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Who do you want as a neighbor? Do you know?
If you know who you want to be associated with – that is half the battle. Let the power of online and off-line networking techniques find those people and allow you to build a relationship with them.
Become neighbors.
Look to become neighbors with several different groups:
- Customers
- Prospects
- Competitors (They aren’t enemies, they are possible allies)
- Industry Experts
Your goal, as a tiny business owner, should be to build your network and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. One of the best ways to do this is to build alliances and become neighbors with others in your industry.
Here are several methods short of baking an apple pie and knocking on their door:
Tweeting - Twitter is an unbelievably powerful communication tool. Find those that you would like to cozy up with and start communicating. Don’t come on too strong, look for some way to add value to their business.
Linking- Use your blog or website to link to their business website, Twitter profile, YouTube channel. Review their products and services and (again) look for any way to help them fulfill their goals.
Commenting - Comment on their blogs, Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, etc. Spark up a conversation with them and do so with nothing but good intentions.
Off-line networking - Find out where they are hanging out off-line and attend those meetings. Go to their speaking engagements. Find others at networking events that would be possible business partners or referrals for their products and services.
Speaking - Look for opportunities to get before an audience of those that you would like to be neighbors with. Speaking is one of the best ways to establish authority in your industry.
What about you? How do you make new neighbors both online and off-line? Leave a comment!
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