Human instinct is to only talk about something when asked. This isn’t good for business, so you need to change your mindset and get your entrepreneurial head on when it comes to telling others about what you do.

To generate new leads for your business you need to make sure as many people as possible know about what you do. Getting in front of people and explaining to them what you do, even if they are not your ideal client is just the start of your networking process. People talk and you’ll find that someone you have spoken to knows somebody who’s been looking for the goods or services you offer. 

What networking options are available?

Opening up conversations with people you know may be the start but there are various networking options available for your business.

Online Presence

If you’re worried about stepping out of your comfort zone when it comes to networking then start off with your online presence. This is a great place to start regardless of your confidence levels as it gives you a platform to refer people to when you eventually do start networking in person.

By designing a website and pushing it live you will be networking with visitors without even knowing it! Of course you can track your website traffic but people can access the information anytime of day, from anywhere in the world! Updating your website regularly with a blog for instance will make your website more visible on Google. The content you write will build trust with your audience and they will know where to come to when they need questions answered or a problem solved.

Clients will come to you as they have a requirement or dilema and it’s up to you to create the solution. You can do this by updating your social media with facts and tips about your industry. This will encourage people to follow you. It may not generate leads overnight as it takes time to build  trust and grow your audience. However people can be following your social media for some time before they decide to take the plunge and become a client.

By now you should have a rough idea of who your ideal client is. You need to make sure you

you’re visible in networking groups on facebook where they will hang out. Build trust in the group by helping people to answer questions they have. These groups shouldn’t be used to just shout about what you do, they’re a place to grow your network, build relationships so that people trust you, ready for when they need you.

Your online presence is critical to your business and the main root of building your network, but there’s far more to networking than your social media.

Get out of your comfort zone

You’ve started to build your online presence and now you have somewhere to direct people to, to get more information about your business. Now it’s time to get out of your comfort zone. Research networking events in your area and get yourself out there! Ideally networking groups where your ideal client will be, but if you struggle with this then networking with other business owners will be beneficial. Not only does this get you known in your industry but you may also gain some contacts that can benefit your business, such as new suppliers and subcontractors as well as ideas which you may not have thought of.

Networking is essential for the growth of your business and it’s not just about lead generation but about getting the right connections to strengthen your business.

Jump out of your comfort zone, get networking and let me know how you get on!