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How To Get Referrals (Hint: It Takes Effort!)
By Bizbox
As we gear up for our July 30 BizBooks conversation with Jill Lublin (submit a question now!), we came across a recent column by Ms. Lublin's fellow networking expert, Dr. Ivan Misner.
Though Dr. Misner acknowledges the advantages networking groups can bring, he also stresses that such structural opportunities will only get an entrepreneur so far: to get strong, lasting referrals, you must be pro-active, even aggressive about building contacts.
He writes:
Despite the built-in structure and focus on referrals, a strong-contact group member can fail to generate referrals for other members or to receive referrals for himself. Networking skills are the No. 1 requirement; the setting only makes it easier to use these skills. Simply being a member of a strong-contact group does not entitle you to expect or receive referrals. Nor does being a member of a casual-contact group limit the number of referrals you can generate or receive, if you have the skills and use them.
Dr. Misner lists several things the "master networker" does:
-Carries the contact information of her fellow networkers around with her.
-Wants to help others succeed.
-Is vigilant about spying others who need a service she can provide.
Read the whole thing, as they say. And don't forget to tune in Wednesday at 3 P.M. (Eastern) to see what Ms. Lublin has to say about networking.
Comments (1)July 28, 2008 1:16 PM
Comments (1)
I was part of a professional network group for my first year as an entrepreneur...I agree with Dr. Misner that its not so much the group that helps but rather the skills that you use or develop in the group as a networker. I found the skills and mindset of a networker to be the most useful. Of course, implementing the skills requires constant work...
Posted by Michael Taylor | July 30, 2008 11:43 AM
Posted on July 30, 2008 11:43