After Hour Networking

When drumming up new business, almost everyone is reaching out to consumers via social media and/or direct mail campaigns.  Meeting new people at after hour networking can be a challenge for some personalities.    Here are some tips on how to tackle the after hour networking event:

Don't be shy when it comes to networking.  You need to put yourself out there and think of every interaction as a networking opportunity.  If you tend to be shy in this environment, you can overcome that by being prepared.  Find volunteer opportunities that will help you get comfortable talking with strangers to overcome your shyness.

Don't just think of the traditional happy hour events as your only place to find new business.  Try to engage with people everywhere you go.    You never know where your next customer may come from.  Example - while at the dog park and talking with another dog owner, it came up we own MMP  and they happen to need a poster rushed the next week.   We gained a customer by interacting with other dog owners.      Keep your business cards on you at all times for these unexpected opportunities.

Don't overwhelm people with a long elevator pitch.  Make the pitch short, simple and relevant to the person you are engaging with.  You will  also want to find a way to stand out from everybody else.

Don't force a business relationship.  Find commonality with people by sharing hobbies or passions before talking business.  Not everyone you meet will become a customer, however, you never know if that introduction might turn into a referral.

Like us on Facebook and visit us at www.austinmmp.com

Turn your Office Place into a Green Environment

We all have heard of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”.   This may be easy to do at home but harder to accomplish in the workplace.   However, if you are able to make your marketing material green than there is a chance you might attract a variety of customers by advertising with the green approach.

Reduce -- If your habit includes sending emails, internet new articles, projects to the printer to have  a hard copy of then you may want to change your habits.  Although it is important to see how the product will actually look on paper, employees tend to print unnecessary documents.  Encourage employees to limit clicking the print button.

Reuse and Recycle  -- Do you have left over letterhead, flyers or other materials that are not used anymore?   Before tossing them, think of ways to reuse this paper.   Create a bin for paper that can be used again.  Put back in the printer to print on other side.   Use this paper as scrap note paper.  See if the staff can come up with creative ways to reuse paper.  

Many customers appreciate hearing about what your business is doing to help the environment.   Be honest of your recycling practices that you have established.  They may be no brainer practices, but is can be easy to embellish your recycling practice.