Nurture Your Network
I’ve had a fascinating few weeks with several people from my past business networking exploits popping back up at unexpected moments and in very unpredictable places.
It’s great to reconnect with people who you haven’t seen in a while (as long as you actually like them – obvs!)
So why is it that while you’re building your business, you’re constantly so busy creating content, chasing new leads, and doing the 8 bazillion other things your business demands every day that you have no time to nurture your existing network?
It’s literally a goldmine that’s going undiscovered.
But it doesn’t feel like marketing does it? It either feels like it’s just a casual conversation that you can’t really justify the time for; or it’s a sleazy sales pitch that leaves you mortified. 🤦♀️
Because the gap in between the casual fluff and the blatant sales pitch is all that unknown territory of …
“How do I keep in touch with people without seeming too salesy?”
“How can I be sure who the genuine prospects are and who are just lovely but never going to buy?”
“How do I nurture that network in a way that’s efficient, effective, productive and not just a massive time stealer?”
And of course, that’s exactly what I’m here to help with this week.
I remember a few bazillion years ago being at an ActionCOACH conference. One of the speakers was Harry Beckwith, author of books like ‘What Clients Love’ and ‘Selling The Invisible’ (which is well worth the read for service based business owners).
Of course, he shared lots of wisdom and lots of great sales advice but my one lasting ‘Oh my God’ moment was when he asked the room how many of the businesses with 500 metres of their office knew they actually existed.
For most people the answer was very few!
Because we’re all so busy focusing on brand awareness and growing massive networks that we overlook what’s right on our doorstep. Our existing network are people who already have something in common with us. And that commonality creates trust and opens the door to more possibilities. You’re already halfway through the ‘know, like and trust’ journey with the people who you have something in common with.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your business network is only the people you’ve met at business events or talked to on LinkedIn. It’s all of your friends and family. It’s everyone you ever worked with before you started your business. It’s every client or prospects you’ve ever dealt with.
All these people have more in common with you than the 8 bazillion random people who might see your post if you go viral on TikTok.
These are the people who are much more likely to buy from you. If only you would invest the time into nurturing your existing network, instead of trying to build a mahoosive new one!
So, of course this week’s business tips video shares 4 tips about who to keep in touch with, how to do it in a productive and non-sleazy way, and how to organise all of this so that it’s easy to keep on top of and only needs small pockets of your time and attention.
Just imagine how different things would be if all that golddust in your network turned into cash in the bank instead of stones in your shoe!
Need help with this? It’s the perfect thing we can work through in a 60 minute Strategy Session. Why not book a time with me right now, and let’s get this strategy up and running in your business before the New Year!
