I’m in a number of great networking groups, like BNI and Rainmakers. These groups create an environment where members can refer business to one another and help each other grow and succeed. It’s a great way to bring referrals into your business and I highly recommend joining a group like this. Getting referrals is one of the best ways to market your business.
Many of the members of these groups have an extremely positive attitude, work hard, and continuously improve themselves in order to grow their businesses. They fine-tune their messaging, they give lots of referrals, and they participate in educational opportunities.
Other members, however, join groups like this with the mindset of “what can I get from this?” They show up to meetings but they don’t have a system for giving referrals to others, they don’t have a clear message, and they don’t really invest time into educating their referral team. Then they complain that they are not getting referrals.
If you are not getting referrals from your networking group, here are some things to look at.
- Are you showing up with at least one referral to give at every meeting?
- Are you clear and specific about what type of referrals you are looking for?
- Are you consistent in your message?
- Is your product or service something that people want to buy?
- Do you speak well in public?
- Are you easy to contact via phone, email, etc.?
- Do you project a positive attitude?
- Do you have a reputation for being trustworthy?
- Do you let your personal side show a little bit?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, it might be time to evaluate why you are not getting referrals and see what changes you can make.
Many people join networking groups only to quit six months later because they “didn’t get any referrals” from it. In most cases, there is only one person to blame.
Don’t be that person.
