| Networking is so important in today's environment, | | | | be. The purpose of these meetings is to learn a little |
| and without understanding how to properly network | | | | bit about your cohorts and try to help each other |
| you can waste lots of time and energy. Networking | | | | with introductions and referrals. |
| is not about finding clients, it is about finding potential | | | | So for you, here's how it works. Think about some |
| strategic alliances. | | | | of the people that you know that would be |
| A strategic alliance is someone with whom you meet | | | | considered a "strategic alliance." These are people |
| on a regular basic to share your "Rolodex" of | | | | that do not compete with you, but typically are in |
| contacts with each other to help make direct | | | | associated businesses. For Sean's masonry business, |
| introductions and avoid the dreaded "cold call." Building | | | | it made sense to invite a shell contractor, a drywall |
| strategic alliances is such a powerful tool to get | | | | contractor, a commercial insurance agent, and several |
| referrals (which, as I've discussed before, is the best | | | | others. You want to have between 8-10 people all |
| way to build your business). The bottom line is givers | | | | together. |
| gain; when you give, you will get back. | | | | When you are inviting them, you want to tell your |
| So let's take strategic alliances to the next level. | | | | alliances that you would like to put some people |
| Linda, our senior consultant, shared a method with | | | | together so "we can each share what our particular |
| me that she had introduced to one of our clients. It | | | | advantages are and what a good referral is for each |
| was truly brilliant, so I would like to share it with you. | | | | of us, and as we're out and about we can keep our |
| Linda had been working with Sean, a masonry | | | | eyes and ears open for referrals for each other." |
| contractor, who had lots of contacts but didn't have | | | | At the actual meeting let everyone know they have |
| a lot of time to go on "strategic alliance meetings." | | | | about 10 minutes to share a bit about their company |
| Linda and I shared with him how important these | | | | and some specifics about who they would like to |
| meetings were in building your business. Frankly, it | | | | meet or to whom they would like to be introduced. |
| wasn't something he was able to do at the level he | | | | There is ABSOLUTELY no selling at this meeting. It is |
| needed due to his time constraints. After working | | | | only to share information so we you can each help |
| with Sean to come up with other ideas, Linda | | | | each other. |
| suggested "A Strategic Roundtable." | | | | So here's the bottom line; to setup a "Strategic |
| My first question was of course, "what is a strategic | | | | Round Table" is to learn about others businesses and |
| roundtable?" A strategic roundtable is the assembling | | | | how you can help them. In turn, YOUR business will |
| of several people to exchange the "basic" | | | | prosper. Plus, giving is what we should be doing first |
| information; a little bit about them, what makes them | | | | in business and in life! |
| different, and what a good referral for them would | | | | |