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Get Over The Fear of Networking

It's amazing the power of word of mouth advertising and the affect that proper networking can have on your business. Most potential customers will take the word from a friend over that of a print advertisement. In fact most people have to see something in print more than 7 times before they even considering purchasing the product.

The biggest issue for most small business owners that attempt networking is fear. They have the fear of public speaking and they have the fear of rejection, and these are the issues I want to address.

Public speaking is the 1st issue I'm going to discuss, and I make it really rather simple. If I can do it anyone can. Practice the steps listed below.

1. Your are a professional and what do professionals do? They study and they practice their craft. So step one is the most important, practice at every free moment of the day. Practice to where you have it down without even thinking about it. Till it becomes natural.

2. If you are going to a networking event, make sure to have everything you need the night before, if not sooner, and make sure you get plenty of rest.

3. Some may say on the way to a function, listen to your favorite type of music to help you relax. I personally do the opposite and listen to music that motivates me and gets me pumped up. Which ever works for you to put you in the zone!

Now you might ask, well how do you deal with the fear of rejection? Well that's easy. Develop a rejection free 30sec or so advertisement for your business. Part of what lends to this fear is that you feel that you are trying to sell everyone in the room your product or service. This is the wrong attitude to have. Your goal when networking needs to be making contacts and how can you help them and how they can help you. Not selling them. Now if they need what you offer that's great and it becomes a selling opportunity; but it is not your goal. Follow steps here in order to develop your own spiel.

1. Simply give your name and the name of your company, if you like you can even give your title.

2. Next generate a statement of what you do rather then simply saying what you do. Example don't say I'm a landscaper, instead say We assist our clients in planning and creating their own at home paradise."

3. Insert one maybe two important industry fact, for example if you're a landscaper you may say there are over 50 different types environmental factors that can destroy a persons yard." (Now I'm not a landscaper, and I'm shooting at the hip here. This is just an example of the type of thing I'm talking about.)

4. Lastly tell them who the perfect client is for you. Basically this is your target market. And then ask them if they no anyone like that to please have them contact you. This is a friendly way of asking for referrals in a very rejection free way.

5. Your target time here is 30 seconds long.

Create your own advertisement and practice, practice, practice. Do this and you will be able to network like a pro!