The Home Investment Loan Specialist Who Boosted Revenue by 4x During COVID (And His Five Networking Tips to Help You Do the Same)

With the right approach, it’s possible to grow your business exponentially even when the markets are at a standstill.?

Jared runs Sunstate Financial, which specialises in home investment loans.?

Despite COVID, Sunstate Financial has experienced significant business growth over the past 12 months. So much so that Jared believes the revenue might have gone up five folds.?

But how was Jared able to expand his business when everyone else was contracting??

By Jared’s own account, there wasn’t a magical moment where it just happened. His success was the result of compounding efforts that accumulated over the years. Also, he invested a lot into personal growth and everything just took off.?

Jared’s success can be attributed to successful networking. And the good news is that you can do the same.

Discover how he used networking to his advantage, which led him to 4X his revenue during COVID, and his tips for networking effectively.

The Five Tips for Effective Networking

Tip #1 - Use Networking to Create Personal and Professional Growth

In the early days of his business, Jared struggled when he had to network. He even suffered extreme anxiety attacks, wherein he’d choke up and vomit before going to an event.?

Why??

Jared was afraid to walk into the room as he had this belief that he didn’t belong. He also wasn’t sure what would happen and if he might be put under the spotlight.?

Why is this story important to you??

It’s due to the fact that Jared doesn’t attend networking events just to look for new business and referral partners. He also networks for his personal development.

Jared knew that he had to expose himself to these events and talk to other people if he wanted to grow as a professional. Anxiety or not, he never gave up. You can follow in his footsteps.

And here’s a tip: instead of obsessing about what you’re going to say, focus on what others are saying and try to learn from that.?

Tip #2 - Have a Clear Objective for Your Networking

When networking, you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of a conversation. But that can happen if you don’t have a clear objective for your networking efforts. This is why you need a clear intent for your involvement in that communication.?

On the other hand, most professionals are very good at making excuses to get out of networking. The common excuse they say is that they don’t have the time, or maybe it’s too stressful.?

If you take the time to prepare and get clear on your goals, the anxiety will fade away. Knowing your objective can give you an advantage, as it helps you to steer the conversation as you wish.?

Also, remember that you’re not alone - other participants might feel jittery as well.?

Tip #3 - Don’t Stress About Becoming a Master Networker Overnight

As previously mentioned, if you prepare properly instead of stressing over the outcomes, you make it much easier on yourself.?

With that in mind, you shouldn’t worry about overcoming your anxiety. Instead, focus on how you’ll be able to grow professionally and personally. Your business will grow as a result and you’ll become better at networking.?

The reality is that it could take years to become a master networker. However, your networking skills will advance with your experience.

Through it all, you need to be honest about your weaknesses and do your best to overcome them, one step at a time if necessary.?

And to make the experience easier, you could develop scripts and use them to define the structure and framework of the conversation. Of course, you’ll still have to prepare and work on your objectives.

Tip #4 - Avoid Going Straight into Business When You Open a Conversation

If you asked Jared, he’d say that he’s not the type of networker who goes straight for the business. Instead, he opens a conversation with some small talk, such as asking people how they feel about the event and what they most enjoy.?

Why does he do it?

It’s because asking questions puts the focus on the other party. And when they start talking, you can learn more about them and their business and get them interested in having a deeper conversation with you.?

If you jump right into explaining yourself and your business, hardly anybody would be interested in talking to you.?

But if you let the casual conversation run its course for a few minutes, you’ll have set the scene for the business stuff. Additionally, you may not want to rush with your elevator pitch as it could mean the end of the conversation after you’re done.?

The bottom line is to take things slow, listen to the other person, and find the right moment to execute your networking objective.?

Tip #5 - Email the People You Meet to Strengthen Connections

If you meet someone at a live or in-person event, don’t forget to do one crucial thing:

Always follow up with an email as soon as the event is over.?

You can write something like:?

“Hi, it was fantastic to meet you this morning. I really enjoyed chatting with you and I hope you enjoyed it as well. Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything.”?

Your email could touch on what went on in the conversation. But remember, this is not the place to sell or pitch anything. What you could do is ask for another meeting and perhaps take the conversation to the next level.

Network for Greater Success

So, what are the secrets of networking for business growth??

First, you need to be in it for personal growth which will lead to more business opportunities. Second, do not use anxiety as an excuse against networking. Preparation will remove most of the anxiety. Third and last, do not rush or try to pitch your business as soon as possible.?

As Jared’s story showed us, networking may feel challenging but the results are well worth the effort. You and your business can even reap its rewards during challenging times.

And if you wish to really get better at networking:?

• Join the Business League free workshop
• Join the Business League networking event
• Book a Brainstorm Call