Top 5 Ways to Expand Your Network to Grow Your Business
You can have the best web developer and designer build your website. You can have your favorite freelance copywriter write your email copy. You can make sure your SEO strategy is getting you that #1 spot on Google. And you should. But if you want to grow your business, you also want to expand your network. Check out the top 5 ways to grow! Let’s go!
Build effective relationships
Would you rather have someone be a client or a source of endless referrals for you? Build relationships with professionals who complement your line of work. If you’re a plumber, look for local contractors, painters, and developers you can connect with. They’re working with homeowners who need expert plumbers like you.
If you’re a nutritionist, you can build relationships with personal trainers you can refer your clients to—maybe a couple of them with different specialties. They will likely have clients that could also use your services. Building these types of mutually beneficial relationships will make you more credible as a professional. The more your clients see you as a trusted source they can go to for their needs, the more loyal they’ll be to you.
2. Attend networking events
But I don’t have time to attend networking events, I need to work. I hear this all the time. Networking events can be hit or miss. But when you’re looking to expand your reach and get your name out there, attending events where you’ll meet other professionals could be just what you need. Look for events in your area that seem interesting and schedule it on your calendar. Otherwise, you’ll never make time for it. Take it a step further and invite a friend to go with you. Accountability will make you more likely to attend. You may meet people in person who have seen your business on Google or on their social media platforms. But they had never reached out to you online. NOW, they are much more likely to do business with you.
3. Serve your community
Attending your local house of worship in Burbank or Studio City—or wherever you live—and serving is a great way to build relationships. Before someone does business with you, they want to know if they like you. And before they know if they like you, they have to get to know you.
Serving at your local Los Angeles animal shelter, school, or any organization that interests you is the way to go. Don’t go in with a hidden agenda of just wanting to get business—people will feel that. So serve where you want to serve. And let the relationships build naturally. Remember, fast is slow and slow is fast.
4. Leverage LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great resource to network from the comfort of your home—while you’re eating homemade ice cream and petting your little dog. Or from your office, while you have downtime and want to avoid small talk with your coworkers. You can use the search bar to find people, companies, or schools you’d like to connect with. There are even online events you can attend—like how to scale your business, web development, and much more. And if you’d really like to leverage and scale your network on LinkedIn, start posting content consistently. This will help YOU come up when other people are searching for your services or products.
If you need help with content strategy or creation, you can reach out to a freelance copywriter like me, to help you.
5. Ask for referrals
Often neglected and the most underrated part of expanding your network…is asking for introductions! You have clients that have done business with you and love you…ask for referrals. Your best friend’s cousin is a buyer at the department store where you’ve been dreaming of featuring your handmade jewelry collection? Ask for the introduction! Also, be the person who introduces people to each other. Be the one giving the referrals. Be the person people feel comfortable to go to for introductions. And then, when you ask for the introductions, people will happily be generous with you, too.
If you want to grow your business and need help with your marketing and networking strategy, reach out to me for a complimentary consult.
