InSite Creations is a custom web design and development company but without the ability to get out and network, this highly competitive industry would swallow us up without even a thought. Getting out there, getting known and building relationships is paramount to the success of businesses like ours. Sitting hiding in front of your computer, shy to pick up the phone and thinking business will come my way, just because I have a website is purely nonsense.
Early on in our business, we learnt the importance of networking – as one of my mentors said, Network to get Work. How true that has been for us. My first experience of networking was rather scary for a shy person like myself. Even more tormenting was the first time when I was asked to stand up and talk for 1 minute.
“Oh my God, no, not me… were my first thoughts”, but with head held high, and gripping the side of the table, I managed to squeak out a few comprehensive words that described who we were, and what we provided, and whether we can be of help to them. Networking is an art. It's not a matter of thrusting your business card into the hands of others and moving onto to the next “prospect”, it is a craft in relationship building. Getting to a common ground, finding ways to share interests and ideas, the willingness to give. Remember the old adage, what goes around comes around. Well it is true. We have found since starting our business 3 years ago, meeting and learning about other people's business was the key to our marketing strategy. The rest followed.
Building network referrals has been the mainstream of new business development for our company. Satisfied clients speak volumes to others, and as I get to know more and more businesses, I too am in the position where I can be the referrer. Milton BizNetWorks is a great sampling of an organization dedicated to promoting our business not only amongst its membership, but to bring business from outside our circles to each other. Great referrals, testimonials, needs and leads are swapped on a week-to-week basis, and as we grow, so do our chances for new referrals.
If you are a new service oriented business out there, and you don't necessarily have the storefront to promote yourself, get out there and mingle. Get to know your associates, peers, co-opetition, and other like-minded individuals -- consider joining groups like BizNetWorks to expand your relationships. Remember you are selling yourself first your product or service comes next.
--- Jemma Fong, InSite Creations |
