Effortless Networking

A few weeks ago I wrote about reciprocating — how best to give back to your network. Here’s another way to give back, and one that I use myself.

Often, my past clients and customers refer my products and services to their friends and associate. And I’ve always expressed my appreciation by sending them a personal thank you note.

However, a year ago, I decided to survey all my clients and customers to see how else I could show my appreciation, that would also be useful to them.

I got a lot of great information!

I found out that “one size doesn’t fit all”. Some people were interested in getting discounts off my products and services, others preferred a referral fee, and yet others were quite happy with a simple thank you note from me.

Using this feedback, I created a referral program (also known as Affiliate program), for my comprehensive “Effortless Networking” product.

I designed it to be open, so that anyone can participate in this program by signing up online. So people other than my clients and customers can also participate.

Those who actually have a copy of this program are obviously better able to explain to people why they’re recommending this product to them.

However, those who don’t own the product are still able to send me good quality referrals because they may have worked with me in another capacity, or may have experienced what I offer in another way (such as, through my articles, free Q&A calls, workshops, etc.).

In any case, I am able to thank each person who refers this product to others, by giving them a commission on the price of the product. And having found out that many people appreciate getting a referral fee, I give a generous 50% commission.

Of course, people can — and do — refer me business without participating in this program. However, this is *their* choice.

As I mentioned earlier, different people value different things, and I always want to offer them one or more options.

So if you haven’t done so already, ask people in general, and your sources of referrals in particular, how they want to be thanked or rewarded when they help you out.

Then use the information to build a program or system to regularly and consistently thank them — in a way that’s useful and valuable for them.

By the way, if you want more details about my referral program, click here.

Till next week,
– Sri

A question that surfaces often is “What to give in return”? In other words, “what is the best way to support the people in your network?” And I’ll add to that, “while also supporting yourself”.

Let’s start with the known information.

Here are some common tips and suggestions you may have already heard of:

• Arrive early, stay late, and get involved (at a networking event)
• Post information about the people in your network on your website or in your newsletter
• Distribute their information (to appropriate and interested people)
• Invite them to speak at an organization in which you are involved
• Do joint promotional projects with them
• Nominate them for recognition and awards
• Invite them to attend events with you

I think it’s fairly clear how doing any of his helps the people for whom you do it.

But, how does doing all this support you and *your* business?

Well, you *automatically* get in return

• Information
• A support team
• Advice, new ideas and more potential solutions
• Connections
• Strategic alliances
• Access to resources

As I said at the beginning, you’ve probably heard about some or all of these before.

So the question is: Are you doing any or all of these?

If not, here are some questions and possibilities to consider:

• Do you know which of these (if any) would be useful for the people in your network?
• If yes, what prevents you from doing these? What are your thoughts, beliefs and assumptions around doing these things?
• If you don’t know what would be useful for people in your network, is this something you want to find out? What ideas do you have about how you can find out?

Perhaps you *are* doing some or all of these things already but not really seeing any of the benefits. Or perhaps you used to and stopped because you felt like you’re not getting anything of the returns.

Well then, here are some different questions and possibilities to consider:

• Do you know what *you* want in return? In other words, how do you want to be “supported”?
• What specifically would be useful for you? Why?
• Do (or did) you ask for it?

Spend some time seriously contemplating these questions. See what information they reveal. No matter what it is, I can guarantee that it will be useful information that you can use to your advantage.

For structured guidance on how to apply these concepts to your particular situation, and *integrate* them into your normal way of doing business, check out the Effortless Networking self-coaching program.

Depending on where you’re stuck, you may find the modules on “Support your networking without over committing yourself” and/or “Overcome your inhibitions about networking” particularly useful.

Also, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this topic. So consider posting a comment below and sharing your thoughts and experience.

Would you like the opportunity to “showcase” your business to all the other subscribers of Effortless Networking?

(FYI, most of our subscribers are from North America, UK, Australia and New Zealand. However, we do have some representatives from other Asian, European, African and Latin American countries also.)

As you probably realize by now, my focus and interest is in helping people apply the information and knowledge that they have or acquire.

To facilitate this, I want to start spotlighting success stories from subscribers to the rest of the group on a regular basis. And use this opportunity to “showcase” their businesses as well.

Why am I doing this?

Because I want to thank you for your support of Effortless Networking in a way that’s potentially useful to you — and publicity is usually useful to most business people.

By the way, this also happens to be a good example of how you can give back to your network in a meaningful way (you are part of my network, didn’t you know?) without exhausting yourself.

My other intention is to provide real live examples from people who have successfully applied a networking concept or principle covered in one of my articles, products or workshops.

Why?

Because real live examples from people “just like us” are inspiring. People find hope for their own success knowing that others have been able to successfully do what they’re trying to accomplish.

So if you have a success story, take this opportunity to inspire others AND congratulate yourself!

And finally, I want to offer you the opportunity to “showcase” your business, product or service to others on this list.

Why?

Because it’s a perfect opportunity to practice introducing yourself and your business succinctly. (Yes, I do mean actually using what I talked about in last week’s article!)

As you describe how using a particuar networking concept has helped you accomplish something or succeed in some way, you will have to describe the nature of your business to provide the context or frame of reference.

So use this opportunity to get some free publicity for your business!

Minimally, you will get practice at describing what you do and some visibility for yourself globally. Ideally, you’ll generate some new business for yourself.

Interested in participating?

1. Choose one specific example of a networking concept you have successfully applied, and submit your story.
2. To provide a context and frame of reference for your success story, please also describe the nature of your business.
3. You may also want to provide your contact information, so if someone on this list wanted to get in touch with you for more information (whether for themselves or to be able to send you a good quality referral or lead) they’d know how to do so.

Other notes:

1. I’ll select upto 2 success stories to spotlight each month. These will be published in my weekly articles. (So no extra emails.)

2. The selection process will be on a “first come first served” basis, and it will also take into account how complete your responses are to the above questions.

3. You may submit as many success stories as you want and have!

If you have questions, please let me know.

I look forward to sharing your success with others worldwide (and helping you expand your networking “reach”)!

Have you ever wondered what to offer in return, when someone in your network helps you out? Or how to differentiate yourself from others by giving back in a “better” way?

In this season of giving gifts, this seems like a good topic to review.

So let me start by asking you some questions.

Who are those people in your personal life to whom you enjoy “giving”? Why is this enjoyable for *you*? How do you know *what* to give them? And *when* do you give to these people, i.e. on special occasions only, when you get something from them, when you find something they’ll like or appreciate, when you know they need a boost, etc.?

Obviously, you don’t have this kind of relationship with every friend or family member. However, there are probably occasions when you do have to get gifts for friends and family members in your “outer circle”.

In these cases, how do you choose something that the recipient will truly appreciate? Do you ask the person directly? Do you ask a mutual friend or family member for ideas and suggestions? Something else? What makes you choose the way you do?

My point is this: networking is not a transaction. It’s a means to achieving what you want by leveraging your relationships with others.

If you approach networking as a transaction, always thinking about “what do I have to give in order to get X”, it can never be a fully satisfying nor rewarding experience.

On the other hand, if you consider your professional contacts like you do the people in your personal circle, how to reciprocate or what to offer becomes an easier question to answer.

Because then, how you reciprocate and what you offer each person is based on the kind of relationship you have with them — it depends on how well you know them, about what they want, like, find useful and appreciate.

And when it comes to expressing your heartfelt gratitude to someone when they help you out in some manner, you know how best to thank them, because you know them as a person and understand what would be meaningful and appropriate for them.

So, let’s take a look at your professional circle.

Who are your professional contacts to whom you enjoy giving? Are there people to whom you often forward information, just because you think it would be useful for their business? Or think of them right away whenever you meet a person who might be a good client for them? What allows you to do this? What makes it an enjoyable activity for you?

And if there’s no one in your list of professional contacts for whom you do this now, why do you suppose this is?

Pause for a moment and consider your answers to these questions.

What did you learn about how you give, whether personally or professionally? And more importantly, how can you use what you have learned to build professional relationships that are easy and fun for you? What do you need to know about your professional contacts, so that giving to them becomes both a natural and enjoyable activity for you?

Do you have enough to work with?

If you want additional resources, here are a couple:

1. For specifics on how to cultivate strong, mutually beneficial professional relationships, check out module 3 of the Effortless Networking home-study program.
2. For an in-depth assessment of your situation and personalized recommendations, contact me).

I hope 2006 is a year of joyful giving (and receiving) for you. Happy New Year!