The Real Key to Networking Your Way to Success

When you hear people talk about networking, your first reaction may be to sigh heavily and roll your eyes.

Yes, yes, networking is crucial if you’re an entrepreneur.

You have to meet all the right people who do all the right things, in hopes that they can provide you referrals, vital connections, and partnerships in the future.

And there is a small percentage of the population that truly enjoys networking. 

The “connectors” who seem to know everyone and can move through a happy hour, working the entire room and actually looking happy as they do it.

For most of us however, although we’ll go to the networking events because we’re told it’s one of the best ways to grow our business, we do so with the same anticipation that accompanies a dentist appointment.

Let’s face it, dressing up and walking into a room full of strangers with a handful of business cards and the knowledge that everyone you talk to either wants to sign you up as a client or use you to their advantage in some way doesn’t make for the beginnings of a fun evening.

And the small talk, ugh, why do we do it?

Hold conversations we both know we’re bored with in hopes of discovering the existence of some useful relationship.

The Good Side of Networking

Well, we do it because the advice we’ve received about networking is right.

Building a successful business really is more about who you know than what you know.

And networking is one of the best ways to grow your business, even when that business is an online business, a business in which you work from home.

Because you can develop a relationship in person in one hour that’s deeper and more productive than one that takes you one month to develop through posting on social media.

A relationship that takes far less time and costs far less money than one you develop through driving targeted prospects to Facebook ads, and starting them down your fancy sales funnel that you probably don’t even have yet.

Because networking takes no special technical knowledge, requires very little time, and costs no money.

Basically, anyone can do it.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make your networking more productive.

If you’ve shied away from networking in the past, or if the only results you’ve seen are a stack full of business cards that you and everyone else failed to follow up on, try these tips for improving your experience and your success with networking.

1. Scrap the Small Talk

Be refreshingly different than the others and just start with something like “what are you hoping to get out of tonight?” 

Be honest and tell people how much you enjoy meeting new people but how much you hate small talk. 

Most people will be taken off guard and may be somewhat unprepared for you, but it’s a good way to quickly separate the people you’re interested in developing relationships with from those you’re not.

2. Ask Questions and Listen

Don’t just go in with your agenda. You’ll actually be more productive if you can get other people talking more than you talk about yourself, your business, your needs.

Again, you’re cutting out the painful part of small talk and getting straight to the issue of whether this is a person you want in your network.

And the best way to discover that is to get him talking and figure out who he is.

3. Be Picky

Try to limit yourself to networking events where you know people you’re interested in will be.

If you get invited to an event, dig deeper and find out as much as you can about what kinds of people will be there.

Identify key people who know the kinds of people you want to know, and ask them to keep you up to speed on networking opportunities they hear about.

If you find yourself with the wrong crowd, don’t sit it out, just leave and go do something more productive.

4. Focus on Meeting a Few of the Right People

You don’t need to set a goal to collect a thousand or even a hundred business cards from people you want to add to your network.

If you’ll focus on developing relationships with just 10 key people, then the rest will come to you.

Be strategic. When you meet someone you’d really like to connect with, focus on building that relationship. 

Having dinner with that one person will be a better use of your time than going to an event where you meet 50 new people who aren’t exactly what you’re looking for.

Once you’ve established five or ten of the “right” relationships, your painful networking days will be over.

Instead, you’ll have access to the networks of the people you’ve built solid relationships with already.

These friends will direct you to networking events that are right on target for the kind of people you want and need to connect with.

The Really Valuable Kind of Networking

If you approach networking this way, it will be less painful and more fruitful.

But, there’s one more thing you can do that’s the real key to your long-term success when it comes to networking.

And that is to approach networking not in terms of what other people can do for you, but how other people make you feel.

Why would you want to develop a network of people that it “feels good” to be around? 

What exactly does that have to do with your business?

Everything.

Referrals are great, and increasing the number of talented people around you will always have its advantages, but research shows that people perform differently depending on who they’re connected to.

And since the ultimate difference maker in your business is you, getting yourself to become a peak performer is your ultimate business goal.

So the next time you’re networking, try going in with the criteria of finding people who make you feel good. 

Focus on building relationships with positive, upbeat people who will be supportive of you, who will give you good feedback, and who always find the lesson in failure.

The funny thing about these types of people is that even if it initially appears they don’t have much concrete to offer you in the way of referrals or connections or anything that might make you money, they often turn out to be your most valuable assets, both psychologically and financially.

And this is exactly the kind of connection you’ll get when you team up with Kids Party Characters.

Owner Cheryl Jacobs is an established entrepreneur with lots of connections, and also a positive person who’s been through more than her share of struggles and loves to now support and lift up other entrepreneurs.

So if you’re a stay at home mom who’s been thinking about taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, or someone who already has a business and is looking for a second income stream, and if you want a business that’s both fun and rewarding, you’ll want to check out what Cheryl’s offering with membership to Kids Party Characters.

You’ll get your own ready-to-go business that includes an exclusive territory in which to book parties, the right to use our 200+ costumes, and access to our casting director and acting coach.

You’ll also get business training and support from Cheryl and the Kids Party Characters team.

If you think this might be the right partnership for you, set up a friendly chat with Cheryl right here and she’ll answer all your questions and give you more information on this fun and profitable opportunity.

Also be sure to connect with KidsPartyCharacters.com on Facebook for daily updates on the magic we bring to children’s parties, as well as helpful strategies for starting and growing a successful business.