As a business owner, I cannot stress enough how important it is to network and be involved in the community you serve. You are providing a service or a product to your community, but getting the word out there, especially as a new business, can be challenging.
Opening your doors or making an announcement that you are open for business does not equate to immediate sales. Gathering and retaining customers will be your biggest hurdle, and it is something you will never really be able to forget about as your business continues.
As a GenXer, no one talked about “networking” as a tool when I was going to college and starting out in the business world. Community service was just volunteering, wasn’t it? You just stuck your nose to the grindstone, put in long hours, and things fell into place, right?
Thirty years ago, this tactic worked. In the modern world, and I mean in the last 20 years, the way we approach customers, market ourselves, and stay relevant, has drastically changed. Using networking to exchange information, develop contacts, make connections for your business, and elevate your customer base is paramount.
This can happen by attending events in your community, by serving on various boards, lending a hand at functions where your expertise is utilized, or volunteering your service. Your face, especially in a smaller community, needs to be present.
Prepare for these networking opportunities. The worst mistake you can make is attending and not knowing what the event is about or not researching the organizer of the event. Practice how you might approach a potential customer. Be ready to answer questions about what you do, how you do it, and how you might be a great resource for them.
Know what questions to ask to engage people. Do not miss an opportunity to sell what you have to offer. I am not suggesting being disingenuous. I am stressing let your passion for what you do shine through. If you are not here for your community, why would you conduct business there in the first place?
You obviously chose to settle in the community, so serve it. If this is not for you, then you might be in the wrong career. You will be amazed what future ventures may come to you by community involvement. As time goes on, you will become a trusted member of your community. You will become that person people like to do their business with on a consistent basis.
When it comes to certain topics, you want to become the “go-to” or the most dependable and trusted. Networking is certainly a great tool to utilize when starting out, when bringing a new product or service to market, or to attract new customers.
Networking and community service can be invaluable tools as we are getting our career started or building a business. Staying true to your mission, being ethically committed in business, and serving your community to the best of your ability can be difficult. However, when all is said and done, the reward will outweigh the cost.
