Referrals without Schmoozing?
Reuben Swartz
Fun "Anti-CRM" for Solo Consultants Who Hate "Selling" but Love Serving Clients. Put the "relationship" back in CRM: conversations, referrals, follow-up, lead magnets, proposals. Host of the Sales for Nerds Podcast ????
When I started consulting, I knew I needed referrals, which seemed to require networking, which was all about "schmoozing", without getting stabbed in the eye with someone's business card.
Shockingly, I wasn't all that great at it.
And while I forced myself to do it from time to time, I always dreaded it.
And so I didn't get a lot of referrals, and many of the ones I did get were not great fits, eating up a lot of time and energy without producing great results.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
Even as an introvert who doesn't like selling or networking.
What if we stopped thinking of it as "networking" and started thinking of it as "connecting"?
What if we worried less about finding new leads and started thinking more about (re)connecting with people we already know?
What if you could do it without taking a ton of time on useless conversations? Actually have fun? Get great referrals?
If that sounds interesting, join me next Thursday, 7/11 at 2:30CT for a workshop on Creating a Client Referral Engine.
What do you wish could be different about "networking"? What has been effective for you?
Stay Out in Front?! Providing Powerful Competitive Intelligence to Executives Making Critical Decisions | Servicing CEOs, CSOs, CMOs, Brand Managers & CI Leaders | Keynote Speaker and Workshop Facilitator | CI Fellow
8 个月Reuben Swartz You hit a homerun by switching the idea of "networking" to "connecting". That's simpler than "building relationships", which is what I have used. But as I think about it, even that sounds daunting. I signed up for your session on July 11...hopefully no client emergencies pop up that required me to miss this. Thanks much!
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8 个月Reuben Swartz I’ve had to take this stance as an introvert who does A LOT of in-person networking. I want to hear what people are doing and I think people want to genuinely hear what is happening with me. If you take the pressure to “schmooze” off, it transforms how we are able to show up.
Mindset & Alignment Strategist ? Psychologist ? Speaker ? Alzheimer's Advocate ? Master Your Mindset → Align Your Actions → Achieve Sustainable Success!
8 个月Reuben Swartz Your shift from "networking" to "connecting" is a game-changer! It feels more genuine and less stressful, especially for introverts. I’ve found that nurturing existing relationships often leads to the best referrals, and it makes the whole process much more enjoyable.?
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8 个月Great question Reuben Swartz - when I changed the way I feel about networking to really connecting and seeing who I could connect everything changed and it didn't seem so draining.
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8 个月Connecting is SO MUCH better! And for those of us without a formal sales background, the barrier to entry is so much lower the way you described it Reuben.