Networking Insight

Seven Summer Networking Tips

With the summer fast approaching, you should start to think about how you will continue to build you relationships.  Summer is not a time to slack off.

In fact, the summertime is a great opportunity to build up your existing relationship. At the same, you will be able meet new people in a generally more relaxed time of the year.

Here are seven summer networking tips to remember:

1. Invite people to attend with you at summer festivities, happy hours, sporting events, etc. Take the opportunity to meet with othes in a casual envirornment.
2. Meet others for lunch on a regular basis. Take the time to set up lunch meetings to get to know people.
3. Host your own happy hours. Great opportunity to bring your network together to meet new people.
4. Make introductions between those in your network.  Constantly try to add value by making strategic introductions.
5. Write subjet matter expertise articles. Work on building your brand by writing articles, blog posts, etc. so you let others know about your expertise.
6. Be consistent and persistent. Don't let the summer stop you from your regular relationship building activiites.
7. Have fun. The summer is a fun time so find creative ways to interact with other people.

What other tips do you have?

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What are the Benefits of Building Strong Business Relationships? by Jaguar PC

 

Whatever your line of business, the ability to build strong, long-lasting relationships is likely to be a key factor in determining whether you will be successful for any length of time. Like relationships in any area of life, finding the people you want to be close to and build one with can take a long time, and it might need a lot of effort on your part to ensure that it continues to work.

What are the key relationships that businesses should look to establish, why are they so important, and what are the best ways to maintain them?

Customer Loyalty

If you don’t have a relationship with your customers or clients, then you don’t have a sustainable business. It really is as simple and as brutal as it sounds. It doesn’t matter whether you are a B2B or B2C company; if you can’t get this right then you’re nowhere.

Why is customer loyalty so important?

When you are looking for new customers, you need to be able to demonstrate what you do well. What is the better option? The business that has had a core of customers loyal to them for months and years, or one that doesn’t have many regular customers? We know who we’d be dealing with.

Building customer relationships is easy, and is based primarily around providing quality products or services, and being a great communicator. Get those two elements right, and you’ll be well on your way.

Building Business Bridges

One type of relationship that businesses often neglect are those with other businesses. While you’re not going to want to buddy up with a fierce competitor, there are ways you can work with other business, for example those in your local area, so that mutual benefits are enjoyed.

This might mean giving recommendations to customers who are seeking the service of another business, or even marketing a selection of their products or services through a referral or affiliate program. Mutually beneficial business relationships will be formed quickly and easily if you’re willing to reach out and talk to others.

Making Your Business Grow

Such relationships can have a huge impact on the growth potential of businesses. Let us look at businesses in a local area, for example. By forming a local business council, for example, these companies can work together to find ways of better targeting the local community so that everyone receives greater exposure. This will often happen as a consequence of a major retailer, such as a supermarket, moving into the local area, but there’s nothing to stop it being a powerful alliance at any other time, either.

Taking the point further, small businesses could agree to work together in shared space, or split the costs of common sundry supplies, for example, both of which will free up cash for the business to use to stimulate growth or invest in other areas.

The Opportunity is There

Opportunities to benefit from such relationships are staring businesses in the face, there just seems to be a reluctance to take advantage of it. If your business has the chance to work with another which will have benefits for you both, reach out, discuss your ideas, and move forward. It could be the most productive thing you could do for your business.

This article is written by Jaguar PC, providers of managed VPS hosting with 24/7 professional support and daily backups.

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Seven Business Relationship Killers

Building and nurturing relationships takes a lot of time and effort. Without properly caring for your relationships, you may lose some of them. Below are seven sure fire ways to kill off some of your relationships. In fact, you may want to lose some of them, especially if they are only one sided and/or a pain to manage.

1. Mostly a taker - If you mostly ask people in your network for help and don't give any in return, then there is a good chance that some will not want to interact with you anymore. It is important to be a giver more than a taker.

2. Don't care what others have to say - When interacting with others, you usually get a good sense of their needs and interests. However, if you come across as non-caring and only want to talk about yourself, then you will turn others away. Make sure that you acknowledge what others share and most importantly take a real interest.

3. Sell too much - If you are always selling your products/services when communicatinng with others, then you are bound to turn them off. Rather, focus on selling yourself so others can get to know you. When the time is right, they will make a purchase based on trust and friendship.

4. Show no value - If you don't show that there is value with you being in someone's network, then you may lose that connection. It is important you are constantly providing value whether it simply sharing industry resources or making referrals.

5. Rude and disrepectful - People generally don't want to be around others who are rude and disrespectul. If you act this way, then you are sure to lose many relationships. Focus on being genuine and nice to others.

6. Don't make introductions - If you are always receiving introductions and never making introductions, then those that make the introductions will feel that your relationship is one-sided. Make sure to reciprocate and make introductions back when approrpriate.

7. Not fun to be around - If you are always a downer, then people won't want to be around you. Be happy and smile around others to make them feel comfortable.

What other business relationship killers can you think of?

Related Post: Seven Ways to Lose Credibility with Your Network

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Take Ownership of Your Relationship Building

To build quality relationships, you need to make the time and effort. It will not happen without you taking ownership of your actions. 

While relationship building takes both sides, you should not sit back and wait for people to come to you. Be proactive and seek out the people who you want to meet. 

In addition, you should be proactive in managing your existing relationships. Stay in front of your network so you are top of mind.

Building the right kind of relationships will help you to accelerate your career and business. Take ownership of making that happen.

Here are a few ways to be proactive in building your relationships:

• Attend industry events to meet the speakers who are thought leaders
• Leverage LinkedIn to target specific people
• Ask your existing network for introductions
• Reach out to published thought leaders
• Contact journalists who write about interesting people
• Read and comment on blogs of those who you want to meet
• Retweet thoughts from experts

Keep in mind that you can create your own destiny. You should take appropriate actions so you can get in front of those who you want to meet. 

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Best of Networking Insight for 2012

Below are some of my best posts of 2012:

• Eight Holiday Networking Tips
• Honor Your Network and Reap Rewards
• Seven Ways to Lost Credibility with Your Network
• 10 Ways to Stand Out in Your Network
• 10 Results of Good Business Relationships
• Be Yourself & the Relationships Will Naturally Develop
• Treat Your Network with Respect to Get Respect
• Soak Up Information to Help You Connect to Others
• Your Network is a Great Resource for Business
• Wearing Appropriate Attire is an Extension of Your Personal Brand
• 7 Reasons as to Why You Should Regularly Stay in Touch with Your Network
• Focus Your Energy on Meeting More Targeted People

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Five Post Thanksgiving Networking Thoughts

With the Thanksgiving holiday over, let's reflect on some relationship building thoughts:

1. Holidays are a great time to build relationships both with your family and friends. Football and food bring people together so don't miss out on getting to know people better. 

2. Since the corporate world has some extra time off during this holiday, take the time to catch up on emails and follow-up activity. With less business distractions, take advantage of the unusual quiet time. It is a good chance that people will see your emails.

3. With the holiday shopping deals, stock up on holiday gifts for people in your life, which includes business professionals. Giving gifts during the holidays not only shows that you care, but also that you value the relationship.

4. With the extra time, make room for writing thought leadership articles and blog posts. Since you have the time now, write several for a future use. It is good to have several ready to go.

5. Set up meetings for the following two weeks. With a little downtime now, send out meeting requests for those in your network to get to know better. The holidays are a great time to meet with people because things slow down.

What other post Thanksgiving networking thought do you have?

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Honor Your Network and Reap Rewards

In relationship building, it is important to honor and respect the people in your network. Without the respect of your peers, you will have a very difficult time helping one another.

Don't take people for granted. Each of us has something unique to offer so get to know others. Show your interest in what others have to say. Find out their needs and how you can help.

By paying attention, you will show that you care and have a genuine interest in the other person. Give good listener cues by keeping good eye contact, smiling, asking insightful questions.

While building up existing relationships, show that you have value to offer by sharing relevant information, events, and others items of note. Ask people to meet you for coffee, lunch, or drinks. Show that you value the relationship.

Over time, you will benefit by builidng strong bonds with your network. When you need help, you won't have to go far for assistance.  By honoring your relationships, you will have built up a great network of people, which is a valuable asset.

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Seven Ways to Lose Credibility with Your Network

When building relationships, it is very important that you don't do anything that can hurt your personal brand and your relationship with others.  Below are seven ways that you can lose credibility with your network. When this happens, you are in jeopardy of hurting your reputation.

1. You don't do what you way you will do - Follow-up and follow through is key
2. You talk bad about others behind their back - Word gets around and it usually comes back to you
3. You are too negative when speaking with others - Negative people bring others down
4. You lie about an accomplishment - Honesty is an important aspect of relationships
5. You don't care who you hurt to get what you want - Trust is critical for your credibility
6. You send mixed messages about who you are - Be consistent with how you position yourself
7. You use people to get what you want - Relationship building should be mutually beneficial

What else can you think of?

Related Post: 10 Ways to Gain Credibility When Building Relationships

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Positive Energy Equals Good Relationship Building

No one likes to be around negative people because they are downers and uncomfortable. Yet, we still find ourselves interacting with these people. 

How many negative people have you integrated into your long-term network? Probably not many. Once someone makes us uncomfortable, we tend to stay way.

When we interact with positive people, we feel good and want to be around these individuals. Their positive energy has a lasting impact on us. 

We have the opportunity to be around a lot of people throughout our lives so why not focus on only the ones that make us happy. In relationship building, it is critical that you make referrals and connections with only those who you trust.

So make an effort to also maintain positive energy when you are around others. Here are some strategies to help you become more positive:

• Smile often
• Welcome others into the conversation
• Send uplifting emails
• Share good stories
• Don't bring up controversial subjects such as politics and religion
• Don't talk negative about others

What other strategies can you think of?

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10 Results of Good Business Relationships

It takes time to build quality relationships, which are important for business success. You should take relationship building serious. Below are 10 outcomes of good quality relationships:

1. Receive quality leads that turn into business
2. Build mutually beneficial partnerships
3. Foster life long frienships
4. Find high quality employees
5. Build a strong professional brand
6. Become recognized as a subject matter expert
7. Form an informal board of advisors
8. Find out about job opportunities
9. Invited to speak or participate at events
10. Enjoy having a diverse and strong network

What other outcomes can you think of?

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