Tag Archives: Networking

What’s In It For Me?

Kevin Willett says by making your business stand out, you will help it to grow

Running several networking events a month, I send out a lot of invitations for people to attend. Usually I get a yes or no response and keep moving forward. A few months ago I received a response that made me stop and think. A gentleman returned my email invitation saying he was not interested because I did a lousy job of explaining what was in it for him, why should he attend. At first, I was taken aback. Then I thought, you know what, he is right. I saw that he owned a business, I thought he would be a good fit for an event and I sent him the invitation. I did not think about why he should want to attend, why my event would be different from others he was invited to.

Most of us when we hear “what’s in it for me” we think of this as a negative statement. As business owners we have to think this way sometimes in order maximize our time listening to pitches. If you want to do business with me but cannot tell me how this will help me, I really don’t want to spend time listening or meeting with you. We have to be able to explain how our business stands out in order to attract new customers and continue to grow. Don’t be afraid to talk yourself and your business up! You are not generic, you are unique, so let potential clients know that

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Be A Connector

Kevin Willetts ays being a connector makes you and others happy

I get a great feeling when people reach out to me and ask me for help, they need a referral, who should they use. It’s a great way to help your clients and a great feeling to help solve someone’s issue. We can all be connectors. Have you ever been scrolling through FaceBook and seen someone looking for a suggestion? Do you know someone who could help? Did you take the time to message that person with a suggestion? Most people don’t, they just scroll right by. It only takes a moment to send a private message to that person with some contact info for someone who can help them out. Then just message the business you are referring, to give them a heads up that you have shared their info. Maybe include a brief description of what the person was looking for and now you have made two people happy just by being a connector. You have also made an impression on both parties that may help your business down the road.

Ok, so your saying to yourself that networking is my job, of course I am going to send my clients referrals whenever I can. That is a correct statement. But I also help out people who are not my clients on occasion. There are businesses that are not a client, but I know are good at what they do. I like helping people and it is not always about being paid to do it. Be a connector for the right reasons and not only will you make the people you are connecting happy, but you will be happy as well.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Once Is Never Enough

Kevin Willett says don’t wait until you need a referral, a customer or more business to meet with someone a second time.

When you are thinking about whether to attend a networking event or use your time elsewhere, do not make your decision solely on who will be at the event. Yes that is an important piece to consider, as I have said before, you need to present to the right audience, but you’d be amazed at the amount of people who turn down and event because they have met somebody attending  one other time.  Once is never enough. Do you think because you met someone once that they will remember everything about you and your business? I have had people asked me about event attendees even after attending multiple events with that person. ‘Hey Kev, who was that guy that did roofs at your last event? ‘Hey Kev, lady who does real estate for southern NH, I know her first name but can’t remember her last” and on and on. I have spoken and written many times about getting to know, like and trust. This takes time! Relationships need to be built, follow up needs to be done, and becoming comfortable with referrals to and from needs to happen.This is not the networking guy trying to get you to go to multiple events he is hosting, LOL. This is the networking guy trying to help you. Let me ask you this: Think about and event you have been to in the past. Do you remember everyone who was there and what they do? Probably not.

Next time you are thinking about skipping an event because you talked to someone once already, think again.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

The Secret to Getting People to Accept Your Calls

Kevin Willett says doing a little bending in your schedule will not break it

What is the answer to this burning question you ask? Simple, be flexible.

The other day I had a call scheduled and the person cancelled on me. I tried to reschedule, and she was busy. She later contacted me with an alternative time, and I was busy. Several emails and phone tag episodes later we still hadn’t figured out when we could chat. This person felt bad that they had to cancel the original call. I told them it was no big deal, that if we were both willing to be flexible with the other’s schedule it would all work out. Hey, it is great that they were so busy, it meant business is good! A similar thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I was at my desk at 5am, as I am on most days, and an email comes through from a gentleman, I had on my calendar for a call later that day. He was going to have to cancel. I emailed him back immediately and said obviously he was awake and so was I, let’s talk now.  Now that is being flexible! We ended up having a great conversation. It all worked out.

On the flip side of this, if you have extra availability, that may not be something to advertise. Some potential clients may be weary if you tell them you are available to talk 24/7 in the upcoming days. They may wonder why you have so much free time. Give them a few options to choose from, making them think the rest was filled in. But again, stay flexible.

Bottom line is you need to service your clients first. If 9 to 5 does not fit for phone calls or video chats, be flexible to a 5:30 conversation. That is 5:30pm not 5:30am like me LOL. Although, if you are both early risers, why not! People who are willing to bend or maneuver their time in order to connect with potential clients are the one who will be successful.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

The Key To Being Successful With Business Networking

Kevin Willett says there are no shortcuts in networking

I know I have said this before, but feel it needs to be repeated, be involved, participate. It is easy to join multiple groups. It is not easy to be involved in multiple groups. Don’t take on more than you can handle, membership wise. With any group you are a member of you need to participate and be involved. Are you sharing people’s from the groups posts? Are you chatting with people outside of networking events? Are you passing referrals? The people that do these things are the people who are most successful in networking. Just writing a check or having your name on a directory is not the way to go. That is lazy and will not show positive results. There are no shortcuts in networking. Put the effort in and watch your success grow.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

How To Nurture Business Relationships

Kevin Willett knows many ways to help build and maintain new business connections

I see people struggle with business relationships all the time. When you connect with someone new, you don’t want to seem overbearing or aloof. What is the best way to get to Know, Like and Trust with this new connection? My first piece of advice is to provide value to your new contact. How do you do that? I try to introduce my new contact to some of my old ones. People I think may be able to do business together or help each other out. Secondly, if you see an article or story that you think may help your new connection, let them know about it. Tell them where you saw it or send them a copy. Thirdly, ask to do a video interview with your new connection. You can record the zoom and show it to your friends to let them virtually meet your new contact. Maybe they will connect and do business together. Fourth, I like to share pictures on social media. Post a picture and tag the other person and their business pages. People seeing your post can click on any links you provide and check out the new person for themselves. These are simple ways to add value and show connections you appreciate and want to grow with them. No sales pitches, no pressure, just a slow build to help this person become comfortable with doing business with you and your connections. Of course, always follow up, keep in touch, do what you say you will in a timely manner are also standard ways to build that business relationship.

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Forced To vs Opportunity To

Kevin Willett says the changing world is offering you and your business opportunities

What is the difference between these two phrases? A Lot of businesses have had to make major pivots in the way the due business this year. As I talk to different people about these changes some are using the phrase “I have been forced to…” others are saying “I’ve taken this opportunity to…”. The difference is in attitude and vision. Change is never easy. Think of the things happening around you and your business in this 2020 Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity and you will feel so much better. Catch yourself when talking to clients and friends saying opportunity instead of forced. Your outlook will change, and your business will be all right. 

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

That is Not My Name

Kevin Willett says be careful taking short cuts

The other day, I was sending a multitude of emails out. Same message going to many different people, so of course copy and paste was my preferred method of composition. We have all been there, in a rush not fully focused, and we mess up. I sent out a bunch of emails in a row and forgot to change the name at the top. I received a reply to one of the emails I sent “THAT IS NOT MY NAME and I am not interested in your event!!!”.  I would like to tell you that this was the first time this ever happened to me, but I would be lying. I could also tell you this would be the last time I did this, but that would probably also be a lie. Was it an honest mistake? Yes. But it comes across as being careless and disrespectful. I totally understand this person’s anger and frustration with me. I am glad the other email recipients cut me some slack, but they didn’t have to. The moral of my story today is to try to slow it down just a bit, recheck your emails before sending and stay focused on the goal. You won’t win clients by being careless. You also won’t be perfect all the time. But please make the effort.  

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Do You Still Think You Don’t Need to Network?

Kevin Willett says having a strong network will get you through good times and bad

We have had some tough times recently. Businesses and individuals are struggling to stay afloat. I have had several people reach out to me for help with either job searches or business sales. “Kevin do you know anybody who…” is something that I am hearing a lot of. Other than their struggles, the one common thing among these people is that they do not have strong networks. They never felt the need to go to networking events. They never felt they needed to connect outside of their immediate circle. The people who built solid relationships with their clients, the ones who have a strong network behind them are the ones who are surviving and keeping their businesses going. I know as the networking guy, this seems easy for me to say, but it is true. I have had to adapt my business like many others. From this I hope everybody learns the importance of building our networks. Even when business is good you need to keep building your network, keep your network strong. I don’t want to see anybody, when times get tough, wishing they had the connections to see them through. Make those connections when ever you can even if you think you don’t need to! We can’t see into the future and you never know when even one of those connections you have could come in handy. Need help making connections? Not sure where to start? Contact me and I’ll try to get you started!

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events

Who Are You Hiding From?

Kevin Willett believes you are stronger than your fears

Are you one of those people that have a fear of speaking to groups? Recently I had a student skip a class because he had to do an oral presentation. He called and left me all kinds of excuses as to why he could not present. In the end, I asked him for the true story, and he told me he was scared. I understand that, but he was to be graded on this, so he had to make the presentation anyway. Why kick the problem down the road.  The same goes for you and your business. What are your fears that may be preventing you from growing? Is it doing a FB Live video? Is it reaching out to clients for fear of rejection? Presenting your product to groups? Maybe you fear even starting a business.

The more we put something off, the harder it is. We all have fears to face. By trying to stall it increases anxiety and makes the fear more important than it should be. Stop hiding behind them and instead face your fears head on! You will feel much better, be more productive, and grow your business if you do!

Watch my YouTube Channel  for more on this and other Business Networking Tips

Kevin Willett is the Author of One Connection How you can grow your business  (and change the world) one connection at a time. The business networking book is available on Amazon. Purchase One Connection on Amazon

Kevin is also the CEO of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group  and the New England B2B Networking Group. Please connect with him on social media to hear about his upcoming business networking events