Why Going Once is Never Enough

By Sabrina Risley

Have you ever attended a networking meeting and thought, “Well that didn’t work?” It’s a common thought, but I’ve got to tell you that attending once is rarely, if ever, enough.

Networking is about long-term relationship building which generally takes time, effort, and energy.  Going to a networking event once won’t create the amount of trust needed for people to start referring business to you or to start working with you.  It occasionally happens, but it’s rare.  And when it does happen quickly, it’s commonly due to the fact that they needed your product or service and seldom because they “liked you that much.”

Many people hop from networking group to networking group, saying “networking doesn’t work.”  It’s ironic how those feeling this way are the ones who don’t stick with it and commit to networking.

Here’s a few tips to formulating a networking plan that really works:

1. Visit a handful of networking groups on a regular basis.  Find one or two networking groups that draw people with whom you resonate and then commit to returning to those groups.   Do not return to the groups that don’t fit with your business or your personality.

2.  Make connections and engage people you meet at your chosen networking groups. Listen for cues on how to connect them to others and how you can otherwise give, help and add value to their day.  

3. Be consistent. Attending the same networking groups consistently, week after week or month after month shows people that you are serious about your business.  Consistency gives you the credibility and staying power needed to build trust with fellow networkers. Additionally, some rely on seeing you on a regular basis and depend on being able to connect with you at the event(s) you’ve frequented.  I’ve seen countless professionals quit or stop attending, leaving fellow networkers wondering what happened to them, and perhaps even saying “Hey, where is Jane, I had a referral for her.”

So my best advice to making networking work for you is to choose your groups wisely, be diligent about making connections and be consistent.  Implement these three simple factors and you will be well on your way to successful networking to grow your business.

(c) 2010 Behind The Moon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

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Sabrina Risley founded Behind The Moon, Inc.® in 2003, a Colorado-based networking and referral group organization that sets itself apart with its motto “grow your business by helping others grow theirs.” Behind The Moon offers several networking events across Colorado’s Front Range, as well as referral groups that attract professionals who network to give rather than get.  You will find Sabrina speaking to audiences about effective networking techniques, the power of partnerships, and principles of service and giving as a means to grow a business.  To learn more about Behind The Moon, please visit http://www.BehindTheMoonInc.com.