2. Be yourself.  People sense when you are putting on ‘airs.’

3. Be sincere.

4. Put your ‘best face forward.’  When you look good, you feel great!  I have a good friend who built an entire business just on this one concept.

5. Come prepared with an introduction that is specific, short and gets people asking for more information.  AKA Elevator Speech

6. Take an interest in others.  (Be genuine when doing this. If you are asking questions while looking at your watch, you are sending the wrong message.)

7. Set your goals ahead of time. For instance, perhaps you only want to meet 1 new person and socialize with old friends.

8. Be known as a connector.  People will come to you to ask for introductions, when you are a connector.

9. Work on the proper hand shake.

10. Did I say?: “Networking is NOT selling.”

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I discovered a while back that instead of waiting to hear for the right phrase that would tell me that someone needed the services of my clients that it would better if I developed a list of questions for my clients and gave them those questions to discover what they do or don’t need. Then once we ran through that list of questions, I could refer them to people who could help them. At the same time I showed my clients that I wanted to understand all their business needs regardless of whether or not I could directly help them with those needs.

Putting a list of questions together isn’t too hard. Make sure that you meet with your network referral partners outside the meeting for a half hour or so. Then ask them what questions they ask their prospects to help qualify them as clients. These are questions you wouldn’t think to ask, but they are questions that your referral partners ask. Put those questions on a list and when you meet with a client, give him/her the list and ask him/her to fill it out. Tell your client you are asking the questions so that you understand what all of his/her needs are. Take a few minutes  to go over the answers and make suggestions of people the person can connect with. Also get your client’s permission to share his/her contact info with your referral partners.

I’ve been able to help a couple of my clients since I started this practice and also have helped my referral partners. It’s a guaranteed win for everyone, and everyone feels taken care of. So put together a list and be proactive in looking for leads. You’ll help your clients and your network.

How to create your question list for referrals

In my previous post I explained why it was a good idea to create a list of questions that other people in your network would ask, but that would never ask. The creation of said list helps you ask those questions and provides you a way to refer your clients to people in your network. It also has the added benefit of showing your clients that you care about all of their problems, as opposed to the problem you’ve been hired to solve.

The questions on your survey are provided by the people you network with. I recommend meeting with those people for a one-on-one getting to know you session. When you meet with them, ask the following question: “What is a question you would ask a prospect to qualify that person as a client?” Write down the questions they tell you and add those questions to your survey.

Here’s a couple examples of questions I’ve gotten from people in my lead referral groups:

Is your insurance broker shopping your policy each year (to find you the best deals)?

Do you spend more time in the accounting aspect of the business than working on growing your business?

These are questions I likely wouldn’t think to ask my clients. By having a survey with these questions ready, I can make sure I ask the question and generate leads for my referral partners.

When I meet with the client, I give the client the list. The following is written on the top of the document: “The following questions will help me, as your business coach, learn more about your business and specific needs you have that I may not know about otherwise.”

You could use something similar to what I’ve written or something like this: “Below is a survey I have created, with questions that I would like you to answer. Your answers will help me understand any other needs you have. I may not be able to help you with those needs, but I will refer you to a qualified professional who can help you, if you would like me to do.”

After your client fills out the list, go over it with them. Review the answers they’ve provided you and get more details where necessary. Then, if applicable, refer your client to the appropriate professionals and ask the client if it is okay if you share his/her contact information with the professional you will refer them to. Make sure you provide the professional’s contact information to your client.

As you can see this isn’t complicated to do. The benefit, for your referral network, your clients, and yourself is that you are helping people get their problems solved.

Copy right 2013 Taylor Ellwood http://www.imagineyourreality.com

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1. To increase your visibility. Establishing top of mind awareness is critical in any marketing campaign, and make no mistake about it; attending business networking events is a key marketing strategy if done properly. One of the most important elements-and one of the most overlooked-to getting the biggest bang for your networking buck is to make sure your face and your message get in front of the same-and the right-people on an ongoing basis.

2. To start relationships that will lead to strategic alliances, joint ventures, and referrals. Contrary to popular belief, very few people walk away from a few hours spent at a business networking event with a fistful of contracts. Meeting people at the networking function is merely the important first step towards reaching your client attraction goals. It’s what you do after the event that is more important. Follow-up is key to deepening the relationships that will increase your bottom line.

3. To stay current on trends in your industry (and those of your target market). Attending networking events given by “i Take The Lead” allows you to glean information about current and future trends. The information you gather at these functions can easily give you a leg up on your competition.

4. To become connected to key influences in your industry and within your target market. Instead of going to every business networking event in town, select the referral group you attend wisely and attend regularly. With i Take The Lead you will get the biggest return on your investment of time, money, and energy.

5. To learn from and to be motivated by powerful speakers. i Take The Lead has speakers who are experts in fields that will be of interest to you and to your target market. In addition to imparting important information, many of these speakers can often be the spark that jolts you into action.

6. To find suppliers and solutions to your problems. A lot people think of referral groups as a place to pursue business. Equally important though, is the fact that we might be able to give business to other attendees and solve some of our problems at the same time.  Referral groups can be a great place to find accountants, printers, salespeople, etc. for yourself and for your clients.

7. To hone your marketing message. Use your referral group to practice and refine your elevator speech. Make sure it conveys, in 30 seconds or less, what solutions you provide, for whom you provide them, and the benefits of doing business with you. Practice, practice, practice until you feel confident that you are conveying your message in the most powerful and compelling way.

8. To socialize. Human beings are social animals and need the type of stimulation available when interacting face-to-face with others. Today, as more and more people work out of their attics, basements, or spare bedrooms, it has become increasingly important for us to socialize, recharge our batteries, and preserve our sanity.

9. To recruit talent. If you are looking to expand your business and hire staff, business networking events are a good starting point for your exploration of the marketplace. You will be able to enter into conversations with potential employees and get clear on what your needs are. You may well find what you are looking for right in front of you!

10. To uncover the “hot buttons” of your target market. To deliver powerful solutions that will make life easier for members of your target market, you’ve got to know what challenges they face and what they are looking for. Capitalize on the conversations you have at every business networking opportunity to uncover what makes prospective clients tick and what ticks them off. Then create products or services that will alleviate their pain and make you a hero/in their eyes.

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By Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach Very often, the number one fear around marketing for my clients is asking for the business. Oh, sure, they’re happy to go on and on about the successes their own clients have had, and they’ll wax positively eloquent about the special discounts that they’re offering this month, but even the thought of asking a prospect to work with them makes them clam up. “I don’t want to appear too pushy,” confesses one client.“If they want to work with me they’ll say so,” says another. “Won’t they?”“What if they say no?” shudders a third client.Although intellectually these people understand that asking for business does not make them beggars, nor pushy salespeople, the very idea of asking makes them quake with fear. To dispel that fear, I have developed a two-part solution model that works like this: First, conduct a needs-assessment conversation to find out if there is a good fit with your prospect’s problems and the solution that you offer. During this conversation, imagine that there is no question of money. Imagine that the only question that needs answering is: Do you have a way to help this person solve his or her problem? If the answer is no, say so, and if you can, refer the prospect to someone who might be able to meet this person’s needs. If the answer is yes, you do have an appropriate solution, then ask the prospect if he or she agrees that you have a good solution, and then ask when you should start. It’s that simple. Need + solution = potential sale. But even when you know the potential for the sale is there, asking can be scary, unless you already know how to ask in a way that feels natural to you. Here are some phrases that might help you ask for the business comfortably. 1. Now that you know what I can do for you, shall we get started? 2. It looks like we’re a good match on this project, and I think it would be fun to work together. Shall we go ahead and get the paperwork started? 3. You mentioned that you needed this immediately; does that mean you like us to begin today? 4. I’m glad you think the XYZ package is the one that will work best for you, because it’s the one I would recommend. Shall we work out the details now? 5. Yes, the ABC program begins next week. Would you like to take care of your enrollment right now? 6. If you have no more questions, there’s just one left for me to ask: When do we start? 7. Now that we’ve tweaked this proposal to your specifications, do we have a deal? 8. I’d really like to work with you on this project. What will it take to get started? 9. It looks like we’ve created the right solution for you, and we’ll come in just under budget. Are you ready to move forward now? 10. Earlier you said that you’d like to have this in place by the end of the month. Working backwards, that gives us two weeks to get all the elements in order, so I’d recommend starting on Tuesday. Does that work with your schedule, or would you rather begin on Monday? Remember, asking for the business is the natural conclusion of a successful needs analysis discussion. If you have the solution to your prospect’s problem, all you have to do is say so, and ask when you can get started, so then all that’s left to do is work out the details. Yes, there is a chance that your client will back-pedal, but all that means is that the solution you’ve proposed isn’t perfect (yet), so go back to working on resolving the problem, and ask again. If it just plain isn’t working out, accept it, acknowledge it, and ask if you can refer this prospect to someone else. (You just might close the sale yet!) But even if you don’t, you’ve shown that your goal is the satisfactory resolution to your prospect’s problem, and that’s just good business. Read more articles or view Top 10 lists.Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach, is a successful Vancouver, WA-based entrepreneur, author, speaker, and Certified Professional Coach.  Through coaching, classes and workshops, Ronnie helps small businesses attract more clients. For free marketing resources including articles and valuable marketing tools, visit her web site at www.VeronikaNoize.com, or email her at Ronnie@VeronikaNoize.com.Top 10 (Easy) Ways to Ask for the Business © 2003 Veronika Noize.  All rights reserved.

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Ronnie Noize http://www.veronikanoize.com is one of the most talented professionals I know. I think you will agree that this article reveals her wit, as well as her wisdom. Ronnie knows how to market your business or how to market you, if you are your business!

Not long ago, I was highly motivated to join a gym.  I did my research, and identified two gyms to check out.  After making appointments to speak with a sales person at each gym, I felt confident that I would find the right gym for me. The sales person at the first gym welcomed me, showed me the weight room, the swimming pools, and the women’s locker room before politely showing me the door.

Standing in front of the gym after my quick tour, I wondered why he didn’t ask me to sign up on the spot, and I came to the conclusion that there was something wrong with me.  I checked my breath, then (embarrassing but true) I opened my jacket to see if I smelled. Nope.Obviously, this was not the gym for me, so off I went to the next gym.  This time I was prepared with my credit card in my hand during the tour so that there would be no doubt that I was ready to buy.  Again, the sales person greeted me warmly, showed me the amenities, and showed me the door.Ouch.  I knew I didn’t smell, but wondered if I were too old, ugly, fat, or offensive to join a gym?

Get a grip, I told myself.  Both of these sales folks are very young, just out of college, so perhaps they know of a new sale technique that is not familiar to me.  Perhaps they are trying to build my desire to join a gym to a higher level.  That must be it: They want me to really want it!Secure in the knowledge that I had figured it out, I waited for the follow up call that I knew would come.  After all, hadn’t I been very specific about my interest in joining a gym sooner rather than later?  Hadn’t I made it clear that I was ready, willing, and financially able to assume a gym membership?

Maybe so, but was anyone listening? Neither sales person (now you see why I have not referred to them as sales “professionals”) bothered to call me to see if I was ready to join. The lesson?  OK, not what you might think: Not that young sales people are not competent, which it might seem to be, because I have experienced similar situations with sales folks of all ages.

No, the lesson was that it is the seller’s responsibility to facilitate the solution the prospect is seeking, and ask for the business.And then it hit me: I was equally guilty of the same thing.  I was making the very same mistake as the greenest guys!How many times had people come to me for help solving a marketing problem, and after determining that I could help, I failed to ask for the business?  Did I expect my prospects to demand that I accept them as clients? Force me to accept their money?

I cringe at the memory of how some people must have felt after a conversation with me that did not result in a clear invitation to work together.

Asking for the business is possibly the single most effective thing you’ll ever do, but more than that, it is your obligation as the professional to let your prospects know that you want to help them and are able to help them.  It is your responsibility to invite them to work with you.  It is your responsibility to ask. So if you are not asking, you’re making a mistake. STOP IT.Searching for the right words to use to ask your prospects for the business?  Choose the words or phrase that works for you, or be inspired to create your own way to ask, but for your clients’ sake, ASK them to work with you!

A Marketing Mistake to Stop Making © 2006-9 Veronika Noize.  All rights reserved.

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If Networking is NOT about Selling, then what good is it?

Here are some ways to gain from networking:

Power Partners – By joining a referral group (i Take The Lead is just one of your options http://www.itakethelead.com)  you will meet others you can classify as your Power Partners. These are professionals/businesses who call on the same clients as you.

Having Power Partners can lead to Joint Ventures.  This can be a very effective way of duplicating  your efforts.

Referrals – Networking is a great way to get referrals, in addition to providing them. Want to be your clients hero? Refer them to someone you know, like and trust, who can solve their biggest problems.

Public Speaking – Many events/referral groups have a 10 minute spot where members take turns to making a presentation to the group.  You have the opportunity to build up your skills by practicing first with your 60-second commercial every weeki.  This is an excellent way to practice your speaking skills in a supportive environment.

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2. Have clear goals in mind. What are you attempt to accomplish?

3. Remember there are all different ways to network from established referral/leads groups to church to rotary to Meet Ups, etc.  What are your interests?

4. Always be yourself. Networking is about building relationships, so why would you try to be someone you’re not?

5. Be known as a connector. Be the one people come to when they want a professional.

6. Help others be comfortable by pretending to be the host, even if you are not. I talked about this in a different post.

7. Ask open-ended questions, rather than questions that elicit yes/no answers. This will get the conversation going. The one thing everyone loves to talk about is me!

8. Follow through quickly on all referrals you receive.

9. Be sure to thank everyone who refers to you/connects you. Recognition can be so powerful!

10. Elevator Speech – Have a well crafted answer to the question “What do you do?” I have a great friend who can help you with this: http://www.veronikanoize.com

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By Veronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach

Hey gal, do you know what you really need to know to market your business effectively?  If you’re like most women in business, you started your business because you are in love with an idea or a product, and are firmly convinced that everybody else in the world will be just as enamored of the product or service as you are. After all, most of us believe that we are savvy buyers, and if we like something, then we believe that every other rational person in the world would like it, too.Not so fast, Oprah.  That’s not how it works.Women entrepreneurs do have some natural advantages in business.  Very often, we are excellent at the soft skills such as communication, connection, empathy, and persuasion.  Those skills (and not blonde hair and a big rack) are why many women are so successful in sales positions.  But those skills often aren’t enough make a business work in the long term (or even to get it off the ground).As a marketing coach, I’ve worked with hundreds of women entrepreneurs, and I see the same mistakes being made over and over again by smart capable women who were very successful while working in the corporate world.

While this may come as a shock to some of you gals, there is no product, service, or idea that has ever been developed for sale that appeals to everybody.Not everybody wants to be thinner, richer, smarter, blonder, sexier, taller, better hydrated, fresher-smelling, chemically enhanced, or more physically fit than they already are.  Not everybody wants a six-step all-natural skin-care regimen, a five-piece poly-cotton wardrobe that can be packed in your handbag for those spontaneous weekend trips to Hawaii, or kicky funky costume jewelry ensembles to match every mood and outfit.  And not everybody wants to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime-ground-floor opportunities, make money from their down-lines, or cash in on the latest investment trends.

The question we need to ask ourselves is this:  Who really wants what you’ve got, and who is ready, willing and able to pay for it?  And finally, who will be thrilled with it?Once we can identify who is most likely to buy from us, and who is seeking our solution to a specific problem, then all we have to do is let that person know that we exist.  This is much easier, much cheaper, and much faster than trying to sell ourselves to someone who just plain isn’t already ready or willing to buy what we’re selling.

And while that may be bad news for some network marketers, in terms of marketing your product or services, that’s actually pretty good news!  Because marketing to everybody is time-consuming and expensive, and I have yet to meet an entrepreneur who is willing to spend much more than 10% (if that) of their annual revenues on marketing.Of all the many reasons to focus on a specific target market as your ideal client, the one I like best is that really happy clients become your unpaid marketing department.  Seriously, though, by focusing on a certain type of problem/solution for a specific type of client, you enhance your problem-solving skills and get really familiar with that category of issues (and therefore more valuable in the eyes of that client).

Once you are crystal clear about who your clients really are, the key elements of your marketing plan such as your niche, “elevator speech” or self-introduction, and the tactics you need to use to reach your clients, become so much easier to identify, which in turn helps you determine what you need to do to market yourself effectively.  And of course, marketing to a smaller pool of prospects is easier, quicker, and less expensive than marketing to a huge pool. So unless you have an unlimited marketing budget and nothing but time, money, and energy to spend, my advice as your marketing coach is that you focus on the easiest, quickest, and least expensive sale – your ideal client.  That, my friend, is how you leverage all your natural assets, and make a spectacular success of your business.

About the authorVeronika (Ronnie) Noize, the Marketing Coach, is the author of “How to Create a Killer Elevator Speech” and “How to Double Your Business in 30 Minutes a Day.” A dynamic speaker and unconditionally supportive coach, Ronnie helps small businesses attract more clients.  Ronnie’s web site is a comprehensive resource with free articles and valuable marketing tools for small office/home office business professionals.  Visit her web site at www.VeronikaNoize.com, or call her at 360-882-1298.What Women Really Need to Know to Market a Business © Veronika Noize 2005.  Allrights reserved.

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This week on this radio show, James will be interviewing  Jodi Tripp – No More Naked Phones http://www.nomorenakedphones.com Tuesday, October 12th at 2:00 PM PST

James says: “We want to learn more about your business, so today we will take your calls ON AIR. We will also answer your tough networking questions.As you might know iTTL is the fastest growing referral organization in the Denver, Seattle, Rogers AR Metro Areas.We are dedicated to promoting your business. Get your questions ready and Call in.”Here is the Call in Number: (347) 934-0911Listen in here is the link…http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itakethelead/2010/06/15/networking-101

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