Its good to talk
Why not go there and meet them, chat to them and chat them up (not in that way !) but just join in what they’re doing - not in a creepy, I’m following you kinda way, more in a we live in the same community kinda way.
As we get older and more set in our ways its easier to shrink a bit, not join in, make excuses for why we don’t do things, its rather like building up muscle - either we use it or we lose it. The sad fact is that the less new things we try, the less new people we meet, with the obvious consequence - the smaller our lives get.
Networking has a myriad array of connotations for people, some see it as a group thing or as rather false, but like anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it.
After all you’re talking about something you believe in, your business ! It can even be fun! You don’t have to pay to join a networking association, there’s lots of events you can go to for free and just meet and talk to people - people who could become your customers…
So make a point of starting conversations with people, if you have an engaging manner people will be fascinated to learn about your business and even about you and your story.
Have a business card to hand, and pass them out, it helps if you have a fun and colourful card, with your USP clearly printed on the back, people always study business cards as lets face it, we consider it rather rude not to….
So if you’re standing in line at the local coffee shop waiting for your daily fill of wake up juice, and you get into conversation with the lady in front, pass her your card… and if it says on the back of it something like…
“solving your gift buying problems” or “we source the tastiest treats” or ” all the new seasons fashion styles” do you think that might elicit a question or two… It would certainly spark my interest !
Starting conversations is good fun, it broadens your horizons - you never know who you’re going to meet and it might end up being profitable for you ?
Worst case scenario it’ll pass the time in the coffee queue line… best case you’ll make an interesting new acquaintance and who knows where that could lead ?
