Monday, June 20, 2011

Networking Success Tip - Develop a Business Networking Plan

You've made your choice. You've decided to use business networking as a way of "getting" more clients, more referrals and more sales.
What are you "getting" yourself into?
You're getting yourself into a process where relationship building comes first and business building follows.
Networking is the most effective face-to-face business building tool in existence.
Business networking is all about establishing and maintaining relationships that foster trust, friendship and referrals.
A referral is the act of introducing someone you trust to someone you care about.
People buy from people that they like and trust. People give referrals to people they like and they trust.
Those who are ready, willing, and able to give referral leads want to know that you can be counted upon, and that you can be trusted to "deliver as promised."
Now you know everything about networking there is to know.
You're ready to jump in. You're ready to make the most of every business and social networking opportunity.
You load yourself up with your business cards. You create flyers and brochures to serve as handouts. You practice your introductory "elevator" speech.
You get in your car. You drive to the meeting location. You enter the gathering. You begin to follow your predetermined networking plan.
What is your business networking plan? What goals are included in your plan?
Whether you network to promote your business, get referrals or build a database, you must have goals. You must have a plan.
What is your networking plan? Is it written out?
You may ask, "Why do I need a written plan?"
After all---you may want to go to the event and just "schmooze." (Schmooze is a technical term for friendly communication in a group setting).
The "all I want to do is schmooze a little" mindset is the companion piece to the selling strategy entitled, "I'll just go into the appointment and see what happens."
Effective business networking, and effective selling, can certainly include some "schmoozing." However, any expectation of consistent networking or sales results without a well-defined strategy falls into the category of wishful thinking.
Your networking goals should be clearly defined within your overall marketing strategy.
If you're like most business people, you don't have a marketing strategy. Most business people "wing it."
Your networking strategy is clarified in your marketing plan. A written business plan includes a marketing plan component.
A well written business plan contains the goals and fully researched projections for your business. It is against these goals and projections that you measure your business successes and shortcomings.
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.
I believe that every business should have a written business plan. If you've not yet gotten around to the task of developing a full business plan, you can still develop a simple, stand-alone marketing plan, one that places the spotlight on business networking, on a single sheet of paper in an hour or less.
Decide on your networking strategy. Make the strategy simple, e.g. collecting names for your newsletter database.
Decide on your networking goals. An example of a networking goal might be, "Out of the people I talk to at the networking event, I will find three who have an interest in receiving my newsletter."
Please keep in mind that a well conceived marketing strategy does not equate to a business "quick fix." As with any marketing or advertising plan you must have patience. Effective marketing is a process, not an outcome.
If you don't have a networking plan, you're not alone. 9 out of 10 of my clients ask for some assistance in formulating both a "do-able" networking strategy and an effective introductory "elevator" speech.
If you are interested in receiving a set of questions that will make it easier to complete your simple marketing plan project, please go to the resources section of the BusinessSuccessBuilder.com website and download your complimentary copy of "A Simple Plan."
Networking Success Tip from Ike - Write out your networking plan. Make your goals accomplishable. Commit to your plan and follow it.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ideas For A Business: Network Marketing Online Is Easier

Looking at ideas for a business? Are you serious about building a business of your own? Take a look at network marketing as you can make a lot of money as an MLM distributor if you do it the correct way.
In the past MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) opportunities were tried and failed by many people. Today the success ratio has increased greatly. This is because the Internet makes it possible to build a very large network marketing business from the comfort of your own home.
The business opportunity enables you to make money when products are moved through your MLM organization. This is done by building a downline of distributors and then wholesaling and retailing products.
1. Selling products to retail customers is important. To exist every business needs to sell products. When you sell at the retail level you are increasing your cash flow because of the markup of the products themselves.
A fast way to get products out to customers is by using the internet. The MLM company will ship the products for you. They even collect the money from the customers and send you commissions on a predetermined basis according to the compensation plan.
2. Building a large downline of distributors is where the money comes from in network marketing. You do this by personally enrolling people.
The more people you personally sign up the larger your group can become. You also make money when the people you enroll are enrolling new distributors.
Most MLM distributors will buy their own products and the company will reward you on a percentage basis for those purchases as well. Your income can increase dramatically as your group develops into hundreds or thousands of people.
Using Internet based products allows you to build a worldwide operation much faster. Because there is so much competition in physical products such as nutritional supplements online, Internet products are a great way to build an MLM business.
Ideas for this include membership training sites, shopping clubs, domain names, and much more. Anything that provides instant access online gives you the chance to build your business all around the world with no shipping involved.
The Internet enables you to present your business opportunity by using a company provided website or by developing your own website. Many MLM companies provide excellent marketing materials that you can plug your Internet business into.
We suggest network marketing as a perfect business opportunity for all the above reasons. As you look at ideas for a business you certainly want to closely analyze MLM opportunities.