Part of my day job at the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center is helping entrepreneurs find the right resources in Chicago so they can grow their businesses. It is a thrill for me to help these small business owners. A big part of relationship building is helping others so everyday I am building new relationships with people. Many of these entrepreneurs need help raising capital or finding new clients. Through some of my relationships as well as those of my co-workers, we are able to introduce entrepreneurs to investors and potential clients. We have had a tremendous amount of success over the last few years with helping companies secure capital and increase revenues.
So, my organization is a great resource for entrepreneurs. Now, on the flip side, entrepreneurs need to also continuously build their own relationships, regardless of whether an organization like mine helps them. While entrepreneurs are busy building their businesses, they often neglect to attend business events so they don't get a chance to meet new people on a regular basis. Of course, getting referrals from people they already know is a very important way to get connected to new people.
Not only is meeting new people a must for entrepreneurs, but also maintaining relationships is very important. Often, I suggest that entrepreneurs should set up an email newsletter so they can keep in touch with potential clients and let people know about their business. Also, this is a great tool for entrepreneurs to brand themselves and show their industry expertise, which is very important before someone will buy from them.
So, I suggest that small business owners seek out the local business organizations and events. For Chicago, I have a decent organization list posted at Jacobsohn.com. It is good to get yourself out there and talk to people about your business. By talking about your business, you may learn more about your target market and get some good feedback about your products/services.
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