How to Grow your Business Through Networking
By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved

One smart business owner can do a lot to make a business successful.  But, put that together with other great business minds all sharing ideas and brainstorming … now you have … Networking Dynamics!  Brainstorming and networking with other creative people is a powerful tool to create Success in your business.  You can’t just go it alone in this competitive marketplace.  You need the help and knowledge of other successful people to stay on top.

Networking is not an option to becoming successful … it is a Necessity!  How can you possibly keep up to date and compete with the stiff competition without having that edge of additional knowledge and shared information?  You can’t!

Wouldn’t you like to know how other business owners keep their staff happy and motivated?  Wouldn’t you like to know how they handle their day-to-day problems and challenges?  Sure you would, and all you have to do is ASK!

There is so much to learn, and we cannot do it all by ourselves. We need to share and network all the time.  There are opportunities out there just waiting for you and all you have to do is to start looking for them.  Every time you attend a tradeshow, convention or seminar those opportunities await you.  

You can start by meeting other business owners during convention breaks and talk to everyone everywhere you go about your business.  Don’t be shy, introduce yourself and start sharing.  When you take the time to share, so will they.  Exchange business cards and keep in touch with your new business friends.  When you speak with other business owners that are not in your direct competition you can share and learn everything about one another’s business.  

Networking is what made my business so successful.  That is why I believe in it so strongly.  When I opened my first retail store over 15 years ago, I had no knowledge of the industry.  I just jumped in with both feet … wading through the trails and tribulations by myself.  Until one day I was invited into a focused networking group of retailers.  This focus group helped to create such incredible growth within my retail business.   

My business increased over ten times in a short three-year period.  I could not have done that without the help and support of this networking group.  You can also create this type of opportunity for yourself.  Meet with them on a regular basis and share your invaluable information.  You will be amazed at how fast this will grow your business!

The Great Benefits of Networking  

• To create a networking alliance of shared successes
• Meet new people and develop new friendships
• Share ideas, marketing strategies and challenges with others from the same industry
• Know that you are not alone with your concerns and problems
• Refer people to other businesses / they will return the favor
• Meet seminar leaders that can give you new insight and solutions to help your business grow
• Brainstorming ideas will increase your creativity and business effectiveness

Networking Skills

• Focus on getting to know others first.
• Create a 30 second commercial about your business.
• Think about what makes your business unique.  Work on your commercial and practice it until you really have it down with enthusiasm.
• Learn how to remember names by focusing on that person only.
• Think about and relate that person’s name instantly.
• Make good eye contact.
• The eyes are the most descriptive of all body parts.  People will know if you    are sincere, honest and interested in them.
• Have enthusiasm and share as much as you can.
• Send a hand written note to every new associate you meet.
• Take a good, long look at your business card as if you have never looked at it before.  Does your card’s image and logo reflect your business properly?  Does your business card make your business look exciting and inviting to new prospective customers? 

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Bio: Debbie Allen is one of the world’s leading authorities on sales and marketing.  She is the author of five books including Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters and Skyrocketing Sales.  Debbie has helped thousands of people around the world attract customers like crazy with her innovative, no-cost marketing strategies and secrets to sales success.  Her expertise has been featured in Entrepreneur, Selling Power and Sales & Marketing Excellence.  Sign up for her FREE 6-week e-Course Business Success Secrets Revealed ($97 value) and take the online business card quiz to rate you marketing online now at www.DebbieAllen.com.