Ready for your next lesson on building traffic to your website? Last week we learned about “Shouting” out that your website is up and running. By now, you’ve contacted nearly 100 people or more and gotten some leads. If you’ve gotten above a 2-5% sell rate, you’re off to a GREAT start.

The number may seem low, but it’s really great.

Now that you’ve gotten through the people you know, it’s time to start meeting new people.

EEEEEK! You say? Did your heart rate just go up? Did your blood pressure drop?

Don’t fret.

2) Power Networking

Networking is still not selling. So if you HATE selling, you’re still in the clear.

When growing your business, online or offline, networking is one of the best, low-cost methods. Most communities have dozens of networking events going on every week. Use your online resources, associates, or check with the local Chamber of Commerce.

You need to make it to about three meetings a week.

At this point, you need to ensure your message is clear. In two sentences or more, you need to be able to say what your website/business can do to help others. This isn’t the time to give your resume, experience, or what your hobbies may be. It is the moment where you tell everyone how you can help.

(Updated 2019) Our example at Blue Zoo Creative is: “I’m Eric Huber, Partner and Chief Creative Officer of Blue Zoo. We provide branding for web, print, and digital including web design and development, photography, video, and content. We do this through our vetted passionate contractor community called The Pride. Our goal is to inspire your customers to take action. Your Message. Our Passion. With Pride.™”

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you meet someone and they ask your name, you don’t launch into your ‘elevator speech.’ The above example is more for when it is your turn to stand up in front of a group to explain who you are and what you do.

Want a BIG tip for networking? Don’t talk about yourself. Ask questions.

Remember, although you have to sell to make money to build your business, your true goal should be to provide service to others and be the ‘go-to’ company. The more you listen, the more you learn, and the more you can figure out how to help.

But more than that, you need to ask personal questions to cement who they are into your memory. “Where are you from?” “What do you spend your time doing, besides coming to networking events?”

Want another tip? Learn their name!

NOTHING is more important to a person than their name. And if you have to ask them their name a second or third time? AWESOME! They will know you’re really going out of your way to remember them. You know what? More than likely, they didn’t catch yours either. This gives them another opportunity to learn.

Hand out business cards, and collect business cards. That night, go over them all and try to remember what you learned about them. Here are a few other ideas for remembering names.

One More Tip? Find other ways to help.

One of the biggest ways to be forefront in people’s minds is to be someone who helps regardless if you profit from it or not. And if you can master remembering people and what they do, you can connect people who may not be aware of each other.

How does this help your bottom line?

Because the more people that contact you, the more opportunities you have to connect with people, find out their needs and sell your services.

“The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.” ~ Bob Burg

Slap your name tag on and start shaking hands!

Eric

Coming up next…

Part 3) Social Saturation
Part 4) Free Factoids
Part 5) Target Practice

Did you miss…

Part 1) Shout it!