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<\/div>3. Network.<\/strong><\/h3>\nYour new business needs people. You know people (and those people know people, too<\/em>).<\/p>\nThe first step is starting with your own network. This is especially important for service businesses like consulting, tutoring, translation, and similar service-based small business ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\nTalk to the people in your inner circle, share your business idea with them, and ask them to share it with others. The reality is that your first 10 customers will likely be people you already know.<\/p>\n
If approaching people and asking them to consider your business is a new skill, starting with your friends and family will help you become comfortable proposing your business. While this may not open the floodgates of prospects, you never know what interesting connections you might make with family and friends.<\/p>\n
Networking Tips<\/strong><\/h4>\nUse these tips to improve your networking success:<\/p>\n
\n- Attend the right events<\/strong>: Chamber of Commerce meetings, trade shows, and networking organization meetings are good settings for networking. These events are a good way to dip your toe into networking because you will be surrounded by like-minded people on the hunt.<\/li>\n
- Be prepared with business cards<\/strong>: Business cards<\/a> are an affordable<\/a>, effective way to ensure people have accurate contact information. An unforgettable, high-quality business card sets you apart from the crowd and makes a great first impression.<\/li>\n
- Have your elevator pitch ready: <\/strong>An elevator pitch is a few sentences of what you do, who you work with, and the value you offer to your customers or clients. Try to keep your pitch around 1 minute and something that can easily be interwoven into a conversation.<\/li>\n
- Ask for referrals: <\/strong>While networking, you will undoubtedly encounter potential customers who aren’t a good fit for your business. Instead of dismissing them, consider asking the prospect for referrals. “It sounds like my product may not be a good fit for you. Do you know of anyone you think it would benefit? Could you please connect us?”<\/em><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Networking is especially important in certain industries. For example, networking is important when\u00a0starting a trucking company<\/a> and looking for<\/span>\u00a0early clients.<\/p>\n
The first step is starting with your own network. This is especially important for service businesses like consulting, tutoring, translation, and similar service-based small business ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Talk to the people in your inner circle, share your business idea with them, and ask them to share it with others. The reality is that your first 10 customers will likely be people you already know.<\/p>\n If approaching people and asking them to consider your business is a new skill, starting with your friends and family will help you become comfortable proposing your business. While this may not open the floodgates of prospects, you never know what interesting connections you might make with family and friends.<\/p>\n Use these tips to improve your networking success:<\/p>\n Networking is especially important in certain industries. For example, networking is important when\u00a0starting a trucking company<\/a> and looking for<\/span>\u00a0early clients.<\/p>\nNetworking Tips<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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