How
to Network Like a Ninja
You know it’s critical to
your success, but are you doing it with forethought and a solid strategy in
place, or do you just “wing it?”
Admittedly, most of us are
squarely in the winging it category, but there are some quick and easy changes
you can make that will put even your most important networking tasks on
autopilot.
Outsource the research: First step, hire a VA who can find and connect
you with potential JV partners, affiliates, guest interviews, and all the other
marketing options at your disposal.
With a list of
requirements at hand, he or she can spend an hour or two on Google and bring
back a list of hundreds of people you can then reach out to. What would a list
of 100—or even 10—new JV partners do for your business growth?
Automate the initial connection: Create a script or email template to use when you
first reach out to potential partners. Your VA can send this in an email or
make a call on your behalf, but having the script in place will accomplish two
things:
- The process will be much faster than if you have to think about
what to say.
- You’ll be able to tweak the script as you go to get better
results. Just like you split test your emails, you can test your outreach
process as well.
Automate the follow-up: At the risk of sounding like a broken record,
create an email or phone script to help speed the process. You or your VA (or
your email autoresponder series) can send out a series of emails to follow up
on that initial connection.
Automate your scheduling: Using a service such as TimeTrade or
ScheduleOnce, you can easily set up your calendar with your preferred times for
interviews, webinars and such. Give your JV partners links to book time with
you, and the meetings will automatically appear on your calendar. No more
endless back and forth to discuss potential meeting times, just a single click,
and your partner can choose the time that works for both of you.
Here’s a hint though: be
sure to use your calendar diligently, because if you don’t you run the risk of
someone scheduling time with you when you already have another commitment.
Will it take a bit of work
to get these systems in place? Sure. But once you do, you’ll find that
attracting and working with JV partners, guest experts and others is much
easier and more streamlined. Not only that, but with the time you save, you’ll
be able to concentrate on creating new programs and services. Or maybe just
hang out with the kids a bit. You deserve some time off.
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