Business Networking: What is it exactly?

What exactly does the term Business Networking mean?  Over the many years that I’ve been involved in a B2B networking organization, I have been able to narrow the definition down to 5 Key pointers:

–It is:  Being Passionate about Giving First.

–It is:  Building and Developing Synergy Partners.

–It is:  Sharing your expertise and talents.

–It is:  Being a resource and connector of people.

–It is:  You’re EDGE over your Competition!

When you can incorporate and accomplish all of these elements in your sales activities, you will not have to cold call again.  For 15 years that I have owned my packaging company, I have worked strictly off of referrals.

Networking is not about selling at all.  It is about making connections and developing those relationships so that you create your own sales advocates in the marketplace.

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2014

ROI – Business Networking

What you see is what you get!  How many times do we apply this little statement to things we do or think?  Yet when it comes to Business Networking, do you really know what you are getting out of your networking efforts?  It’s not all about $$/cents.

A few of Peggy’s Pointers on networking could net really great results:

• Have clear cut goals for your networking activities.
• Set aside time to develop the connections you make at events so that they become relationships, not just someone on a list of people you know.
• Work on your 30-second commercial so that others will know exactly what you do and how they might help you.
• Create a core of strategic partners in synergistic fields that can be your “go-to” person when you need to make referrals.
• Be willing to serve others.  Networking is about giving first and the rewards will come back to you.
• Be professional at all times.  Remember the saying that people make up their minds about you within the first 5 minutes after an introduction.  Make sure you dress the part and act the part of whatever it is that you do for a living.
• Be attentive and listen for opportunities.
• Remember networking events are the place to make connections, not sell your products and services.

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2013

What is your Edge over your Competition?

If you can’t put a Square Peg in a Round Hole, then what is your EDGE over your competition?

Too many times sales organization try to emulate what their competition is doing. They create products and services that are “me too” and that dilutes your ability to be unique, special, innovative, i.e., different.

I sell products that are highly standardized. As a matter of fact, my clients can purchase many of the brands that I sell elsewhere.

So what makes me different? What is my “Edge” over my competition? It is my red hair, my wild and crazy personality; it is the Brownies that I have made for my clients each year during the holidays.

Brownies! Seriously, that is what one client told me several years ago. I asked, “Kyle, why do you do business with me?” He said, “It’s those wonderful brownies that you bring me every Christmas.”

Usually around July, he and some of my other guys will start in on me by asking, “Isn’t it about time for some of those Brownies?” I answer, “It ain’t Christmas yet!”

In the marketplace, when all things appear to be equal, there are just a few little details that can make you stand out and shine to your clients. So share with me, what is your Edge?

Peggy P. Edge (c) 2013