How Do I Build My Network?

Well, when I build my network, I start by writing down the names of everyone I know.

It’s that simple – if you can recall all their names!

You can’t? I’ll give you a tip in a moment.

Think about this – everybody knows a number of other people, so if you approach it well, all those other people’s contacts can become yours!

Do some maths: if you know just say 50 people and they also know 50 people each that’s a potential 2500 contacts for you. If they also know another 50 people each…

In fact you probably know lots more than 50 people but you won’t need to talk to them all.

The real beauty of networking is in the fact that all of those people are suddenly no longer strangers – you know someone they know, and they become warm contacts who will meet and talk with you because you share a common contact.

Now if one or two should resist, it’s because they don’t understand the value of networking, NOT because they dislike you.

“But I can’t go round talking to people I don’t know”

Yes you can and with the help of your Personal Marketing Statements which you prepared earlier, you’ll find it easy to do.

I said I’d give you a tip to recall all of your contacts names.

Its FROGS

F is for Family (and family friends)
R is for Recreation
O is for Occupation
G is for Geography
S is for Same Name

Family is not just family names (you remember them?) but include the names of people known to the family (Christmas card lists are good)

Recreation helps you to recall names of people at the golf club, or those you play football with or even those you socialise with or meet at church.

Occupation is about those people you know in, through or because of work at any time so long as you know the name, write it down.

Geography covers everybody you know from places you’ve been to or visited or lived, including current and previous neighbours.

Same name asks you to think about all names on your list and see if there is anyone else with the same first or surname as someone already on your list.

This is how I build my network – simple really isn’t it?

Now I've shown you how I build my network go back to the main networking pages. But don't forget how important networking is; I try to build my network with some activity every week.

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