Level Up Your Networking!
Tour 6: Take Care of the Underdogs
Hello my networking friend. Welcome back!
Would you consider learning about the underdogs of your networking world? Who are they?
Your vendors of course, the accountants, the marketers, the suppliers that you count on to keep your business running.
They support you, and allow you to deliver your product or service to your clients.
In our networking efforts to build cheerleaders, and referral partners, let's not overlook our vendors.
Network with them, and pour the effort into them just like you do for your referral partners and clients.
Here's why:
They need you. They, just like you, need the stability that steady, easy to work with clients provide. Be one of those clients.
By being kind, patient, and supportive of your vendors, you will stand out from the hundreds of not so great interactions they have on a weekly basis with other clients.
Perhaps the most important reason you need to poor your love into your vendors is because eventually every client has the potential to be cut. You want to be on the "not cut" side of that cut.
Society drills into us "The Customer is ALWAYS Right!"
The customer certainly has more of the leverage in a client/business owner relationship, but not all.
Good vendors who have great systems and have built rapport with their clients will eventually find themselves more than willing to prune, and able, to prune.
Be stellar and you will be more likely to keep your vendors long term. Long term vendors mean less disruption in your business, which means your clients benefit from your seamless processes and service.
Not sure how to be a stellar client, or think it takes a lot of time and energy that you don't have?
Read on my friend.
Five Ways to Pour Love Into the Underdogs, your Vendors
Show them grace. This doesn't mean let them walk all over you. If an interaction goes wrong, look to yourself first to see if you could have more clearly communicated your expectations. Sometimes my first thought is to blame my vendor, but when I go back and look at the email or text, I see that I was the one who wasn't clear.
Recommend them to your network, especially if they are doing a great job for you. Actively seek ways to refer them to other ideal clients. They will absolutely love you for it.
Give them 5 star reviews! Talk to any business owner and they will tell you, reviews are hard to acquire. Clients aren't stingy, they just get sidetracked. Give a review before they even ask. Of course, if you aren't happy with their service, instead of leaving a bad review, talk to them directly so have an opportunity to make things right.
Share their posts on your social media! This is so easy to do and, just like with your referral partners, it lights them up.
Pay on time! Business owners hate chasing money. You'll be high on that cut list if you don't.
Invite them to network with you, and introduce them to your people. Make your introduction of the glowing sort.
When they invite you to an event they host, attend! Let your RSVP give them a feeling of appreciation and importance.
Want to know the cool benefit of being a cheerleader for your vendors? They become your cheerleaders and will refer you business. And sometimes they send you cookies!
Go network my friend; and make sure to take care of the underdogs of your business.
Faithann Basore and her husband Dave have owned Window Cleaning Plus (WCP) for 10 years. Growing WCP through networking has given Faithann the desire to guide other small business owners through the networking terrain so they can feel comfortable and build long lasting relationships in their business.
Got networking questions? Email me at [email protected].
