Most people nowadays are familiar with Social Networking websites such as Myspace and Facebook, but I have found many people are not familiar with or misunderstand the concept of Networking in general or network marketing. the following is a definition from wikipedia-
"Network marketing is a general term for a type of marketing that is usually performed by an individual instead of a company. It refers to the use of interpersonal or social networks to market products and services for business purposes as opposed to the more traditional and common practices of wide-range advertising.
The term is technically a type of marketing that can be used as part of an overall marketing strategy which may or may not encompass multiple tactics. For example, the most common marketing tactic in a network marketing strategy is word of mouth."
Simple enough right? it should be but unfortunately Many times we tend to make simple things more complicated and this happens to be one of those things. Just the other day I had a technician come to one of my gyms here in Yuma, AZ and tell me about a PC guy who he uses to fix some of his problems but when I asked him for this persons number he said in a worried tone he's not sure if he can give it out that it might be considered networking. This is one of my main concerns and we have all ran into it some people make networking this horrible thing like the term "Salesman" it's very scary. People need to be educated that if you have passed out a business card you might be "guilty" of networking, if you have shaken someones hand and introduced yourself, you might also be "guilty" of networking. We need to get over this fear of networking and realize it is much different than soliciting. It is positive and highly beneficial when used to help others. Networking is not a scorekeeping event. It is not I do something for you now you do something for me. Networking is about WANTING to help someone else who you believe will represent you well so you give them a referral whether that referral comes back to you or not. Ill let you in on a little secret though a referral doesn't guarantee you will get business in return, if you truly go out in your community trying to help local businesses and community members the law of reciprocity will kick in and people will want to help you! One thing I will guarantee is that naturally people want to work with people who work with them meaning if you are someone's customer they are more likely to want to be your customer. I would like to close with a saying I was told is that no person is a "self made millionaire" we all receive help from those around us whether we recognize it or not. Most of us will never make it in business until we realize the benefit of networking and realize it is our friend and not something to be feared. For all you clients out there you are going to want that REALTOR who has accepted and mastered the art of networking or that REALTOR who knows everyone and everyone knows them, they are the center of their community.
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