You can work all you want to set up your own business. But
if you don’t have any marketing plan or promotion in mind – you’re basically
just floating out in cyber small business space with some good looking branding
and quality products that won’t sell.
The biggest key to starting up your business and keeping the
momentum going is networking. I know for some of you, this is basically a four
letter word – you hate the thought of putting yourself and your new business
out there to people you don’t know. For others, this may be your favorite part
of being a business owner. Either way, it’s do or die.
Find groups in your area that are specifically for
networking. Your chamber of commerce will have lots of ideas. The other thing
you can do is ask around! There are so many different types of business groups
that you’ll run into (in person and virtual) and it’s worth taking the time to
figure out which ones work best for you.
These groups not only serve as potential clients and
referral sources, but they are an invaluable support group for you as you grow
your business and continue your journey as a solo-preneur. And believe
me…you’ll need the support.
Remember that elevator speech we talked about in the
beginning of this series? Practice that. You’ll be asked about a million times
to describe what you do. You may even be asked to stand up in front of a group
of strangers and talk about it. If that’s a scary thing for you, good. Owning
your own business is an incredibly stretching process and that’s only the
beginning. Be bold, put yourself out there, and make some friends for goodness
sake. These people GET you and what you’re doing. Having people in your network
like that is a cornerstone piece to your success.
If you need a place to start looking for groups, here are
some of my favorites:
What groups are you a part of? Please share!
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