Monday 26 May, 2008
Unfortunately, every time the economy takes a downturn, the
fallout is felt strongly by salespeople, business owners, and
professionals alike. Don't let a bad economy be your excuse for failure.
Instead, make it your opportunity to succeed!
If you want to do well in business, you must understand that it does
absolutely no good to complain to people about tough times. When you
complain about how bad business is - half the people you tell don't care
and the other half are glad that you're worse off than they are.
While you cannot control the economy or your competition, you can control your response to the economy. Referrals can keep your business alive and well during an economic downturn.
During the last recession, I watched thousands of business people grow and prosper. They were successful because they consciously made the decision to refuse to participate in the recession. The did so by developing their networking skills and learning how to build their business through word-of-mouth.
You can do the same during a slow economy by:
Source:ceoonline.com
While you cannot control the economy or your competition, you can control your response to the economy. Referrals can keep your business alive and well during an economic downturn.
During the last recession, I watched thousands of business people grow and prosper. They were successful because they consciously made the decision to refuse to participate in the recession. The did so by developing their networking skills and learning how to build their business through word-of-mouth.
You can do the same during a slow economy by:
- Diversifying your networks
You need breadth and depth. Participate in different kinds of groups.
- Don't be a "cave-dweller"
Be visible, put yourself in play, get out and meet people at business events.
- Learn how to work the meetings you attend
It's not called net-sit, or net-eat, it's called Net-WORK. Learn networking systems and techniques that apply to the different kinds of organisations you attend.
- Prepare effective introductions
And presentations to give to other business people at networking events and meetings.
- Develop your contact spheres
These are a groups of business professionals who have a symbiotic or compatible, non-competitive relationship with you.
- Learn effective techniques to ask for referrals from your clients and people you know
For example, the "who do you know who" technique... Ask your referral sources, "who do you know who needs ____________".
- Offer incentives
For people to refer you (it may be as simple as recognition).
- It's about building relationships with other business people
Most importantly, understand that networking and building your business through word-of-mouth is more about farming than it is about hunting.
Source:ceoonline.com
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