This week’s guest post is from my friend and master networker – Stephanie Arnheim of Stephanie Connects!
Do you ever find that when November comes and it gets darker earlier, you walk into a store and holiday decorations are everywhere? Your mind goes NO it can’t be!
Halloween is barely done and the stores are filled with holiday gear and yet your mind has to stay focused on business. How are you going to get motivated to go network with all of these distractions?
The thought of networking at this time of year can feel overwhelming yet it is actually a great time to make some key connections to help your business grow. Imagine that you are like the Sugar Plum Fairy and stay on your toes!
Here are some easy and fun ways to make the most of networking during the holidays:
Holiday Cards
Take the time to write special holiday cards to clients, potential clients and referral partners. Tip: Start now so that it doesn’t get overwhelming as your list will be larger than you think. Share something you really liked about working with them or meeting with them.
Events
Remember getting leads for your business can come from many places. A family gathering, a neighborhood holiday party or business holiday event can all be great places to meet potential clients or referral partners.
1:1s
Many networking groups don’t meet as often during this time of year. Take this opportunity to schedule some key 1:1s with people you’ve been too busy to connect with. Show that you are conscious of their time during the busy season: doing a Zoom call is a great way to reach others for a key meeting.
Social Media
Use Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to wish others a happy holiday. These are great ways to stay in front of people so they remember you even if you aren’t at a networking event.
Be of Service
Many people feel overwhelmed as the holidays creep closer. Rather than concentrating on your business pitch, this is the time to be a good listener and ask questions such as “How can I help?” This can be very comforting and show that you care and that you are a valuable asset to them, now and in the future, and chances are you will learn something meaningful about them and their business.
Balancing your time between family, fun and business can be a dance. Have fun with this time of year. Reach out to those by phone instead of email. If you have trouble figuring out what to say, where to go or how to do this kind of networking let me know. For other fun tips to help you get through the holidays, download my Holiday Networking Survival Guide to help you make the most out of this holiday time.
Happy Connecting!
Stephanie Arnheim is a Business Networking Strategist and Master Connector. With her business Stephanie Connects, Stephanie educates people on how to reach the next level in their business using simple daily practices. Her clients learn to overcome fears associated with networking and dynamically connect with their key customers and business resources in powerful ways.
It’s Thanksgiving week which means it’s time to figure out what all needs to get done by the end of the year for your business and with your marketing efforts. I’ve written about this before – so instead of rehashing it – I’m just repurposing those blog posts for you this week.
The end of the year can cause a lot of anxiety for many small business owners. We’re trying to squeeze all we can out of the year, wrapping up projects and getting prepared for the big exciting projects coming in the New Year. From a marketing perspective there’s a few decisions you have to make as well that I thought I’d remind you of. Don’t stress out – none of these are required, all of them are worth making sure you consider!