We’ve all heard that old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Most business people would agree with this concept. But, have you ever considered that who you know only benefits those people who you know. It rarely leads to growth for your business.
Let’s suppose that you know a great auto mechanic. Well, that’s awesome. Now you have someone who you trust to work on your car, diagnose problems correctly, make needed repairs, and charge you a fair price. These are all wonderful things. And, by having these positive experiences with your mechanic, you’re now positioned to be a great referral source for him. But, when your mechanic needs a widget, does he know you well enough to know that you’re one of the top experts in all things related to widgets? Is your mechanic ever going to refer widget buyers to your widget store? No, probably not. Because you know him, doesn’t mean that he knows you or your business well enough to think of you when he needs or knows someone who needs your widget expertise.
Maybe that saying needs to be rewritten? “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you” would probably be more accurate when it comes to estimating the worth of a relationship or to the potential business growth that can be derived from those relationships.
Weekly networking events, like the Friday Networking Lunch, provide an opportunity for people to know who you are and to know what you do. These events also give you numerous opportunities to tell a large audience about different facets of your business each and every week. Or, even if you provide the same information each week, you’re creating a fresh memory for those people to draw upon when they run across someone in the market for the latest greatest widget.
