Tips To Build a Successful Network

bySheilaN3

499 followers

Updated 9 years ago

Recently I read a blog of a fellow member within the community who was very new to WA and wanted to know what others looked at or for when deciding whether or not to follow other members. It reminded me of an article I had read in a popular business magazine not too long after I had joined WA. Before reading this article I really did not see the value in the WA community or any other social media circle for that matter. That’s because I wasn’t looking at them from a professional/business prospective and if you talk or listen to any successful entrepreneur, 9 times out of 10 you will discover that the main key to their success has been in building a network of people around them that have mentored , shaped and sharpened their skills. So if we want to be successful in our online endeavors or off-line business’s we need to understand the importance of making the right connections. Whether we use the Wealthy Affiliate Community, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, twitter, local associations, or a combination of them all there are keys to building and maintaining a successful network.

• 1.Have a Plan-Decide how much time you will spend each day, week or month developing your network and stick to it. Time is our most precious commodity, so choose where and how you use yours strategically. Utilize social media networking and be specific in your in outreach and target your efforts towards connections that will grow your business or sharpen your business skills
• 2.Be Selective-Look for groups or individuals that will feed your business as well as your mind. Ask yourself, could this person help me be more successful in my business. Start by looking at the top 200 within the WA community and follow some, if not all of them. (They’re in the Top 200 for a reason) pick one members profile each day and read some of their blogs or trainings. Look at their website and how it’s laid out and learn from their success. Take lots of notes, ask questions and mimic what they’ve done.
• 3.Don’t forget the “Hostess Principle”-Always act like the hostess of any event, whether it’s face to face, on the phone, email or social networking. Hostesses always seek to put others first and generously give to make others feel comfortable. You will be amazed at the not just the way you make others feel, but how comfortable you become doing it. That is one of the things I love most about the WA community, almost everyone follows this principle.
• 4.Make real connections- It’s not the amount of how many connections you have but the quality of each of them. Relationships sustain a business and networks for the long term and developing them takes communication, nurturing and time. Don’t overlook diverse ways of making connections like with co-workers or previous co-workers and or bosses. Also, extended family connections, friends, local businesses that you frequent, people you meet at the gym or wherever you spend time. Never be shy about discussing what you do, because even though that person may not have anything to do with your business or be a likely prospect, he or she may know someone that may be a potential customer.
• 5.Build and keep your network-It’s so easy in our day and age to build contacts with all the social media platforms out there and these platforms are fast becoming the rolodex of today’s business professionals and entrepreneurs to build networks of prospects and colleagues. Use them yourself often to connect, share, encourage or help others. When you do reach out to connect, have a specific topic in mind and know what you’re going to say. Most people tend to be self-centered and love to talk about themselves and their own interests, so engage them and they will reciprocate.
• These are just of few of the tips I’ve learned and use in building my professional networks. I would love to know your techniques and tips as well, so please share with the community. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and please like if you found it helpful. Have an awesome week and make some new connections and nurture the ones you have.