““ by attending events, being open to possibilities, and actively engagine the people who immediately look like a good fit. It’s up to me to fill my gap.
2. Can I utilize my hobby/passion/skill?
This is the part that is most”¦ confusing for me. Because I have 2 seemigly disparate businesses. Yes, I am learning to leverage my Public Speaking Coaching skills to open a line of communication about XANGO. That’s clear for a big picture/long term vision (offer seminars or workshops, classes etc.) I’m still working out the details for the smaller connection. It’s always weird when you meet some one and they say “well, I have 2 businesses”¦” And yes, it’s best if you listen to the other person and offer what best meet their needs, but in a networking environment we’re trained to ask what the other person does ““ or go around the room with our elevator speech ““ I can choose which one I’ll do acording to the people who introduce themselve before me, and approach the folks after who need to hear my other pitch”¦ But yes, I can and WILL do more.
3. Can I do it better?
Love this ““ thank you – yes, as best use of my skills, I need to let my talents out to benefit the world! As I practice more in networking and offering, I spread the word & spread my light a little more each day. I am already doing better ““ and will continue to grow and do better.
1.Is there a gap in my current network where synergy can be achieved?
Yes, there is definitely a gap. People in my professional networks know who I am and what I’m trying to establish or get going. But the people who are in my social networks don’t really know what I do. My church members don’t fully know or understand. The members of my girlfriends’ group don’t understand since we rarely talk about what each of us do. Those in my professional groups know that I do work in diversity and inclusion but I’m not seeing much concept of linking people together from members of those groups. Obviously it’s time to figure out if I’m in the right groups as well as boost my own “˜spiel’ when I’m around others.
I have found myself holding back when around others, not talking about myself but obviously I need to spend more time actually engaging others about what they do professionally.
I can use my facebook site to try and let people know what I’m doing ““ in terms of updating my profile. Also, inviting people from business networks into there.
And of course, the more clear I become about who I am, what I stand for, where I’m going, etc. the more like-minded people and situations I bring into my life.
2.Can I utilize my hobby/passion/skill?
This is tough for me to get a handle on the “˜how’ ““ as a trainer/facilitator, I am not sure how to engage people through my passions which include golf and helping others through church/community engagement events. I am actively involved but people don’t seem open to the idea of someone else coming and trying new things with them. “We’ve always done it this way here” is unfortunately a prevalent attitude with many people in my communities. Perhaps when I let people know more about what I do, they’ll engage me to assist them with the facilitation/training aspects of what we’re doing and then that will give me more opportunities to reach out to others. I love talking with people, assisting them in moving forward, bettering their lives and relationships. By seeing me in action, and then referring me to others for future business, that would allow me to establish broader and deeper networks.
3.Can I do it better?
I can always be doing things better ““ nothing is ever perfect. I need to find ways to get in front of my target audiences, golden geese, etc. I need to find a way to brag about what I do, without bragging! Toot my own horn without being “˜over tooting’! I need to find more/better opportunities to talk about what I do, demonstrate my skills, and then obtain those necessary references in order to grow my business.