With all the different social media platforms available today, it\u2019s easy to focus your marketing time here because it\u2019s generally less time consuming to engage from your computer than it is to attend real-life functions and talk to people in your community. However, if you depend solely on social media for your marketing, you\u2019re missing a vast opportunity to market your business to locals right in your own backyard.<\/p>\n
Your marketing goal should always be to build relationships with people you can help with your products or services. Even though you may be tempted, don\u2019t push the hard sell on people you\u2019ve just met.<\/strong><\/em> They don\u2019t know you, so they likely won\u2019t spend their hard-earned cash on your product or service. However, by interacting with them at networking events, in addition to engaging them on social media, you have built a foundation upon which to build a stronger relationship, which may ultimately lead to them buying from you.<\/p>\n How to Get Started Networking Offline<\/strong><\/p>\n The idea of walking into a room without knowing a single soul can no doubt be daunting. But the alternative of not sharing your story and your mission to those who may be seeking this exact answer to their problems is equally troubling. No matter how you want to start networking in real life, put on your brave face and tackle your social fears head on.<\/p>\n Still Stumped on How to Build Relationships?<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s pretty easy.\u00a0 Seek first to serve.\u00a0 Find a group, cause, or service club that resonates with you.\u00a0 Then serve.\u00a0 The rest will come naturally.<\/p>\n The post Three Tips for Building Relationships Offline<\/a> appeared first on Ken Ivey<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With all the different social media platforms available today, it\u2019s easy to focus your marketing time here because it\u2019s generally less time consuming to engage from your computer than it is to attend real-life functions and talk to people in your community. However, if you depend solely on social media for your marketing, you\u2019re missing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[288],"tags":[290,291,289],"class_list":["post-4675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business","tag-bizhacks","tag-biztips","tag-business-advice","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\nVery often there are dozens of business networking groups and chambers of commerce spread across the country in every locale, so you really can pick and choose which group is best for you. Yes, you want to reap a reward for being a part of the group, but your acceptance into any business group will depend on what you can contribute. After all, it\u2019s all about building relationships. Some groups are more formal and have standard meeting rules, while others may be much more casual and usually smaller in scale. Ask to visit a meeting or two before submitting an application and never be afraid to ask questions about the other members or when the group was formed.<\/li>\n
\nWhat better way to showcase your authority and expertise than to speak to your local community! Create a presentation customized to your community\u2019s needs. Contact your local library, business association or community college with your ideas and very often if the presentation is unique and relevant to the community, you will get a booking.
\nEven if live events are not your forte, choose a topic you are passionate about and that you could speak about for hours. Your passion will carry through and you\u2019ll be less likely to be nervous or get tongue-tied. Make sure to collect business cards or to have attendees sign in so you can connect with them on social media and continue the relationship building.<\/li>\n
\nLook for groups or charities that are relevant to your experience, but don\u2019t go in thinking you need to change everything. Building relationships should be a positive experience, so offer your guidance and input when asked. Otherwise, enjoy conversing with other volunteers, board members, and administrative personnel, all of whom hold the possibility of referring you to their family, friends, or other networking contacts.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n