How do you know you are making the most of your business networking practices?

The great thing is that whatever you are doing now, you can take incremental steps to make your business networking more effective. There is nothing wrong with getting better every week.

Some of these ideas are powered by Network in Action (NIA) tools. Others are ideas that anyone can employ. Pro tip: Click/connect here to see how NIA can help you!

Manage & Maximize Your Profiles

Can you take Google reviews? What social media is used by you and your business? Whether it is your Google business listing or one of your social media profiles, make sure the information is current and reflects best on the identifying factors most clearly associated to your business. NIA members gain an NIA member profile, linking that profile to the other social media and Google My Business pages. Those members who can receive Google reviews gain a phone app tool that makes requesting reviews as easy as sending a text. There are even strategies for sharing love to members who cannot receive reviews due to regulatory policies.

Make edits to your social media profiles periodically to give the SEO algorithms a shake, and use great keywords in your profile headers and the start of each section of text.

Reach Out & Connect

How do you make new connections for sales or for developing referral partners?

Whether making cold calls, stopping into businesses in person, or meeting business owners/reps through networking circles, make appointments to have deeper conversations. When having those focused conversations, find out about each other, what you are trying to achieve, any special differentiators, and who you need to meet. Most importantly, present your products or services and ask for the sale or ask for the referral/introduction. Think about what introductions you need to make to help this person and other important people (like the NIA members).

When working from a list or using another outreach method, strategies can be employed to make the outreach more efficient, focused, and impactful. Click/Connect here to find out how NIA equips members with time-saving tools and business solutions that help with business outreach.

Be Likeable!!!!

Have you ever met someone who was accomplished or had a lot of other factors going for them, but was simply not very likeable?

What a shame! Right?

Being likeable is very important to growing an effective business network. The truth is that when someone is mean, self-centered, or uninterested, people will only do the minimum with him. Make a point to be likeable and to demonstrate interest in others. Be happy and joyful as an every day attitude. Share value as you go. People will be naturally drawn to you.

Conduct yourself in the best of values and ethics for the benefit of those around you.

Posting & Commenting to Social Media

Rule #1: Don’t post anything trashy… ever! Do post content that provides value or drives interest in your business. Be consistent about posting and using those posts to raise understanding about products and services that your business provides (or your EVENTS).

This is the “Do as I say and not as I do” section. I have yet to commit to creating and leveraging video content. Still, there is no denying the fact that businesses that master the process of creating consistent video content gain attention they might not ordinarily experience. You don’t have to be perfect to start. Style and strategy will improve over time. So just get started! Save original video content to your website, your YouTube channel, and your social media and use cross-linking where appropriate.

Make a point to like, comment, and share posts of others. Use @Mentions to recognize others or to share attention back to your own page. If your comments are thoughtful, addressing content relevant to your industry or business, the SEO algorithms will begin to perceive you as an expert in your field.

Much, Much More

There are many other strategies for maximizing your business network. Set a time to talk with NIA leader Cath Knabb about the networking goals you have for you and your business. Are you a good fit for NIA?