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How to Network In The
Tampa Bay Business Builders

Successful networking is different in a referral network and leads clubs. A leads club usually is a group of people who are required to bring one or more leads to a meeting. It might be a lead that a new building that is being built. The lead may come from a newspaper or from driving by a construction site. Perhaps a company is moving to a new location. But there is no personal contact involved. These so-called leads are "suspect" rather than a prospective business client.

Tampa Bay Business Builders approaches this situation differently. No one is compelled to bring a lead to a meeting. TBBB members work for each other through friendship and reciprocal favors rather than quotas. We try to eliminate cold calls through referrals. And we don't just make referrals--we work to make QUALIFIED referrals for one another.

Business men and women are connected to many other business people. TBBB members use these relationships to make personal contacts and develop referrals for each other. This technique works best when each member have been thoroughly educated in what other members need and what the other members are seeking in new business opportunities.

TBBB members often do business with one another, but the real focus is knowing exactly what each member is looking for in a qualified referral. We seek out the connections for each other.

Guidelines to Networking
1. Tell what you do: sales? service? consulting?
2. Explain what problems your company can solve for other businesses. Most potential customers are looking for solutions to business problems or ways to increase business.
3. Identify what businesses are most likely to become your customers.
4. Identify what signifies a need for your services. TBBB members need to know these signals.
5. Help other TBBB members. That's our purpose in life as well as in business.
6. Be open and friendly. Be helpful to the other members. People generally respond to your initiatives. Don't be a wallflower.
7. Sit next to someone you don’t know instead of a friend or associate. The associate already knows your needs. This is not a social hour ... you are here to exchange information!
8. Arrive at meetings a few minutes early. It is a good time to meet new guests and network before the meeting starts.
9. Don't confuse networking with doing business. Take advantage of the networking opportunity while it exists and schedule business consultations for another time.
10. Give your full attention to the director and other members.
11. Don't be in a rush to leave at the end of a meeting. This is when some of the best networking is done.
12. Make TBBB meetings a priority on your schedule. Allow time for lunch, meeting and travel. The most successful TBBB members have made the exchange of referrals a priority.
13. Take advantage of opportunities available through TBBB. Workshops, business card exchanges, expos, seminars, and evening functions are examples of business resources TBBB members enjoy.
14. Bring guests to meetings. There might be a good connection there for a guest and a TBBB member. Our chapter grows with every referral and new member.
15. Be a giver, not a taker...share. Your information and help will come back twofold.
16. Referrals are like savings accounts. Someday you may want to draw on the interest generated.
17. Use TBBB as a tool when calling on a referral. Leave a TBBB brochure! If TBBB is the reason you are calling, it is your door opener.
18. Don't abuse another member's customers or contacts.
19. TBBB members are not trying to sell for you. Their role is to get you in the door and past the barrier that exists when cold calling.
20. Meet as many people as you can. A distinguishing characteristic of self-made millionaires is they network everywhere, all the time. Make it your goal to meet at least three new people every day.
21. When you meet someone, tell them what you do. Networking is low cost advertising. If you don't tell everyone you meet what you do, you're missing valuable opportunities.
22. Act like a host, not a guest. Guests wait to be introduced. A host introduces himself or herself.
23. Follow up...it is the key to making a sale.
24. Keep in touch. If you haven't talked to someone in a while, call to say hello. Stay in touch with TBBB members. They are your eyes and ears in the business community.
25. Ask for two business cards. Whenever you meet someone who impresses you, ask for two of their business cards ... one to pass on and one to keep.
26. Keep up with your contacts. Make notes on the back of business cards as a reminder of where you met and under what circumstances.
27. Give out your business cards. When you pay a bill, enclose one of your cards. Remember, people open those letters.
28. Praise good work. If someone does an exceptional job, be sure to mention it, not only to that person, but to anyone else who may benefit from their services. If you receive a referral, be sure to thank your TBBB associate.
29. Listen. Listen more! Then remember what you heard.
Review these guidelines regularly. If TBBB membership is not as effective as you expected, review the guidelines again and work harder at making them part of your daily business practice. These guidelines have proven their effectiveness time and again since 1991!
Tom and Denise Green Effective networking works like magic for small business owners! TBBB members generously share their experience and expertise.

Tom and Denise Green
Be interested in other people. Become part of the 20 percent of people who are interesting themselves because they listen to others.

Be involved in TBBB. Be one of the leaders. People are drawn to leaders.

Ask a member for information at the meeting. If you deal with businesses and don't have a special contact, a TBBB member may have a contact or someone who can help in other ways.
Tampa Bay Business Builders - Tampa's Premier Referral Group
 

For more information, contact one of the directors.
TBBB E-mail address: info@tampabaybusiness.org
For member e-mail addresses, see individual Member Pages

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