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Posted By: jbaloun / |
Creating partnerships and associations is vital to any business’s marketing success. That’s why networking has become such an important skill for entrepreneurs. We’re not suggesting you disregard traditional advertising; you should definitely consider advertising as one means to generate awareness of your staffing firm. But you can’t afford to sit back and let paid media do all your marketing work, especially if you’re constrained by budget (and who isn’t?). Here are seven good tips for marketing your staffing business through networking.
Tip #1: Be Prepared
If you are trying to market your staffing firm you need to be ready to do so at any time. You never know when you might meet a great contact. Be prepared! Make sure you have business cards ready or a pen and paper for exchanging contact details.
Tip #2: Build an Audience
Select the events you attend wisely. Assess whether the functions you go to expose your firm to the right people. Publicize your presence at events in a positive way. Make sure people know you are there.
Tip #3: Engage With the Community
Every community has civic organizations, such as chambers of commerce and rotary clubs, which are both means for you to contribute to the community and prime spots for networking. Find one that suits you and make a commitment. Or consider becoming involved with volunteer positions. Community service can provide tremendous benefits, not only to those you are helping but also in promoting your staffing firm and its image.
Tip #4: Be Yourself (and the Company)
Networking is not the hard sell. People prefer to work with people they know and trust. Sincerity and interest in the people you are meeting will work wonders for the marketing of your staffing firm.
Tip #5: Remember To Remember
If you’ve had success in developing relationships with clients or business friends, it is crucial that you remember and keep track of everyone you know. You don’t want to be that person who keeps forgetting your associates’ names! If you have trouble remembering names, don’t give up; there are ways to improve your skills.
Tip #6: The Follow-Up
Making a contact is not enough: follow-up is the fundamental point of networking. If you meet someone and promise him something, however large or small that thing is, pursue it. Touch base with your contacts to keep them fresh to you and vice versa. When you see an article online that may be of interest to one of your network contacts, send it out. Stay at the top of your contacts’ minds and there will be a good chance you will be called upon when your services are needed, or even when your contacts meet someone else who needs staffing.
Tip #7: Analyze Your Results
Networking is a marketing activity and needs to be managed like one. Take the time to think about the results you achieve through your networking. Highlight the opportunities that pay off. Meet with your team and discuss what methods they are using, which functions they are attending, and what contacts they have made. Measure and analyze! Your time is the currency of networking. Consider how it is being spent and whether you are gaining value. Then use that knowledge to improve your networking performance. It is one of the most useful ways of marketing a staffing firm.