Networking your Moving Company

Networking your Moving Company

 

If you own a moving company, chances are that you have done some form of marketing for your business, whether that is billboards or word of mouth marketing. As a moving business owner, many find that the most cost-effective form of marketing is networking. The best way to get to know someone, other than directly working with them is to network out to them.

Making networking apart of structuring your moving company is essential to a good marketing strategy, especially if you are looking for a means of long term stability. Networking third party vendors such as furniture, appliance, electronic, wood and carpet repair companies is a great way to market your business. Not only are you more likely to get a discount from using a vendor frequently, but you are also more likely to get referrals from them. The longer that you are in business with the companies that you networked with, the more credibility and success your company will have with them.

As a moving company owner, be mindful that you must be more goal oriented than old moving company counterparts when networking. As a new moving company owner, you will have to generate immediate awareness of their company and find customers.

Meet as many people as possible, and give them your undivided attention, find out how they may be a help to you, and you to them. This is called “smart networking”. Basically this means do your homework before you network, this way you can pre-determine who you really want to know and can do frequent work with.

After you have done your research on the business that you want to network to, try these 7 tips for being effective during a networking event.

  1. Don’t arrive late – Resist the Mark Zukerberg approach and show up on time. Showing up early at a networking event is a much safer strategy than being late. If you are the first attendee, you will notice how much quieter and calmer you will be, which means that no one has settled into groups and is awaiting your arrival (which can cause anxiety).
  2. Ask simple questions – Don’t wait to be approached, get in on the conversation(s). Asking simple questions like “may I join you?” or “what brings you guys here?” Always listen with intent to their replies, being a good listener goes a long way.
  3. Don’t give a sales pitch – Networking is about building a relationship, not selling your service. Keep the conversations fun, light and informal. People are willing to do business if they don’t feel like they can enjoy the relationship.
  4. Share your passion – If you show your enthusiasm people will be able to relate to your product or service. If they can share the same passion that you do, they will be more excited and willing to do business.
  5. Put a smile on – Smiling is contagious, and often overlooked. If you smile, it can put any nervous tension to the side and invite others to strike up a conversation. Always smile before you enter the room, if it is the first thing that they see, they will follow your attitude.
  6. Do not hijack the conversation – If you dread networking and decide to commandeer the conversations and head straight for the point, chances are that you will lose the networking opportunity. The best networkers are those that make other people feel special. Look people in the eye, and suggest the easy to discuss topics. Don’t wait for your turn to talk, instead discern.
  7. Follow up – Get in touch within 48 hours of the event. This will show them that you are still very interested and have been thinking about them. This will assure that your contact remembers you and that you stick with them.