The Sales Sage: 

 “Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”  - Jane Howard

We are going to begin the “Networking Series” with understanding the reasons why networking is important. 

There is the obvious reason – meet new people.  But…does just meeting people help you? If you collect their business card, go back to your office and forget them…then no, of course it doesn’t.  However, if you take time to get to know your contacts, what they have to offer and share with them what you have to offer…in the long run …it will benefit you both.  Even if at first it doesn’t appear you have immediate needs for each other.

Why else do we network?

·         Get more leads, more prospects, more business

·         Build relationships

·         Obtain referrals

·         Spread awareness of you and your organization

·         Connect the dots of your network

·         Find jobs

·         Find employees

·         Learn about the marketplace

·         Gather HOT off the press information about your community

The list could go on and on, but the important point to gain here is…

Networking isn’t about collecting business cards.

We see them at every networking event, the “guy” who collects cards to go back and show his boss what a good job he did at the event du jour.  I’m going to implore you to not be that guy.  He isn’t gaining anything other than, well, collecting a bunch of cards. 

What I want you to do is to begin thinking of networking as building your own community of friends and colleagues that you can help and, inturn can help you.  The important part here is you can help.  The first part is you helping them.  Harvey Mackay, author of “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty” got it right when he referred to it as “making a deposit into their checkbook”.  If you have not read this book on networking – it is a must read…go out and read it now. 

At the very core, networking is about building a NET of people who surround you – who you can trade information, leads, and ultimately business with.  Without a network you really can’t survive – so go out and start building your network now.

Next post…WHERE to start building your network…