When you’re getting started in your business, the first thing on your mind is finding new customers, because customers give you social proof that what you're doing is working, and that means your business is profitable. So where do you find customers for your home business? Well, you'll want to connect first with your warm market because these are the people who are more likely to be converted because they already know you, like you and trust you.
The important thing is to not try and sell or recruit these people, but engage and share with them what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Ask them if they would be willing to learn a bit about what you’re doing incase they know or hear of someone who would need your products or service. Ask them to sample without obligation, or to come to a business launch event, whether it be online or in person. Convey with them your passion and excitement, because that is what is going to draw people to your business more then the facts about your products or service.
Remember and be ok with the fact that you may experience some no’s from your warm market, they may not be interested, invested or have the time. But keep them updated with your progress and love them anyway. They will come around if and when the time is right, and you never know who they may introduce to you in the future.
The important thing in building a business is to accept right away that this is a process. Nothing worth having comes easy or happens over night. You want to connect socially, develop relationships, ask for opportunities, and then implement your team’s system for sales and follow up. The key to success in any venture is to start at the beginning, learn from your mistakes, and focus on building your skills. In order to have a strong residual business and pay cheque, you need to have a mix of reoccurring customers, and a steady stream of new prospects and customers each month.
As you’re getting started, you won’t have a strong knowledge base for running your business, so you must make up in numbers what you lack in skill and use the tools provided by your leader. So you need to be visible and I’m going to share with you some great ways you can do that. You don’t have to do them all, but you need to pick a category and 3-5 strategies within those categories.
Get Social in your personal life
Join an association, club or organization
Take a community class or course that interests you
Get a hobby to meet others with similar interests
Go to family parties, reunions, and social events
You can’t expose the same people to your product or service over and over again, you will not grow your business. To make authentic connections with people you’ll want to work with, you want to align your activities with what interests you.
Now there is a special way to approach and recruit people when you are in your personal circles so that you don't become the person that barfs their business all over the guests of your friends and family and gets put on the "Do not invite list". Don't be a weirdo networker, be a savvy connector. You can learn a bit more about how to do that in this live video I created on my fan page. Watch it here>>
Position yourself as a leader
Get involved with a charity or cause
Present a workshop or be a speaker
Start a book club, breakfast club, coffee, fitness, or art club
Become a connector, referrer, and go to person
Social Media Connection - My personal favourite!
Connect and engage with people
Find new people to friend
Be a person of value
Learn the art of inviting
Provide valuable content through posts and video
Avoid posting pictures of products or promotions, it's called SPAM and people will BLOCK you!
Consistency is key no matter what, but particularly when you want to grow your visibility online. You have to be present and show up every single day! But the cool things about Social Media is that you can schedule a lot of your content so that your business in working even when you aren't! Can you believe the world we live in where we can use technology as an employee to leverage our time! Pretty cool right?! There are many platforms you can use, but I prefer Buffer for my content. It optimizes my posts for the right time and allows me to post on multiple platforms with 1 click so I can be in more places at the same time. If you're confused about what you should be doing each day on social media, you can snag my FREE Checklist for Home business owners here>>
Over time, you're going to meet a lot of people. Some of those people will not be the right ones for you and your business, and some will become part of your tribe. Focus on the people who match your energy, don't try to convince anyone that they are the right fit, or force anyone to listen to what you have to say. Focus on making connections and educating the willing on what you do, and you will not only have a thriving business, but you''ll also build some incredible relationships.
Bonus tips
Be curious and enjoy meeting people and making authentic connections
Ask questions and learn to listen more then you speak
Be positive and inviting
Be professional, friendly and social
Make yourself memorable, so that your first impression leaves a lasting one.
Be passionate and excited about what you do, but don’t give too much on the first date!
Did you find Value in today’s tips? I sure hope so, because I know what its like to build and grow a business and I want everyone to have the freedom and flexibility that is possible when you do things in a way that align with who you are, and also with the business practices that work.
Care to share what you liked best in the comments below?
xo Johanna
