Networking isn’t just a good way to meet people in your field; it’s also a good way to market yourself and grow your business. Here are some ways to use networking to improve your bottom line.
Pay It Forward
There are many ways to show people in your area that you care about them. Volunteer, sponsor an event, or lead an effort to help people in need.
Not only do these networking events give you a chance to meet potential new customers, but they also create a feeling of good will that goes a long way toward making people trust your business.
When Hurricane Harvey destroyed homes in Houston in 2017, Mattress Mack, a small business there, helped out other people. Jim McIngvale, who owns two furniture stores, opened them up so that 400 people could stay there.
He gave them couches, beds, and mattresses, as well as food for them and their pets. The story spread all over the country, which gave McIngvale a chance to meet his neighbors and stand out in his community for being kind.
Go to Trade Shows
After a two-year break, trade shows are beginning again. They’re a great way to get people interested in your business and spread the word to a captive audience.
Oxford Economics did a study and found that between 5% and 20% of a company’s new customers come from trade shows.
When you go to a trade show, you can practice your “elevator pitch,” meet potential customers, find partners to work with, and check out your competitors.
Attend Other Industry Events
Think of industry events as opportunities to market content in person. Thought leadership is what you do when you agree to be on an expert panel, share what you know in a breakout session, or give the keynote speech.
Thought leadership is an important way to build trust with customers and keep leads coming in. It can also lead to word-of-mouth marketing, where someone you met at the event tells other people how great your business is.
Alignable found that word-of-mouth is the best way for 85% of small businesses to get new customers in their area.
Send Personalized Videos
There might not be any in-person events in your area. Or maybe a lot of your clients are far away. Digital networking is still a powerful way to get more customers and keep the ones you already have.
Yes, it’s still important to keep in touch with your current customers, and networking is a simple way to do so.
Send prospects and current clients an email or direct message on social media with a pre-recorded video message that is tailored to them. Forbes said, “You could briefly tell customers about your newest product or an event coming up.“
“This is a good way to get people’s attention and tell them something short. Keep it casual and don’t try to sell too hard.”
After an industry event or trade show, video messages are also a good way to keep in touch. Putting a face to your name and brand will help people remember your business. You can stay in touch with just a short, one-minute video you record on your phone.
Network With Other Local Businesses
Check out the idea of teaming up with other small business owners to promote each other. Connect with a brand in a similar field: For example, a bakery and a coffee shop could work together to offer loyalty program members discounts (“Buy 10 coffees, get a free cupcake at the bakery”).
Work together to come up with a plan that won’t put either business in the red but will bring in more customers and interest.
If you’d rather keep things simple, you can just ask a nearby store if you can put up a flyer or punch card for your loyalty program at the cash register.
You should, of course, offer to do the same for them. The key to good networking is for business owners to help each other.
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