How to Become a Natural Networker?

By Maureen G. Mulvaney, MGM

Most children are natural net workers. The minute we were mobile, we
began making friends – on the playground, at the dentist’s office and
in school. To reclaim your ability to network naturally, all you have
to do is reclaim your childlike curiosity. It’s as easy as one, two,
three.

1. Shift Your Perceptions of Networking.
As children we heard “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” As adults, we are asked
to attend networking events and accost strangers with our Business
Cards. This isn’t natural. Our parents and teachers who didn’t want us
talking to strangers encouraged us to make friends. Shift your
artificial perception of networking to doing what you’ve been doing
since childhood: meeting and making new friends.

You must also shift your perception of where to meet your new friends.
As kids, we networked anywhere there was another kid. Natural
networking takes place everywhere there are people. Look at all the
places you go during the day: dropping off kids at school, the grocery
store, the airport, and the bank. View these places with a new set of
eyes and make them your portable networking office. Make your office
hours any time there is an
opportunity to make a new friend.

2. Talk to Your ‘New Friend’
The easiest way to talk to a new friend is to ask questions and be
genuinely interested. Children can’t help themselves from asking
questions. As adults we must unleash our childlike curiosity.
Psychology 101 teaches, “The one asking the question is in control.”'

Take control of your destiny by asking questions. A simple, magic question that can start a
meaningful conversation is, “You must love what you do, right?” To a new mother, you might say, “

Oh, what an adorable baby, don’t you just love being a mom?” To a
dentist, you might say: “Oh, you’re a dentist, you must love your work,
right?” Ask the magic question in a caring manner and you’re new friend
will respond openly and honestly. You will discover her needs or
dissatisfactions. Either way, you have entry into a thoughtful
conversation.

3. Make the Exchange.
Once you have made a ‘new friend’, you’ll want to keep in touch. As
kids, we just said, “Wanna come over to my house to play?” Friends
naturally say, “Let’s Keep in Touch.” Ask
for their contact information or business card. Simply say, “I’d like to keep in touch, got a card?”

Always carry business cards, and when you hear, “I don’t have a card,”
say, “No problems, here’s one.” Because we’ve all been trained to make
friends, most people will hand you their contact information without
hesitation.

Natural networking is meeting and making new friends wherever you go,
curiously asking questions and making sure you keep in touch. It’s
exactly what you’ve done your whole life. Go out and make a new friend,
today?

Maureen G.Mulvaney, better known as MGM, is the author of The Women’s Millionaire
Club-the Traits and Patterns of Success of Women Millionaires of Network Marketing. As an
international professional speaker, MGM teaches small businesses How To
Attract Paying Clients, Who Become Lunatic Fans, That Refer Others.

The Women's Millionaire Club, by Maureen G Mulvaney, is being offered beginning on March 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am. I invite you to go to this page – http://mgmsuperstar.com/wjtc/exclusive.html
- to access the order page and then return to this same page to access the
bonus page. Then, on the Exclusive Private Invite page, enter your order
confirmation code. That will allow you to gain entry to the FREE Pot o'
Gold Bonus Items.

So you thought Twitter was too cute for words?

And you thought Facebook was only for college students?

 The truth is, these communities offer a gold mine to entrepreneurs, independent professionals and owners of small service businesses. Internet-based
businesses report picking up 60%, 70%, even 100% of their revenue from these communities.

 Why do these venues work so well? Cathy Goodwin, a copywriter who specializes in online marketing for
service businesses, points out that these communities let you
pick your own target markets. Traditional copywriting, she
says, operates like a space probe searching everywhere for intelligent signs of life. But when you write for social media, you're hanging out at the coffee shop with people
you invited.

 But I notice lot of people get writing blocks worthy of
the Great American Novel when confronted by a tiny box that holds just 140 characters. It's so easy it's scary. You
want to use your tweets and posts to help your business and
you want to get it right the first time. 

So I am intrigued by Cathy Goodwin's new mentoring
course: Copywriting For Social Media, Cathy tends to do things differently from most people, and this time she combines copywriting and community.

Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/cq5yw6

 

What is it that makes us believe something has more value or credibility if it's complicated?
 
I think one thing that feeds the need to complicate are movies and TV. Yes, they oversimplify problems and solutions but they also support the myth that everything has to have drama. (After all, there would be no story if the hero and heroine just surrendered to the attraction when they first met.)
 
I don't know about you but I like to keep things simple and easy. Studying demographics and buying patterns and focus groups has its place in developing your business. AND there's another way. 
 
Just ask.
 
Check with your best customers about what they'd like to see added to your product line. Ask your clients what they want to learn in your next workshop. You'll get direct feedback and even some great ideas you might have missed completely.

HandshakeDid you know that the most successful marketing tool you have is always within arms reach?

No mystery here – it's a warm handshake. Coupled with a smile and an introduction that invites a response there's no better way to be noticed.
 
Consumers these days want to do business with people they know, like and trust. So give them a chance to get past that first step. 
 
I'm not talking about pressing flesh like a politician on the campaign trail. What you're aiming for is authenticity. Just be yourself!
 
I attended a local Toastmaster's meeting the other night and was mightily impressed. Everyone made it a point to shake my hand, smile and offer their name while asking for mine. There was genuine warmth and interest. I liked and trusted these people almost immediately.  
 
If this is a new habit for you remember – anything new feels awkward and forced when we first practice but stay with it. It won't be long before you simply put your hand out automatically and say, "Hi! My name is ——. What's yours?"

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