We all have our own networks made up of customers, followers, friends, and colleagues. Each one of them can help us grow our business if we know what to look for and how to ask.
Here are 7 ways that you can leverage your network in order to grow your business:
1. Testimonials. Testimonials are so powerful because they come from someone else. Having testimonials from people in our network is a terrific way to establish creditability and trust. You can use them in many creative ways, on your website, social media and print material. If you ask a trusted colleague or client for a testimonial, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how happy they will be to supply them. The best format for testimonials are, in order, video, audio and then written.
2. Learning. We can learn from our network about areas that we are not experts in. I know I learn something every day from different blogs or groups I follow. When I’m stuck, I ask questions and they are more than willing to help out.
3. Assistance. If you stuck on some aspect in your business or you are looking for a key service or resource, ask your network who might be able to help you. Who would they recommend? They will be happy to help and be flattered that you thought to ask them.
4. Introduction. Is there is someone that you want to meet but you haven’t been able to make a direct connection? Have you thought of asking your network if they know the person or know someone who does? In today’s world, people are connected now more than ever; particularly if you are looking locally. People in your trusted network will be glad to facilitate an introduction.
5. Speaking Opportunities. One great way to grow your network and market is to speak to group meetings. Ask your network what local meeting they attend and if they can suggest any that might result in a speaking opportunity.
6. Referrals. One of the best ways to find new prospects is to ask. Does anyone know anyone who might be in need of your services? You can make this an informal request or you can create a formal affiliate program. I know I’m more likely to contact someone whose name I’ve been given from a trusted person in my own network.
7. Clients. Our networks are a wonderful source of clients. They already know, like and trust us. They can become clients when the time is right for them. We have to keep growing our relationships with them and inspire them. Not only can they become clients, but they can be great champions for our products and services.
How do you leverage your network? What additional ideas would you add?
I love to see entrepreneurs follow their passions, serve more people and create the lifestyle of their dreams.
- When Life (or business) Give You Lemons 🍋 Made Lemonade - November 15, 2022
- The Power of Great Questions! - August 9, 2021
- Get Sh!t Done – The Power of Accountability! - August 4, 2021
These are great tips, Heather. The one I most overlook or forget about is asking for testimonials. I’ve got to do it more. It’s not that I don’t want to, I just forget… 🙁
I love referring people in my network. I love connecting people I know like and trust to other people. I truly believe that this is the strongest form of doing business. We can’t know it all, so it is better to surround ourselves with people that know different things and have different strengths.
Great post, great points. 🙂
Wherever we are in our business development, we can all use more leverage to maximize what we get out of our networks — while expanding them at the same time. Thanks for this comprehensive list, Heather. Each one sounds obvious when we read through them, but I’m certain we’ve all overlooked at least two or three!
Sharon – They are obvious except when you aren’t doing them. Many people I work with find it very hard to “ask” for anything, testimonials, help, etc. Our networks are amazing resources and I know at time I don’t leverage mine enough.
Borrowing from that quote, “it takes a village” to build a business and the 7 tips you offer are a great way to build and grow a community. Thanks for helping to organize our thoughts on this topic!
Connie: I love the analogy. It does take a community to really create success in our businesses. Thank for sharing.
I spend so much time on line because of networking. I belong to several groups and wouldn’t know what I do without the generousity of other’s. I ask- they answer. Good list and points.
Roslyn – that’s great. “I ask – they answer.” Perfectly captures the value of our networks. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Heather for the great tips on leveraging your business to a higher and more understandable plane. 🙂
Gilly – You’re welcome. Thank your for stopping by.
I network online with groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Oh, and Google+ circles. I actually have a FB group for anyone connected to my particular biz opportunity. That is helpful. I learn so much from interacting with and watching other people involved in online marketing. Thanks for these 7 ways to leverage my networking opportunities.
Pat – Way to go with all the online networking. I working at getting better at that. Our world is changing and the amazing part is our ability to reach people from anywhere and network with them.
I love this kind of article with list, it is so easy to follow! They are all good, but my favorite for today would be assistance, people are very grateful when you can help them in any way!
Meire: You make a good point. There strategies work both ways. If you assistance someone else then they are going to remember you and think of your in the future.
Networking is an awesome thing, Heather. I love Social Media and the power of impacting people’s lives with whatever it is we have to offer the world. We have come a long way! 🙂
Norma – the Queen of great social media advice. I’m with you the power of influencing people all over the world is so exciting. We have come a long way.
Great advice on helping to grow a business!
Thanks for providing great ways to interact with existing networks. What opportunities surround us!
Gina – You are right. Opportunity does surround us. We have to be courage enough to go out and find it.
Great tips thank you so much for compiling them for us. I’m going to share with my team!
Stephanie – thank you for sharing the tips with your team. I hope it helps out.
Great tips on how to leverage your network to build business. I can use a lot of help in these areas
Veronica – start small, pick one or two and try them out. You have a great blog and talent to share.
A good list of tips to follow. Even if you take one at a time and work on that for a while, you can see improvement. I’ve gained so much knowledge from just two groups I’m in and they are very supportive.
Diana – Very true, just start small. I actually believe that too many groups and networking actually will lower you business success. So starting with 2 groups is a great idea.
Thank you for the 7 tips.. I hope I’m on the right track by doing some of them.. 🙂 got to do more on speaking opportunities, though. 🙂
Pamela, Speaking opportunities are a great way to get to know. The trick is to learn how to position yourself and your products and/or services. I’m learning how to do that better myself.
These are great tips on taking advantage of your network
You are SO rIGHT. I ask everyone to visit google or yahoo or bing and give us a 5-star review (and now that I have my new website they can go there and do it, too!). People will do it if you ask them! It’s probably the #1 most valuable asset we have for promoting the flower and gift basket shop.
Tina – that is great that you ask and direct them to the places where you want rating and testimonials. It amazing what people will do when you simple ask. Great business strategy!
You are absolutely right! You have a wonderful list of tips here and I agree with each one of them! Great article and thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kungphoo – You’ve created a great tool to support leveraging and networking online so I know you get this.
All great tips and very important to use. Thank you
Thanks Carele.
I will try to follow your rules to improve my network! Thanks!
These are all great tips and advice! I still haven’t used testimonials. Thanks for the reminder. They are all important and effective!
Alexandra – Testimonials can really made the difference between a warm lead and an easy sale. I know when I shop online or look for a local service I always check out the testimonials.
Hi Heather,
I’m all about leverage. I think we live in a time now where networking is important and leverage is just as important as well. You put the two together and come out a winner. Thanks for the great post!
Nate – Leverage is key to a successful business in many ways and so is networking. You are right putting them together correctly and you’ll see great business results.
Those are great suggestions! I have used testimonials before and I know they are quite powerful.
Testimonials are extremely powerful. I know I need to get better at using them myself.
Thanks for adding your comment.
I love networking!!!! Testimonials can be so hard in my business (I’m a personal trainer). Clients I have now often think it’s weird because we’re still training (even ones I’ve worked with for 2+ yrs! who have lost a lot of pounds and I REALLY wish would write me something!!!!) and others don’t want their picture up or their name, which is hard, because my industry is really big for having photos of transformations. Thanks for the tips on how to get even more out of my network 🙂
Catherine – Testimonials can be hard to get in a personal industry like personal training. I wonder if you could get audio testimonials. No names, no pictures but a real voice talking about their experience with you.
Great tips and advice on using our existing network to grow our business and to further our network as well. Networking is what social media is all about and learning to leverage that is so important. It is a major step in growing our business. Networking offers such a great support system for everyone as well and builds such a strong community of people helping people. The more we learn the more we grow.
Meryl – So true “The more we learn the more we grow”, it is about learning, sharing and building trust.
Thanks for your comments.