Debra Kasowski

4 Smart Ways to Nurture and Build Business Relationships

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Business is not business without prospects or customers. Business is all about relationships and how you can serve others with your message, mission, products, and services. I learned long time ago that you need to build these relationships before jumping in and sharing some of your products and services. Business relationships are built on trust and rapport also known as the “know, like, and trust ” factor.Social network

Many people go wine and dine and even schmooze at networking events but never follow up with the people they meet. There is more to networking than the food and drink. You want to build and nurture the relationships almost like courting. It is important for you to have strategies in place to nurture your relationships. Strategy and not schemes. Strategies are intentional plans of continuing to build relationships to you understand how to serve your audience and the persons in relationship with learn what you do, what your needs are and how they may help you as well. Relationships take time to build. They say it can take 7-9 touches or interactions with someone before they will do business with you. There are many smart ways to make them happen!

Business Relationship Building Strategy #1 – Get to Know Your Audience

Getting to know your audience begins with active listening and paying attention. Think about the information they like, share, or pin on social media. Develop a dialogue online and ask a question to learn preferences, likes, and dislikes.

Small Action Step

Send a direct message on social media to someone you have conversed with in person or online asking them about their business goals and how you may support them. Another idea you may try is blogging about a recent book you read and asking others for their feedback on the book or what books they would recommend.

Business Relationship Building Strategy #2 – Follow Up Phone Call or Send an Email (BUT do NOT hide behind the computer)

Follow Up is the key to business success. You can do this with a simple phone call or an email referring to your meeting or follow up on the discussion you had. Perhaps you promised to send them some information or you agreed to check your calendars to meet for lunch or coffee and you were just following up. Ideally, follow up should occur within 24-48 hours. Life are busy – try to make your follow up timely.

Small Action Step

Call the last person you met at a networking event. Arrange to meet for lunch or coffee to learn more about them and the business. Always come form a place of service first. You may want to do business with them or you may keep them in mind for someone who does.

Business Relationship Building Strategy #3 – Send Nice to Meet You or Thank You Cards

Send out “Nice to Meet You” or “Thank You” Cards to people you have just met or people you have done business with. How often to you get mail from someone you have just met or you have done something for? Most people tend to say not too often. I know that this practice can change your life. Not only does sending a card make you feel good, you will make someone else’s day.  I use a distribution service called SendOutCards. I can send small tokens or appreciation or gifts.

Small Action Step

Purchase 5 Thank You or Blank Cards and write out a heartfelt message in a card to the last 5 people you had interaction with. They may be some you met at a networking meeting, a member of your team, someone who provided you with exceptional customer service, or someone who has made a big impact in your life.

Business Relationship Building Strategy #4 – (ONLINE) Write Content Rich Articles for Your Audience

Article marketing is a great way for others to “get to know your voice” and learn about how “you think” about the world. There are many article directories that you could submit article to. Ezine Articles and Self-Growth are two directories I submit content to.

How to articles are some of the most searched for forms of content.

Small Action Step

Write an article about something that people often ask you about. I bet this will be pretty easy as you already do this naturally. What are 3 tips or words of advice that you have recently given someone? How do you explain it to them?

Business relationships are key. Although some social networking can be done on the computer it is best to get out there and do some face to face communication, so people can get to know like and trust you. Are you in!

I would love to hear your comments about how you nurture your relationships. Leave your comments below.

 

3 Steps to Shifting Your Mindset and Getting Unstuck

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Let’s face it! There are times when you feel you are rocking and rollin’ in your business and there are other times you feel like you have hit a wall, plateau or rut. It doesn’t matter what state the economy is people are still doing business. Why not with you? Really the only person stopping you from getting what you want is you.

Courtesy of imagerymajestic/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of imagerymajestic/freedigitalphotos.net

Whatever you do – DON’T STOP! Remember the Law of Motion – what is in motion stays in motion. Now is not the time to stop.

There are three things you can do to quickly get back on track and get your head back in the business game:

1. Move away from the computer – Get out of the office or your home and go where the people are. Find out about networking events in your area and get out there. Let people know about who you are and what you do. Your offline efforts are as important as your online efforts.

2.  Avoid the dream stealers or passion squashers. Surround yourself with like minded people. Create a mastermind of other business owners and brainstorm ways to move forward, collaborate or cross promote. When you surround yourself with others who are thinking positively and looking for opportunities, you natural will want to do the same. Happy positive people are contagious – you can’t help but want to be around them. Also a great way to attract your ideal clients.

3. Reconnect with your “why”. Take time to review all of your success stories and testimonials. Every day you accomplish tasks, emails, and phone calls to get you closer to your goals – take time out to acknowledge them. Align your actions with your outcomes. Take time to celebrate all of the small things that lead to big things. What gets you jazzed up? What is your mojo?

There are many ways to skyrocket your business in in tough times. Tough times do not last but your perspective and mindset have the power to determine how long they will last.

I would love to hear about how you shift your mindset when times get tough. Share this post to help others get out of their rut.

 

 

3 Easy Ways to Step It UP and Build Your Platform

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Social networkYou put up your shingle and started your business. You built the dream. Why isn’t anyone coming or hiring you? Why? You need to build your platform and spread the word about your business.

Maybe you have been in your business for awhile but hit a plateau and not sure what to do next or perhaps you would like to uplevel your game. Remember – you will continue to get the same results unless you change the game your playing. 

Life is very much like a game. One of strategy and vision. Determine your vision and what you want it to look like. Take the action steps it takes to get there. Imagine it – touch and feel it as if it were real.

Now let’s make it happen. It is your time!

Step it up and build your platform with 3 easy strategies:

  1. Dress for Success – You are your personal brand. When people see you what do you want them to say about you? Is your brand congruent with your message? When you go to a networking event, do you look like you just rolled out of bed? You want to have a professional polished look and it does not have to break the bank. It all starts with a great haircut, outfit, well-manicured hands, and your smile.
  2. Intentional Networking – Create a warm welcoming environment when you enter the room. You do not want people dodge each other to get away from you as you shuffle out your business cards. Netowrking is NOT a blackjack game!  Network with intention by trying to connect with 3-5 people that you can build and nurture relationships with. Don’t forget to follow-up! Not just 24-48 hours from meeting them, 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. Continue to develop the relationships you have as you expand your network.
  3. Be Seen Everywhere. In today’s day and age, you can be seen more often in the see of social media. Utilize the greats – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Share articles in directories like ezinearticles.com. Give away your best compelling valuable information! People will come back for more and better yet they will share you with their network!

Your platform can be expanded by boosting your credibility, increasing your visibility, attracting your ideal clients. Join us and listen to 9 incredible experts February 4-8, 2013 as they share sought-after secrets to become unstoppable! SIGN UP here The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Platform Building Teleclass Series. Please share!!!

Full Swing: Connections, Conversations, and Follow Through!

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Sports offer great analogies for business strategies. Every summer I fit in a game of golf or two. I love being in the sunshine and on the green grass. Sometimes I am searching for my ball ball in the trees but nonetheless I have learned in order to have a great shot or hit the sweet spot and get your ball to where you want it to go you must have good follow through on your swing. You cannot just put in half your efforts and expect to get the results you want. The same in business.

To get the results you want – you need to ensure that you:

Get to know new people at networking events and discover new ways you can help them get what they want.

Follow-Up with Them within 24-48 hours of meeting them with a phone call or email.

Follow Through – the conversation does not end there! Can you introduce them to others in your network or support them with a new article or magazine you read.

Follow through is the execution of the plan. Get to know people for who they are. They may never do business with you and that’s okay but they may know others who need your products and services. Be consistent and build relationships. Discover your sweet spot the view is beautiful at the top!

How to Take Your Networking to the Next Level

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You may have heard hundreds of elevator pitches and you may have a shoebox full of business cards but what good are they when you do not want or need their business. If you want to take your networking to the next level you need to start thinking differently.

Here are 3 tips to help you take your networking to the next level:

  1. Be Intentional – Develop a plan before you attend your networking event. Plan to meet at least 2-3 people you would like to connect and follow up with. Reacquaint yourself with a couple of people you have met in the past. Networking is about connecting, caring, and conversing.
  2. Make It About Them – Mix and mingle introducing yourself to others.Learn as much as you can in your limited time together. Find out what is important to them, what are some of their hobbies, do they have a family or a pet, and what they do for a living. Get to know them as a person first. Business cards come secondary.
  3. Follow-Up – Follow up with the people you intended to meet or who you spoke to about planning to get together within 24-48 hours of meeting. By doing this, people are more likely to remember meeting you. Try connecting with people every 30, 60, and 90 days if possible. You may send an email, an article of interest, or make a phone call letting them know what you are up to. You may not need their business and they  may not need yours but you both have contact who might need your businesses. Think about some of the other people in your network, who do they need to know. Be a connector!

When you are intentional and focus on others, follow up is easy. The awkwardness does not feel cold; it is like picking up the phone and talking to an old friend. I recently reconnected with a person I met at a networking event several years ago while on my family vacation. It was great getting to hear about what she was up to and watching the passion she had about her business. We could have talked for hours; I love it!

Who can you follow up with today? What are others doing to make a difference in the world? You may even connect with people on Facebook or Twitter getting to know the people who you are following and who may be following you.