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5 Ways to Market Your Business for Free - Part II
In my last article, I showed you five different ways to promote your business for free. All of these methods are highly effective. There are, according to author and internet marketer, Richard Quek, http://www.exposedtraffic.com , over 100...

Contact Management
Gain Control of Your Marketing Efforts and Assure a Steady Flow of Clients by Julie Chance When it comes to marketing, do you ever feel like you are at the mercy of the tides - following up on a referral here, chasing a lead there and more...

Do It Yourself Sales Tool
After falling in love with the Hipster PDA and Levengers Shirt Pocket Briefcase,I started becoming more and more dependent on 3" by 5" index cards. They are great for note taking on the go and keeping organized at my desk, so I naturally started...

Does Cartoon Network Have Their Own Search Engine?
One of my clients sent me the following e-mail today, and asked me to check out the following search engine: "Your site is missing from Azoos.Com's Internet search engine! To submit it, simply click the *ADD URL* button found at www.azoos.com. ...

How To Find Deep Discount Pro Online Marketing Tools
You can't row a boat without an oar or build a house without a hammer. And, you can't build an online business without essential Internet marketing tools. Sadly, thousands try (unsuccessfully) everyday. Those who do use online tools are...

 
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Get Clients with a Small Business Networking Strategy

Networking, Ugh! Much like the thought of marketing and sales, the thought of networking may make you cringe. For most solo-pros, service professionals, and small business owners, they hear the word networking and it brings to mind the old business standard of promotional networking at 'meet & greet' events where it's understood and accepted that everyone is there to schmooze and subtly manipulate one another in an attempt to gain some advantage, for themselves or their business, which will increase their bottom line.

Who wouldn't cringe at the thought of spending an hour or two exchanging banalities and sales pitches with a phony smile plastered on your face to hide your discomfort, in an attempt to 'use' someone else to get a leg-up on the competition or to boost your profits, only to walk away with a pocketful of biz cards and the prospect of hours of work to continue the charade through email and by phone? It feels uncomfortable, self-serving and deceptive. Chances are all those biz cards you collected will end up in a drawer of your desk never to be seen again because you'll


so dread following up that you'll procrastinate doing so until they're forgotten.

The good news is it doesn't have to be that way! The Book Yourself Solid networking strategy operates from an entirely different paradigm; it's all about connecting and sharing with others, and all you have to do to begin to employ it is to shift your perspective from one of scarcity and fear, to one of abundance and love. With the Book Yourself Solid Networking Strategy, the focus is on sincerely and freely giving and sharing, and by doing so, to build and deepen mutually beneficial relationships with others. It's all about making lasting connections.

© 2005 Michael Port & Associates LLC



About the author:

Get more clients with Michael Port, expert marketing coach for small business owners and professional service providers. Free small business resources, networking opportunities, articles, advice and coaching on professional services marketing at http://www.michaelport.com . Receive a free chapter from 'Book Yourself Solid' at http://www.bookyourselfsolid.com