Being network marketers means that we are in the "networking" business! I know that sounds logical, but my question is....what really is "networking" and how can we get to be great at it so we can build a great network marketing organization? That's not as easy to answer mainly because many people think of "networking" only as it relates to, and benefits, THEM (or their nwm business!)....and that's a bit of a problem!!!

I'm a big fan of Bob Burg (www.burg.com) , who wrote the classic book Endless Referrals and has a great newsletter "Winning Without Intimidation" who is "right on" (in my humble opinion!) about what networking is and isn't. After reading his material years ago and starting to apply his philosophies to my nwm business, I became much more efficient and you can too!

You see, networking is about creating relationships that benefit BOTH of the parties involved; it's not a one-way street! Yes, ultimately you need and want to build your business, and you WILL if you "get" this business concept, even if you don't enroll everyone you are "networking" with. Whether they come in or not is not really important; creating a trust, a relationship, and genuinely being interested in what THEY do, and how YOU may be able to HELP THEM, is what makes everyone happy, and you much more successful! PLEASE READ THAT AGAIN! What do I mean by that? Let's say you are at a social event (party!) and you meet someone who has their own business designing websites. You may not need one yourself, but you certainly do, or will, know someone that does. Ask this person (let's call him Joe) lots of questions about how things are going, and, in particular, how he is looking to EXPAND his business, and who may be a good "prospect" for HIM, so that if you come across someone in need of Joe's services, you'll be happy to refer that person over to him! "Wait a second", you say! How is that helping me build MY network marketing business? Lots of ways. First of all, when you do this, and make an effort, after meeting Joe at the party, to refer someone to Joe, you become "network" partners and friends ....People are more apt to do business with people they like, and trust, and are friends with, and Joe is very grateful and happy to have met you, and for what you have done for him (rather than the usual situation which is someone talking about themselves and their business all night to someone they just met at a party without caring to ask anything about their conversation partner). This is not a guarantee that Joe will eventually enroll with you, but the chances are much greater that if the time is right, and there is a need for Joe to become a NWMer, he will choose you correct?? And, at a minimum, he will almost certainly look to reciprocate back and REFER to you anyone he knows that is looking to start their own business, interested in health and wellness, etc....Make sense?

What about business cards? Many people i know in NWM think they are "networking" by just handing out (or worse, mailing) tons of business cards. Hmmm....what happens next? They are frustrated and complaining that they have "no business" coming in, but can't figure out why when they gave out all these cards!!! Let's face it....and Bob is to be credited with this as well....the main purpose of having business cards yourself is to GET OTHER PEOPLE'S BUSINESS CARDS!!! That's right....when you give someone your card, what do you really want or need?? Their card right? And, when you actually hand a person your card, they usually do what? Give you THEIR card back. That's the ticket! You see, you have NO CONTROL over what they do with your card, and, it's really not important. They probably will do NOTHING with it. You, as a NWMer, shouldn't be sitting around hoping and/or waiting for them to call you after meeting them. Having their card gives you the ability to take it from there...to communicate, keep in touch, and REFER to them as we previously mentioned.

So....the keys here are:
1. focus on how many new cards you've "gained", not how many of your cards are "missing"!
2. focus on genuinely listening to what your new networking friends need to help THEIR businesses, and let them know you will (and do it) be happy to refer to them!

HAPPY NETWORKING!