How far away is the person you need to meet?

We have spent some time discussing your inner circle and have suggested that you take time to list all of the people that you know and that KNOW YOU. This inner circle is the start of finding out who knows a person that you need to meet. You will need to take time to contact your list with news and make sure you ask for referrals. I know this is somewhat difficult as I hate asking friends and acquaintances for anything. The best way to get support for your endeavors and getting the introductions you want is to put on an event. The event can be a party, a celebration of your new product line or service, a business seminar, or any other thing that will bring people to you for face-to-face interaction.

Suggest that your friends bring others that they know will be interested in what you have to offer. Your friends are more likely to invite and introduce you to others in a social setting than on the phone, putting them on the spot. Use your inner ring to get to your outer ring. Using web technology to find these relationships are sometimes a necessity ? try LinkedIn.com and see what it can bring you. When you do decide to put on an event, be very specific about whom you want to attend and try to tailor the invite list to suit your business needs. As mentioned before, I put on a seminar and invited business people to get some free information and I paid for the breakfast. It took six months to follow up on all the leads and get appointments with those who were interested. I even got referrals from attendees that thought someone they knew could use me.

Events will go a long way to tap into existing relationships and further your inner circle. In order to get people to attend, you must have something of value to offer. Your offering must also be consistent.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com