People Networking 2 Finding People to be in Your Network

Now that we have established that networking is all about establishing, maintaining and growing those relationships, over the next few posts we can talk about how to do that.

First, how do you find good people to be in your network?

Start with your friends and family. They are usually your most adamant supporters. Include them in your network by looking out for them. Do anything you can to help them reach their goals. They will eventually help you towards yours. Don’t be discouraged if results don’t show up right away just be patient. Next, look up and visit multiple organized weekly networking organizations such as LeTip or BNI. These are groups of people that meet every week with the main intention of building their networks. Try several groups on for size as they each have their own personality and finding one that fits your personality is very important. You should ask these groups how much revenue they generate for the members on an annual basis. This will show you how serious they are about networking. Once you find the best fit find the $300-$500 they cost to join because if you work it right they will provide many-many times that in returns. You should also look for networking groups based on your trade or profession. These can be focused and help you can make some very good contacts. It has been my experience that most chamber mixers and ribbon cuttings are generally full of sales people trying to sell to other sales people. When attending an event like this it is a good idea to play host. Try to meet as many people as you can and introduce them to others they might be interested in. If you find someone that would be a good fit for your network invite them to coffee so you can get to know each other’s business better. DO NOT TRY TO SELL ANYTHING. This is not the place or the time.

So now that you know a little more about how to find your network, in the next post we will talk about how to maintain your network by growing the relationships and taking care of your partners.