Table of Contents

• Want the Secret to Successful Networking?

• Develop Broad Network Segments

• Nurture Network Segments Differently

• Make Networking Your Lifestyle

• Focus on Relaying Value, Not Product Peddling

• Key Takeaways

• What are you missing?

• Kloud Ocean

Want the Secret to Successful Networking?

Through this interaction, you get insider information that puts you ahead of the competition, gain introductions to the right contacts from a friend of a friend, and continuously expand your business perspective by learning through others.

Some of your most valuable leads will come through your network.

Did you get a tip about a great sales candidate for your team who was starting to think about making a change?

Maybe a contact made during an industry association meeting referred your last big client.

Why do so few revenue-contributing professionals have a strong network when the rewards are great?

I have observed that most people focus on short-term, lead generating networking. They don’t realize they are missing out on significant opportunities by not taking the time to develop and nurture a broader-scale network that pays off in the long-term.

In my Fractional VP Sales role, one of the core areas I focus on is helping sellers understand how to maximize filling their sales pipeline.

While the digital age has opened new methods for lead generation, for most industries, there is no substitute for interacting and engaging with people for mutual benefit… otherwise known as NETWORKING.

In this article, I’ll share the benefits of expanding your networking scope and managing your various network segments differently to maximize the return on your time investment.

Develop Broad Network Segments

First, you must build a broad-scale network by tapping into all the relationships you have developed in various areas and phases of your life.

Here is a list of network segments to get you started…

• Co-workers and customers from current and previous positions

• Present and past industry association relationships

• Referral Partners established in various industries throughout your career

• Recognized trail blazer leaders in your business and personal life 

• Vendors and Service Providers in professional and personal life

• Contacts through volunteer and non-profit group involvement

• Primary and extended family contacts

• Contacts made through your children’s activities

• School, college, and university alma mater classmates

• …the list could go on-and-on!

You need to provide value to these contacts, so they see benefit in following you on social media platforms and taking the time to read what you share

The key in all networking is that you enter the relationship with an investment mindset and a genuine desire to help your contacts with the problems they are facing today. It’s about putting them first with a servant leadership approach.

This generates trust and, over time, will likely grant you the opportunity to interact with these people more to demonstrate your value as an expert. The more you give, the more you will find these connections reaching out to help you when the time is right.

Nurture Network Segments Differently

Next, you need to develop a plan for nurturing your network to stay top-of-mind. It’s important to recognize that all contacts are valuable, even if they are not tightly aligned with your industry.

I can’t tell you how many times a contact from the past has surfaced out of the blue with a helping hand, a client lead, or inquiry that has helped another member in my network.

You want to be intentional about investing 1-to-1 time to develop certain network segments that have potential of becoming lead reciprocating relationships.

For example, I give special attention to my Referral Partner networking segment. In my business, these contacts provide complementary services to my target market at the same buyer persona level and in the same geographic footprint.

These are contacts I recognize have the potential to become helpful resources in the Business Ecosystem I maintain to wholistically serve my clients.

In a prior article I wrote, “Is the Time You Spend Networking Paying Off?”, I outlined methods I’ve found that enable the Referral Partner network segment to reach its potential more quickly.

Make Networking Your Lifestyle

There are many time demands on top executives, sales leaders and salespeople. This is the common objection I hear for why these revenue-focused professionals don’t get around to networking or don’t do nearly enough of it.

The key to becoming a well-connected networker doesn’t happen overnight. It needs to be a consistent, manageable focus applied to the normal course of business while also naturally spilling into one’s personal life.

It’s about always keeping your eyes open for an opportunity to make a new connection, even in the places you wouldn’t expect it. The instant you can build trust through an impromptu conversation, it’s the best lead you could ever get.

Another one of my techniques is investing time to find out where my customers are hanging out. Engaging in LinkedIn online groups or local industry association chapter meetings that my customers frequent gives me an opening to show how I can be of value to them.

The result of applying this mindset to your professional and personal life is that you have a continuous business development engine running. You are forever showing your value to a widening group of people, and eventually, someone’s friend, associate, or family member will need what you have shown you are an expert at.

Focus on Relaying Value, Not Product Peddling

On social media, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. Every day the high-impact contacts you are looking to connect with are being spammed by competitors or other industry-related offers.

A well thought out cookie cutter message to targeted contacts might get you an accepted LinkedIn connection, but that’s it. Instead, take some time to research your target. Understand their challenges and find ways you can help without selling to them.

Your objective is to stimulate interactive communication with new contacts by reaching out to them with intentionality that reflects why you want to connect.

Ultimately, your objective is that preliminary correspondence elevates to voice-to-voice contact so a meaningful relationship can be built.

You must find a way to relay value in every interaction with your networking targets. If your initial thoughtful, helpful message does spark a conversation, make sure you go beyond surface-level stuff. Ask questions. Dig deeper.

You need to be more than a product peddler to your connections on LinkedIn and other social platforms. If you connect and instantly start asking for a quick 15-minute phone call to discuss your product, they likely won’t respond… ever.

Key Takeaways

Creating and nurturing a strong network is a career-long process. The time to get started is now!

It won’t be often that you’ll generate a new closed contract in 90 days through networking, but the ROI from your time commitment will pay dividends in tangible ways in the short-term and long-term.

Representing yourself as a resource and building a strong network are essential to success in the modern business world. And remember…

• Some of your most valuable leads will come from your network

• Develop a broad-scale network that incorporates all aspects of your life

• Invest time to nurture your network to stay top-of-mind

• Help contacts solve their challenges to stimulate communication

• Make networking your way of life   

If you need help guiding your revenue-generating resources to become more effective networkers, don’t hesitate to reach out. As I hope this article has demonstrated, I am sincerely here to help!

You may contact me [email protected] or book a Sales Discovery call HERE.

What are you missing?

We look.
But we don’t see.

Today, I noticed some decorative images at the bottom of my computer screen.
I hovered the mouse and discovered that it was World Bee Day.

Today is World Tea Day.

How many other pieces of information have I missed because I didn’t notice?

It’s the same with material on the web.

We look.
But we don’t really see.

People’s photos immediately come to mind. 

Black and white pictures stand out more than those in color.
Not having a self-portrait makes an impression, too.

As the LinkedIn Whisperer, I teach the skill of reading people’s personality styles by examining their photos.

Beginning with this knowledge enables your introductory conversations to flow smoothly.

As a result, you feel comfortable.
Trust builds quickly.
Sales resistance drops away.
And you proceed to do business together.

Are you looking but not seeing?

Open your eyes to turning prospects into clients with The AlikeAbility(™) System.

To your sales success,

Nancy Zare, Ph.D.
The Sales Whisperer and Author
What are you missing when you view people’s posts? Let’s discuss it.

Kloud Ocean

Allergies can be such a hassle. That's why I crafted a space free from pollen, grass, and trees, where I can breathe easily and still revel in the vibrant beauty of colors. It's my ideal escape from allergies. This creation embodies the idea that obstacles can inspire creativity and innovation. By reimagining the things that hold us back, we can find unique solutions and push through any challenge. This allergen-free haven is a testament to transforming limitations into opportunities for artistic expression.

I’m Hunter Mestman, the artist behind /Kloud Ocean. I thrive on creativity, transforming vibrant emotions and thoughts onto aluminum canvases. The real reward for me? The smiles and joy each artwork brings to those who experience it. Join me and let’s spread positivity through every colorful piece!