You’ve Got to Know in Order to Grow!
Making the Most of a Network Membership
By Cynthia Renee Frazier
Joining a membership organization is a great strategy when you are looking at ways to grow your business. But the buck doesn’t stop there. To see results from your membership, develop a plan before you join. All too often, business owners walk away disappointed at the organization when it was their own lack of purpose that caused a lack of results. Here’s what I mean by that. Many small business owners have no clue as to who their most profitable target market is and how to service them. It’s not uncommon to hear a hair stylist, for example, say their target market is “anyone with hair”. Well, the most obnoxious, mean spirited person has hair. Is this who you want to work with?
Knowing your most profitable target market is critical because you will need to articulate this information to the other members of the organization you plan to join. Instead, many networkers focus on their offering. They’ll say something like, “I am a graphic designer” or “I am in marketing”. That’s fine, but in order for others to provide qualified leads and referrals to you, they need more information. And if you can’t give them that information in a clear, concise, quick fashion, you lose out. Take some time to develop a marketing plan. Doing so will assist you in identifying who your most profitable target demographic is and even more importantly, what their needs are. Now, you can grow your business by stating to the members of the organization what niche you serve and what you can do to meet their needs.
Cynthia Renee Frazier, Co-Founder of Energy Tour Café, an Internet Marketing Company. Her vision is to assist one million Women Business Owners to grow their company so that they can have more time to spend with their families, be inspired to give 20% of profits to the charity of their choice, and leave a legacy of business success for future generations. Sign up for our email alert at www.EnergyTourCafe.com to learn more about growing your business.
