There are so many ways to create and build relationships in today's market. Here are just seven.

7 Ways to Create a New Relationship:

* Referrals
* Social Networking/ Web 2.0
* Local Networking Groups - Chamber of Commerce, LeTip, Meetup.com
* Talk to other parents when attending your child's sporting or music events
* Visit with other members of your social clubs or religious groups
* Talk to your neighbors
* Talk to sales persons who are visiting your office

A financial planner came to my door just the other day. At first I was a little surprised- then I thought...SMART! We had a great conversation like you would a new neighbor and it ended with him giving me his card which I was more than happy to take. Now mind you I was in no way looking for a new financial advisor BUT if I or someone I know needs one...he's the guy...at least to consider having a conversation with.

He also, has done a great job of following up and keeping in touch. He's doing a great job at not only networking but building his personal brand for his career.

It never hurts to have more people in your network than you need.

Always remember to approach new people in a friendly NON-SALES manner. Your goal should not be to SELL them or want something from them but to begin a new relationship, a new contact, etc. Always offer to HELP someone before they help you.

Remember to GIVE before you GET!

When it comes to leveraging online networks in a job search, what tactics have you found to be successful? How do you handle the disappointments? What do you find you need assistance with?




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Celaya

Since a business card is often the first thing you hand to a prospect, a lot of people, like yourself, may spend a good amount of time considering what they want their business card to look like. But, are they considering the right things?

The first thing to consider is the layout of the card. Most cards are horizontal, but some people want a vertical card in order to stand out. However, before doing a vertical card, consider how your prospects will use the card. Do you provide a service they will need only once? If so, then a vertical card may be a good choice. But, if you provide a product or service they might need on a regular basis, it may not be the best option. The reason is that things like a Rolodex organizer are largely designed for horizontal business cards. If they staple your vertical card to a Rolodex card, it would have to be put sideways or cut in half in order to fit. There goes your nifty design! If you provide a recurring product or service, you are better off with a horizontal card that makes it easier for your customers to store and reference when needed.

When considering the design of your card, you want to compare apples to apples. Many people look at different business cards they receive, and pick ones they think stand out. But, what you need to do is to have a card that stands out from the other cards your prospect will be receiving. In other words, if you run a delivery service, you need a card that stands out from the business cards of competing delivery services. If your competitors use a lot of red on their cards, you might want to use a lot of blue, for example. Worry about standing out from the competition, not the local florist or dry cleaner!

Full color or a simple one or two color card? Again, here is another area where you may wish to consider what your competitors are doing. If your competitors have full-color photographic business cards, you might want to consider something simple, yet classy, to stand out. For example, you might use a paper in a solid color with an attractive typeface and no logos or images. You could even consider foil-embossing to give an even richer look to your card. The business card that stands out in a crowd of photographic business cards is the one that's not. And vice versa!

Lastly, make sure that all of your important contact information is on your business card. You'd be surprised at how often people forget to include something as basic as a phone number. If your business name does not give a clear indication of what it is you do, you may wish to consider adding a line or two to do so. If your customer or prospect cannot remember if the "John Smith Company" is a plumbing service or a real estate agency, they're more likely to just toss your card then call and ask what you do.

Of course, if you need help designing your card or don't have the time to do it yourself, you can always have a professional do it for you.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_C._Rinnert

One of the keys behind a successful business is the networking connections it has with other businesses. Business networking is simply a method which people use in order to interact for business purposes on both a formal and informal basis. Having the ability to connect to the right people and market your services effectively as one of the best in the industry, is a skill that many lack to master in the field of business networking.

In the current financial crisis, lacking the ability to network with other enterprises effectively and efficiently can mean the difference between business survival and prosperity. Below I have mentioned five networking tips that are proven to increase your business prospects regardless of the current financial crisis:

Get into a Goal-Oriented Mindset

One of the most important aspects of business networking that individuals are known to lack is: having a firm goal set in their mind. Many fall under the trap of either setting no goal or to set unrealistic goals which are unachievable. The purpose behind a goal is that unless you know where you are headed you are more that often going to wonder off where you actually want to be.

In a business networking situation, an example of a goal could be getting to know 5 to 10 people sufficiently enough to raise some interest in following up with an informal meeting with you sometime in the next two weeks. Or at least have them agree to be kept on your information mailing list.

You are more likely to achieve something from networking situations, if you start off having some goals in mind.

Delivering the Punch-line

Another networking tip one should always keep in mind is honing your "Elevator Pitch". You want to be able to provide concise and professional answers that don't seem too textbook-like and at the same time not to casual. When asked: "What do you do?", you should have a memorable Elevator Pitch that puts up owner benefit statements and your Unique Selling Proposition well. Can you imagine tripping over words and missing out on opportunities to present yourself well?

Dress for the Occasion

The third networking tip is making sure that you are dressed suitably in order to create the best impression possible. According to studies of human interaction, it takes only 8 seconds to formulate a first impression. A significant amount of that come from the visual impact. You must ask yourself questions like are your business cards up to date? Are you in fashion? Does your wardrobe need an update?

Follow Up is Everything

Another important networking tip that I feel is essential, is the follow through process after the initial contact. It is great to have won over your audience over but you must keep in mind that after first impression, you have to continue to build mind-share. Some simple rule of thumb is to follow-up with an email or text message not more than 24 hours after the contact. You can set separate campaigns to send different groups of contacts updates or information that they might find useful, so as to keep in contact. A good guide is once every 2 weeks, and providing a permission-based list for unsubscribing to your mails, which brings me to the next point.

Building Mind-Share & Expertise

The final business networking tip that tends to be over looked is educating your audience. It is important for you to be able to relate well to the type of client you are looking for. Your value-add as a long-term partner or service provider must be made apparent. You can achieve this goal by practising methods of expressing your expertise via online (e-newsletter, emails etc) and off-line (brochures, letters etc) methods. Allow for two-way communications, so you can sieve out interested buyers and maintain at least a presence with those non-responsive ones. After all, the buying cycle must meet the selling cycle before a sale can happen.

This part of communications require some thought into building that personal brand, unique selling points and marketing your value-add.

Brendan Yong is passionate about business networking, and has been in leadership roles to develop business networking skill into a fine art. He served 3 Leadership terms in BNI Renaissance and was instrumental in making the BNI Chapter the largest in the region.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brendan_Yong

How strong are your relationships with your prospects, current customers, and previous customers? It is crucial to your business that you develop strong, long lasting relationships. I have listed six ways you can start developing those relationships.

1. Be a giver. Always look for a way to be of service to others. This is probably the most important step in building strong relationships. Most people adhere to the WIIFM (What's In It For Me?) principle. When you are talking to someone at a networking event, their main interest is usually in what can you do for them. They simply want to know how what you do fits into their business or their life. They do not want to listen to you go on and on about how great you are.

2. Make the decision to like people. This is sometimes difficult because we meet people whom for whatever reason, we just don't want to be around. There is not always justification for this. It is just a fact of life that we will get along with some people more than others. Either way, we can still make the decision and make the effort to like everyone.

3. Cultivate the art of listening. When making a sales call, the person making the sale should only speak 30% of the time while the person on the receiving end speaks 70% of the time. We get impatient in today's multi-tasking, fast-paced world. This includes when we are listening to someone. Be considerate and give the person speaking a few minutes of your time and actively listen to what they are saying without thinking about the brilliant response you will have when they finish talking. Be interesting and be interested.

4. Find places you can go or events you can attend that will provide you with an ongoing list of people to call and follow-up with. Be careful how you spend your time. Some networking events are very serious about helping their fellow small business owners and growing their own business. Others are nothing more than social events. Nothing wrong with either of these. Both events provide the foundation for building the relationships we need in our businesses and in our life.

5. Develop a system for following-up with your prospects and clients. This is where most people miss so many great opportunities and cash. They go to networking events, collect business cards, and then the cards just sit on their desk or in a drawer with no action taken to follow-up.

6. Be flexible and be patient. Try to accommodate the other person when possible.

What one thing can you do today to make contact with someone? Put strategies in place to make it easy for you to make consistent contact with prospects and customers. Find events, associations, chambers of commerce, and other places where you enjoy the people and can get the contacts you need to grow your business. Look for opportunities to help others. Cultivate your circle of influence. Nurture your relationships. It does require some work on your part but your efforts will be rewarded. Above all, have fun and enjoy the process.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Coleman

It's almost Easter, and all those massive Easter egg and Easter candy displays in the stores suggest yet another interesting opportunity for strengthening your business relationships. Read on and find out how to use it the right way.

As you know, little tokens of appreciation are always appreciated, and some of that delicious candy that's available right now can be turned into very welcome gifts.

But there is the rub. Not everyone celebrates Easter. Neither does everybody indulge in chocolate and sugary sweets. So you should make sure you know the intended receiver of your gifts well enough to know whether such goodies will indeed be welcome.

If you have referral partners, you probably know each other well enough to know whether or not they would appreciate being on the receiving end of a little basket with cream-filled chocolate eggs. There are a variety of reasons why they may not be, or why an alternate version of that basket would go over better.

First, there might be religious reasons. Maybe they would prefer kosher chocolate gold coins, for example.

Or there might be health reasons. Diabetes is rampant these days, and while people may not want to discuss it in so many details, more and more people would appreciate sugar-free versions of the seasonal delicacies. And they're available. It just takes a bit of an extra effort to find them.

What about your clients and customers? They will enjoy a token of appreciation as well, and any kind of holidays make for a good excuse for giving such gifts.

Obviously, you may not be as familiar with your clients' and prospects' dietary habits or religious backgrounds, but don't get carried away with worrying about it. It's the thought that counts, after all. And chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps, and similar seasonal items are probably generic enough for most people to enjoy. And if they don't eat sugar themselves, they probably have family or friends who do.

Still, it won't hurt to ask. Get together for lunch, if appropriate, and bring it up in the conversation. You may learn something important about your client or (potential) referral partner. And if it's a bit late for this year, why not have that lunch anyway and make a note of what you find out -- after all, the next holiday season will be here before we know it.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_Clement

I firmly believe in the power of networking as I have seen first hand how this has helped me grow professionally and personally. You need to be consistent with your networking efforts and this holds true for both online and offline networking.

There are a few basic tips you should remember when it comes to networking and they are as follows:

1. Networking is not about selling your business or products to everyone you meet.

2. Don't come on too strong the first time you meet new people.

3. Share about yourself, not just your business. "People do business with people they trust and people they have gotten to know."

4. Ask people what they do and invite them to share about themselves and their business.

5. Listen more than you talk and ask questions that will get people talking - not just a yes or no answer.

6. Make notes on things people have that might be useful to yourself or others.

*tip* I keep index cards on business contacts in a file box. I will write down information about this business contact on the index cards.

7. Find common ground with the person you're getting to know. "People do business with people just like them."

8. If asked what you do don't give someone a long sales pitch. Keep it short and informative. If they want to know more they will ask.

9. Always tell the person you were talking with it was a pleasure meeting them and ask if it is OK if you add them to your contact list.

10. Ask for their business card - that way you can be sure that there will be follow up. You can exchange cards if you wish but always get their card or if online, their email or IM name. Ask permission to contact them again.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Hill

However, hosting business clients is not like hanging out with your buddies at the local tavern.

To entertain clients successfully will require planning and extra effort on your part.

What Does Your Client Enjoy Doing?

What does your client like to do? Do they enjoy playing golf? Golf is always a popular choice. It offers an opportunity to spend an extended amount of time in a recreational setting relatively free from distraction. This allows plenty of time for you and your client to get to know each other and chat about business matters.

Everyone enjoys eating out at fine restaurants. There's something about good food and a glass of wine that reduces anxiety and makes people feel at ease. Eating out can be rather routine, so find an exclusive restaurant with a fine chef and entertainment. Make it a unique experience for your client.

Cultural events such as plays, concerts, and sports events are a nice touch as well.

However, there is little opportunity to talk business during these types of outings, so consider events such as these as simply an opportunity for you and your client to get to know each better.

Entertaining Clients Takes Work

Unless you are just a naturally outgoing and talkative individual, making interesting conversation with a relative stranger for an extended period of time can be difficult for many people. Here are some tips to consider:

• Make some notes on conversation points. If you've done your homework, then you'll know what your client likes and dislikes are. Perhaps you have something in common... an interest in classic cars, for instance.

• A great icebreaker is to study up on a couple of "nice" jokes, and practice your delivery.

• Minimize distractions. Shut off your cell phone. Send the kids to grandma's house, and be sure your car has plenty of gas. Make sure your full attention is on creating an entertaining evening for your client.

• Though you'll be in a more relaxed setting, maintain a sense of decorum. You are a reflection of your company.

• Determine your goals and what you hope to achieve, and build your evening around that.

Laughter and fun help to tears down walls, reduces tension, and paves the way to entertaining and productive conversation.

Plan and execute an evening that will be remembered by your client in a positive manner for years to come.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Jacowski