The two powerful tools that help any business become successful is networking and leveraging. It is not unethical and it does not compromise either your faith or your business ethics. So as a Christian business owner, you can use these tools to help your business succeed.

Targeting your network

You are blessed. As a Christian business owner you have access to the best developed and powerful network of relationships that share the same value system. It is your very own personal network, built over mutual trust, often the same parish and church. Within this network you have your own centre of influence, comprising of people who know you well, who trust you. These are people who will prefer to buy from you and value your judgment. This is excellent for your business.

Make the relationship mutual

Remember, for succeeding in your business, you need to make your relationship mutual. This is not just excellent business sense, it is also ethical. These are people who trust you and purchase products and services from you. If you are benefiting from them, extend them the same favor. Healthy relationships are built on reciprocation. Your family can visit the dentist who buys from you and you can get your taxes done by a person who purchases from you.

Social Media Tools

Creating your own profile and networking using Facebook, Twitter and MySpace is an excellent way to do business. Sign up and make your profile. It is an excellent way of reconnecting with long lost friends and acquaintances. Moreover, often your renewed relationships will be beneficial for your business. This way you build both your personal as well as professional network. Social media tools give you another wonderful opportunity. You can use these tools to leverage and widen your social and business network. This in turn means a wider market for your goods.

However, you need to remember that there is a thin line dividing business and spamming. Be very careful. On social media sites you need to put business secondary and your interaction first. Otherwise you lose out a lot. People take offense and stop dealing with you altogether.

Use Forums

Here again as a Christian business owner, you have the advantage of becoming a member of a number of forums that have members of the shared faith and similar value system. You can join these forums, interact with fellow members and build your network. This often translates as greater traffic for your website and greater sales.

Create an effective, full proof follow up process

Have an efficient follow up system in place. You need to follow your referrals within the shortest possible time, so that you can reap the benefit. Your ideas should be clear and logical, your sales pitch convincing and it should not contravene your faith and your values. This will ensure that your customers will be comfortable dealing with you.

By following the steps outlined above, you can benefit from your Christian network to help you build your business in an efficient and responsible way.

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

Business Networking is the process of establishing a relationship with other business professionals and potential clients/customers that benefits all participating parties.

1. Remember that networking is about being genuine and authentic. The ultimate goal is to build solid relationships through trust.
2. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking groups or meetings. You should join groups that will help you find what you're looking for. There are several types of meetings. Be careful when making your selections because some are learning based or volunteer driven as opposed to being focused directly on making business connections.
3. Have business cards and/or marketing material on hand. If you're at a networking meeting, the ultimate goal is to connect with people. Most people aren't going to remember your name or your company website. Always be in a position to hand out business cards or marketing material. Your material should stand out in a way that encourages the recipient to want to go on your website or call you to learn more.
4. Be on TIME. Perception is everything. If you want people to use your services or give you referrals it's key to make a good first impression. Being tardy can give others the impression that you are not prepared or that you're an amateur in the industry.
5. Ask open-ended questions during your networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion for real communication and it shows that you are interested in what the other party has to say.
6. Become a good resource. When others feel that you are knowledgeable in your industry or field, they will come to you for advice and/or a request for services. Don't you feel more comfortable doing business with someone you feel is an expert in their field?
7. Know Your Business. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily explain to others. You should be able to explain what makes your company different and how it benefits others. Know why they should choose you over the competitor.
8. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. If you want help or to build connections, you have to be able to explain what you're looking for.
9. React quickly and professionally to referrals. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them.
10. Don't be afraid to contact those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

Trena Stubbs, owner of Apex Bizness Solutions has over 11 years of experience in the small business industry.

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

Back in the day of cigarette advertising they were all emphasizing their unique filters. Why there filter meant so much more to your smoking enjoyment than any other brand.

A larger percentage of the population smoked back then so they were going after anything they could to get you to try their cancer sticks. Well, one company did them all one better and came out with the phrase, "it's what's up front the counts!"

Well of course, it was the quality of the tobacco that really made the difference, not the stupid filter. The same is true of a company, whether your typical mom and pop to the giant corporation to the network marketing company you may be considering today, it's what's up front that counts.

Who is leading the way? Who are they? What is their record? What is their vision? Who do they have along side? Plus anything else you want to add. Since I am mainly interested in network marketing companies and the majority of those reading this are at least looking or thinking about doing something from home, how does this apply?

The same.

How far a company goes. How well they do. Do they even get off the ground, depends almost solely on who is at the top. Make sure that the company you are looking at or are invited into has the very best of leadership. How long have they been in business and what is their track record? Have they done this before or is this their first ride on the merry-go-round? Do they have some age behind them?

Personal experience: We were invited to join a new company in 1997, pre-launch. A great idea with online marketing, in the early stages of web sites for doing business, etc. Again, great idea, good enough compensation, took off like gang busters, $10 million in sales the first few months and we were all happy with bigger checks every month. Except for the big problem, they had not done this before and were overwhelmed, couldn't keep up with the demand, implosion. Done. Dead in the water. They didn't have any kind of a track record, just a good idea. Not enough.

If you find a company being built or having been built by people who have done it before and been very successful, have all the resources in place, front office, field leadership, top in class product, very fair, no hoops to jump through compensation plan, other than willingness to work and meets the demands of the trend of this time, that should fit all of your needs. Is there such a company or maybe even a few? Sure there are, but do your homework. Then go to work and be successful because "it's what's up front that counts."

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

There are two sides to filling a job opening. On the one side are candidates looking for a new job, and on the other are people looking for the perfect employee to fill their open position. The companies doing the recruiting often spend thousands to use executive recruiters, commonly known as "headhunters". While it might seem strange to pay a recruiter in an economy with such a huge candidate supply, there's good reason. Headhunters have proven their value by using tested networking strategies to identify the very best candidates. You can learn something from these recruiters about finding a job, as the same networking technique can be utilized in a very similar manner by job hunters with excellent results.

The Executive Recruiter Method

When a recruiter is contracted by a company, they begin the process by contacting people in the industry, or in similar positions in other industries, that they are hiring for. To do this, they will use a personal database of contacts, industry directories or professional association membership lists. These days, recruiters can also sort through networking sites such as Linked In® where millions of people have conveniently posted detailed resumes. The recruiter will call the people on the lists and ask the same question: do you know anyone interested in such and so job opportunity? They are seeking referrals from people that can put them in touch with qualified candidates that they may otherwise not find on their own. Then, recruiters contact the referred people and repeat the cycle explaining they are seeking a candidate for a particular job and ask for more referrals. Note that they always ask the same question: who do you know that may be interested in this job?

The goal of the process is to find the person that is interested in the job for him or herself. When that happens, the recruiter has hit pay dirt. The process now shifts to screening and vetting the identified candidate to see if they are worthy to bring to the hiring company.

Job Hunters: Learn From The Pros

The networking process used by executive recruiters can be reworked for job hunters with very positive results. By using the same personal database (or rolodex), industry directories or professional association membership lists any one can begin the same type of campaign. The twist is this: instead of asking potential candidates for job candidate referrals, job hunters ask contacts for referrals in companies that may have a job need or companies where they may want to work.

Do like the executive recruiters do. Did you notice how the recruiters did not ask if their referral wanted the job? They ask for more referrals. When they make the right call, the candidate will make themselves known.

Job hunters can use a similar process. Meet with contacts and describe your qualifications and the kind of job that you want. Ask for referrals. Your contact may not know of anyone with a job available but they know someone and that someone might be the connection to an opening. When the person with an opportunity meets you and hears your qualifications, they will bring up the opportunity to you - just as the right candidate did with the executive recruiter. Think not? The hiring manager is just as anxious to fill the job as you are to get it. When the right person presents him or herself the hiring manager will reveal the job.

Case Study

This very process has happened to me a few times in my career. The latest time was a few years ago. I got a call from an industry leader looking for someone with technology licensing experience in the industry, which I had. The recruiter asked if I knew anyone that may be interested. It must have been a frustrating search for her because when I told that I may be interested in hearing more about it, she responded with a "really!?" that was spoken with both surprise and relief.

Since then, I have turned the process around and helped candidates tailor and apply the executive recruiter method to their own successful job hunt.

Conclusion

The executive recruiting industry uses a proven technique for finding candidates for jobs. They have been so successful with the outcome that they continue to use it time and again and get paid handsomely at that. Why not take their technique and use it to match a job with a candidate - you?

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