Monday, January 14, 2008

Referral Marketing: Invisible Forces (part two)

In the last entry, I talked about the Force of Repulsion ... as it relates to networking. I mentioned that, from my perspective, there are three invisible forces of networking. So, let's talk about the second ... The Force of Attraction!

Would you be attracted to the creature in this photo? I think not! I hope not!

The force of repulsion can be counter balanced by the force of attraction. So, if you're repelling people while at a networking event, you obviously are not attracting them. Like the force of repulsion, attracting people is totally within your control. Someone who is an expert at this is Scott Ginsberg, who can tell you all you need to know about "approachability". [Perhaps Slobba the Slut needs to call Scott!]

The best networkers are great at attracting people. They seem to have people around them all the time. They make the most out of every networking event, getting a high return on their investment. What do they do so well that others need to know? Here are a few of their secrets:

1. Smile! It seems like the simplest thing to do, however if you're not smiling, people typically won't be attracted you.
2. Don't sell yourself at networking events. Participating in networking events is not a direct sales activity. The faster you realize this, the more people you will begin to attract.
3. Position yourself as a center of influence. When people perceive you as the "go to" person, they will be drawn to you to help solve their problems.
4. Follow-up. This is critical in order to keep people coming back to you in the future.
5. Give value. People are attracted to those who add value to their lives!

Now, you're informed of two invisible forces of networking ... the force of repulsion and the force of attraction. Stay tuned for the final saga.


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