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If you think you are just not cut out for networking, and it's all about pushing your products and services then think again! With the right attitude and approach you may even enjoy it!

Networking - online or offline - even the word is enough to send many capable business owners diving for cover with excuses like "I'm just too busy, maybe next month", "I'm really not good at that sort of thing", and "Oh God, I'd rather do the dishes!" Well it's time to take a whole new look at networking because targeted, planned, well executed networking can be one of the most effective marketing activities you will ever do.

Great networking is a very cost, time and energy efficient marketing activity - a recipe all businesses love! But before we delve into the details of what great networking entails, and how to use it effectively in marketing your business, let's just clear up a few misconceptions.

What effective networking is not.

• Net coffee
• Net meeting
• Net chatting
• Net drinking.

NetWORKing is WORK!

What effective networking is.

Networking is all about building relationships with others for mutual gain. It's an opportunity to work together with people to grow your business while also ensuring that they are receiving benefits from their relationship with you. It's a two-way street of mutual support and assistance.

Networking is a very active marketing tactic. It's an activity you need to plan, prepare for, set goals around, and regularly evaluate and measure the effectiveness of.

Networking is a very low cost or even free marketing activity. It doesn't take large amounts of cash or require a big proportion of your marketing budget. However there may be some hidden costs that need to be accounted for.

Networking is a very effective way to gain the people and practical resources you need to grow your business. It is a tried and true method of finding customers, suppliers and staff, learning about your competitors and gaining new skills to assist you in managing and growing your business.

Getting Ready to Network - The Right Attitude

Success at networking does take the right attitude and the right approach:

Remember 'Givers Gain". Approach networking with what you can give to others, and how you can help them solve problems.

• What can you give to the people you meet?
• Think about what is in it for them.
• Be generous
• Aim to be memorable!
• Will they remember you?
• Whatwill they remember about you?
• Will you be the person they talk about when someone asks them how the event went?
• What will they say about meeting you?
• What have you given them to help them remember you?
• Have fun - and look like you are having fun!

Remember people do business with people, no matter what you are selling, so always start by establishing a good relationship with the person at an individual level.

"A mans feelings of goodwill towards others is the strongest magnet for drawing goodwill towards himself."
Lord Chesterfield 1694 - 1771 English Statesman