Whose Today’s Guest?
Peter Naftali Phiri is a Real Estate agent and the Co-director of the startup Grind Kitwe Chapter.
Importance of Connections
When we talk about connections we are basically referring to your network, it is commonly said show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. If you are going to sell something as a business owner, you will need to learn that you are more likely to sell a product or service to someone in your network.
Your network will be defined as the people that are basically in the same financial group as you, same religious circle as you and the same political circle etc. the importance of these connections is there people that you can sell to and they can help you grow and expand your business.
If you want to move from one point to an accelerated point in this case grow as a business, you will have to change your circle of connections. By so doing you will different kinds of business with the circle that you join and your business level will be elevated.
Events to Attend to Expand your Network
The kind of events you will attend in order to expand your network is determined by what you want as an individual. What is it that you want your business to achieve, in short what are your business goals? What kind of business are you in and where do you want to see yourself as a business?
When we start out on our entrepreneurial journey, everyone is normally in a state of panic and fear and all they want to do is survive. As a business owner you would want to get into a particular segment with a particular kind of clientele.
In order to get that particular clientele you will need to identify other individuals or businesses in the same industry or in the same line as you and identify where it is that these people send their time.
Spend time with them and get to interact with them learn from them and begin to attract the clients that you need as you will begin to carry yourself in the likeness of those advanced in the industry due to the time spent interacting with them.
Using Connections to Grow your Business
The quality of the product or service will usually invite people to join your circle that is if it is of good quality of course. Remember that your business is there to provide a solution to a problem. As you sale out your solution your network will begin to grow and your connections will begin to spread the word about your products or services.
Your business will end up growing and you will have repeat customers that are loyal as a result of the testimonials that your connections are sharing on your products and services.
Connections surely will enable you to spread word about your business as they will be able to bring in referrals and helping you grow your business.
Determining the Right Events to Attend
Networking is similar to dating, in the beginning you don’t know what it is exactly what you are looking for, like wise determining the right events to attend is the same if you are a first timer. But this will depend on your level of business maturity and what your goals are.
If you know what it is that you are looking for then you can attend networking events that seek to your goals and purpose but if your a first timer you can attend a feel to have an experience, once you have got a clear picture of what you want you can then go on to begin selecting which ones to attend.
Keeping the Relationship Going
In most cases it is a natural thing, after you exchange numbers with a connection you will discover that if you seek to befriend them you will end u making a connection and when you seek to make a connection. So keeping the relationship flowing will be a natural thing.
Key Insights:
- Connections enable your business to sell your products and services.
- Most business grow on the account of referrals.
- You can expand your network by changing you circle or network.
“Networking is like dating, in the beginning you don’t know what you are looking for, It will all depend on your level of maturity and what your goals are”
