Yes, you read the statement correctly.
“Networking, you know, Chamber of Commerce, Lead Exchange Groups etc
it’s a waste of time and effort”
If you’ve been networking for any amount of time now in order to attract local business prospects, you know that it can be hard work. A lot of people avoid networking not because they agree with me that it doesn’t work, but because they either haven’t got the expected results or the only true results they’ve got were:
- Feeling frustrated
- Feeling disappointed
- A low bank balance because f the costs involved
- An ever growing stack of useless business cards
If you’ve been networking with great success you”re among the 1% that ‘get it’ and let me congratulate you. If you’ve got the time I’d probably like to interview you so we can help the majority that are struggling.
For the other 99% …
I know what it’s like because boy did I burn valuable resources trying to network in the early days. Havig a background in professional services actually hindered me to some extent now that I look back.
I’ve got a live coaching program coming up soon on why networking isn’t working and how to correctly go about acquiring new local offline clients through ‘Niche Networking’ — You actually achieve more by doing and ssaying very specific things.
I am able to get between 4-6 new clients and as many as 24 qualified local business prospects from every networking event I choose to attend and it’s not because I’m particularly smooth-talking or good looking … well the second bit may be true 
So let me ask you this…
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Tell Me Your Biggest Challenge With Networking To Attract New Local Business Clients
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Let me know what you struggle with and I’ll send you a special report that will help you start to unravel the mystery
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The first 10 contributors also get the audio version of the special report that reveals 4 reasons why networking isn’t working and how to make it work so you attract more local business without chasing, begging or feeling frustrated or intimidated.
So go ahead and leave your comments below and while you’re here, if you’re not already on our private member subscriber list, you should sign-up now to receive some really cool member only gifts, audios and specials
Hey Bayo,
The info you provide on this blog is amazing for Offline Consultants!
My biggest struggle is closing the sale!
What do you think of Offline Presentations free or paid?
Roger Auge
President
AIM 2000 Inc. Canada
Roger,
Thanks for your feedback. Its good to know that you find the information useful. Remember to tell your friends and those you believe it will help about it so they too can leverage their skills and knowledge too.
I have a number of methods that I use to close the sale and have developed them over time because of my ‘aversion’ to selling.
Mindest
Some may say its a play on words however it makes a world of difference.
You don’t ‘close the sale’ but allow the prospect or existing client the opportunity to buy (from you). They are two different things.
Closing
In the “I want to close” approach, you are seeking to make the other person do what you want them to do, i.e. accpet the solutions you are selling.
Buying
When the prospect or client buy based on connecting the dots themselves, things take on a new meaning.
How do you allow them to buy?
You have to have taken them through the stages of the process from you being a total stranger, to becoming someone they have a degree of belief in and trust your recommendations.
Remember, wanting to ‘close’ is similar to asking someone to marry you. It’s supposed to be a relationship that is built on more than a chance meeting in a bar and a few random dates. Just as in a personal relationship where some key activities need to have taken place, the same applies to business…but I see too many Offline Marketing consultants wanting to skip steps and go for the “Marry me!”
eHarmony
Even with the introduction of speed dating and sites like eHarmony, there are still steps that need to be taken. As I understand it, the matchmaking sights help both parties get closer to the ideal solution quicker, but the key steps are still taken.
So to be able to get better results, look at how you got to the stage where you want to ‘close’ and see if there are any key steps that you are missing in the lead up to the ‘closing’ stage.
Bayo
I love your site and all your comments on the WF are always so full of info – thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hi Bayo,
As someone who is just setting up my offline business, I really want to thank you for all of your info.
I have a website up as well as some marketing materials, questionnaire, contracts, etc. that I’ve accumulated through another Offline Gold type program and created myself.
I’ve just started doing some networking – I have a COC meeting coming up, and I joined a few of the local Meetups.
I know that all of these can be good opportunities if I’m prepared and I approach it the right way.
I’ve looked through all of your materials and I am really interested in your Chiro stuff. If you had to pick ONE of your products to start with – which would you recommend?
Thanks,
Matt
Hi Matt and thanks for stopping by.
I do my best to dispel the myths and B.S that is increasingly creeping into the local business marketing arena.
They are all great products and it depends on what your goal is or what your goals are. For instance:
Are you seeking to gain initial visibility?
Are you seeking to increase your current visibility?
Are you seeking to generate initial interest?
Are you seeking to generate more interest for what you offer?
Are you seeking to establish yourself as an authority in a particular niche e.g. information product creation for Chiropractors?
It depends on your goal. Maybe not what you want to hear but this is exactly what I tell my paying coaching students and mentoring clients. Start with the end in mind as Steven Covey said.
Apart from what you may see available, I have stopped offering the products as stand alone items and I am withdrawing them into the Chiropractor coaching program because they make a lot more sense and are used more effectively when people understand the target market before they get involved e.g.:
1. What puts them off?
2. What do they actually buy?
3. Why do they buy what they buy?
4. What are their key motivators for spending big bucks with you?
5. What can you say that will kill your sales instantly?
…and so on.
You see that there’s a lot involved in this or any sale, but with health professionals as a target market and Chiropractors specifically there’s a lot to understand or you’ll be wasting your money even if you bought all my products.
Hope this helps and I’ve just saved you some money (I know, it sounds counter-intuitive but I feel better for it!)
BAYO
Hi Karen
Thank you for your comments and actually taking the time to write them here.
As long as I have readers I’ll keep writing.
You may also want to visit my non-local business marketing specific site at http://DoThisGetClients.com for even more good stuff
Have a great one!
BAYO