Getting business quickly

How to win Quick Business in the networking jungle

Paul Johnstone ©


The great thing about success through networking is it gives you wonderful opportunities to work with other people you would not normally meet.  You never know who you may talk to at your Network event, business event or social you have opportunities.

The issue here is many people don’t quite get the balance between business and social. At a B2B event or regular network meeting, people expect you to talk about your business. So how do you transfer this at a business social?

Stuck for words, full of yourself, or cautious, I have been all these over time. Well the truth is you need to direct a conversation. You don’t go into full on sales mode, which will guarantee you a cold shoulder.

The technique is straightforward. During the conversation you will be asked what you do. Now how you answer this will have an immediate effect, and should get the other person asking you questions. Now you have the opportunity to tell your story. And what’s more they will ask you for the details.

At this stage I will say that when you are asked the age old question “What do you do?” If you say, Bank Manager, IFA, Marketer, please don’t expect to be killed in the rush for your business card.

It really does not matter what you do, the result is more often than not the same.

Why is that?

It’s because you answered the question incorrectly.

The question was “what do you do?” and you answered with what you are!

We all do it, it’s natural and it’s been with us since we started work, I’m a plumber, I’m an insurance broker, I’m a sales manager.    All these tell people your status, when all they wanted to know was how you could help them.

Once you get the habit of telling people in a short 2 – 4 second phrase what you do. You will get them to ask you more questions.

Then use one of your practiced ‘elevator pitches’ 

An elevator pitch is so named after an opportunity to present to the client of your dreams in an elevator between floors. One of the most important things a businessperson can do - is learn how to speak about their business to others. Being able to sum up unique aspects of your service or product in a way that excites others should be a fundamental skill. Yet many business people pay little attention to the continuing development of "the elevator pitch"—the quick, succinct summation of what your company makes or does.

Get this right and you should find closing for a cup of coffee meeting a stroll. It’s that that the hard work you put into thinking about what to say when you meet strangers, or your dram client, delivers business to you.

And the secret to all this new business - is a phrase used by Vince Lombardi:-

“Practice alone doesn’t make perfect. It's Perfect practice that makes perfect” 

So work out in advance what you want to say, practice it and you will never let an opportunity pass you by. No more foot in the door, just a conversation you have prepared for.

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking