Networking for Potential Customers

Networking may be one of the oldest forms of advertising. Traditionally, business people would attend designated “networking meetings” where they would meet other people and exchange business cards in the hope that one of the people they talked to would send some clients their way.

Other business people have realized that networking can be done anywhere, not just at designated meetings. These people often carry business cards with them at all times and may strike up a conversation with the person in front of them in line at the grocery store or sitting next to them at the Little League game.

The internet has given networking a new life and people are now turning to social networking sites in order to meet new potential business partners and clients.

It doesn’t matter which form it takes place in, networking is essentially a way of marketing your business through building relationships with other people. Some of these people may turn into your clients, some may be a source of clients, and others may actually become future business partners.

Networking has many benefits. Generally speaking, it is a free activity. It can take up some of a person’s time, but other than that, there really is no cost to it. It is important to note that some networking groups do require a membership fee, but it is very easy to find many free networking opportunities.

In many circumstances, a networking situation will lead to word of mouth advertising, which is extremely valuable. For example, if a web designer meets someone through a networking group or through a social networking website and establishes a connection, that person may recommend them to several people they know on a personal level.

As you know, when someone sees an ad they take it with a grain of salt. They know it is advertising. But when someone receives a recommendation from a person they know and trust, they often follow that person’s recommendation and buy the services or products that have been recommended to them.

Whether done face to face or over the internet, it does take time to build relationships with other people. Some easy ways to get things started may be to spark up a conversation about something you have in common with the other person, or to offer help or advice to them.

The effects of networking may not be seen overnight, but over time a person will start to receive calls or emails from potential customers saying that they were referred by so-and-so. This lets the person know that their networking has paid off.