Referral Marketing – What I Hate About Business Networking

A personal story …

Business networking is something which many people love to hate: it is time consuming, expensive and in most cases, very inefficient.

I can understand the "time-consuming to bear" …

I can even live with the "expensive" …

If – and it's a big "if" – it produces results!

What it does not mean in general.

Most people, networking sessions are only interested in themselves. You do not have your product or service care, theyThey just want their place.

Now, for the record, I am not against the network: I am a member of the Rotary Club, I am a Toastmaster, I visit various Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade. I am one of several business networking groups. I am also the industry with a number of shows and events.

I am not anti-networking.

What I am is … anti-Networking-with-no-results-to-show-for-it.

Here is how I am with the networkingNo results for networking, a constant, predictable and measurable influx of prospects for my company produces.

I have participated in an informal meeting at the local Board of Trade. They had the usual: 30-second presentations followed by all companies in attendance, the cookies and coffee, the "natural" networking.

I met 13 new people at this meeting. I returned to my office with 13 new business cards in his hand. Once I was in all these contacts in myList, I sent them a simple greeting card that said this:

Dear [name of person],

When was nice meeting you at the networking breakfast this morning.

I really enjoyed our conversation about [topic that we discussed]

I would like to learn more about your company so that I know of who might be a good recommendation for you. Please call me at (000) 000-0000 if you use this card.

Thank you and I look forward to talking with you.

A week later,6 people call me for the card I sent them thank you.

Let me tell you something important about my business: It does not matter who calls whom first. In this case, they called me, something that has never happened before! 6 persons from 13 … that 46% 's! Not too shabby in my books. With such a response rate, which is a serious matter.

And since the time of writing, of these 6 people, 2 people were and it has brought a number of other companies to me. 26 to 33%! No matter how you look at it, it's a fantastic ratio.

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