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When starting your own company you soon realize that without quality relationships it can be hard to thrive. Whether your building up your customer base or setting a solid foundation for networking one thing is clear…learning how to create and keep lasting business relationships will measure your success! Below we have 5 tips that will help you do just that!

Know Your Audience:

First things first, what type of relationships do you want? You should already have a good understanding of your industry, so, who fits into your category? If you are a real estate agent then it may be beneficial to reach out to an insurance provider. Together you can send each other referrals based off of your customers needs! Say someone just bought a house from you and they now need home owners insurance. This would be a great referral to pass along to your connection. You are now more valuable to your customer and have helped out your business colleague! With one easy relationship everyone benefited.

Be Your Best Self:

No matter what industry you’re in, the personality you show people is the one they will remember. So bring the best version of yourself to the table and people will naturally gravitate towards you! We come in contact with so many individuals throughout the day and naturally we choose to spend time with those that lift us up so be that person to someone else. Energy is magnetic, you’ll soon realize how easy it is to start building and creating lasting business relationships simply by making sure you have the right attitude!

Get Involved:

You won’t make friends if you never venture into the sandbox! Getting involved in the community where you work is a great way to meet like minded professionals who could be your next best business relationship. Look up your local Chamber of Commerce to instantly be welcomed into a thriving business environment. See if there are any charitable organizations that you’d love to be apart of. Every step you make to reach out to others will be another step in the right direction to gaining those relationships your business needs!

Be Engaged In What Your Doing:

People can tell if you aren’t interested in or care about what they’re saying. So, show them you care! Be engaged in what those around you are talking about. Show interest, ask questions, and answer them truthfully. If you think their business could blend well with yours tell them! People love to know that others are genuinely curious about what they do and there is no bigger complement then when someone wants to work with you.

Network Yourself:

Networking is one of the quickest ways to start building those business relationships you need! Find a local networking group and if you’ve already joined a chamber check out which networking groups you may fit into. These groups are designed to bring companies together and to offer referrals that can lead to lasting customers! At SPARK we have helped join multiple companies together and have not only contributed to lasting friendships but have helped the businesses within our group to thrive!

Whether you are just starting out, or have been in it for years, building relationships is a key component to any successful business. Make sure you are taking the right steps towards building your relationships to help develop an even stronger economic environment in the 21st century! 

No Referral Pushing

I’ve worked with a lot of business owners and entrepreneurs and the number one thing that often turns them off from joining a networking group is the fear of referral pushing.

A lot of networking groups operate on the pretense that at each meeting you must bring up to 3 qualified referrals for another group member. This can be a daunting task! Not only are you working day and night to grow your own company; you are also straining to find leads and new customers for a business that isn’t yours. Some networking groups will even ask you to leave if you don’t produce.

It is easy to see why some avoid organized networking groups.

The SPARK Relationship

The SPARK Networking Group believes in igniting your businesses through relationships. In other words, they work hard to develop lasting friendships, business relationships, and a working comradery that naturally produces leads for the group members. Just ask Candu Graphics, a printing shop located in Westlake Village. Through their participation in the group they have obtained many customers simply through word of mouth and testimonials.

Another business to benefit has been Office Evolution also in Westlake Village, an establishment that provides business services and has been able to help many companies within the Conejo Valley.

SPARK believes, not in forcing members to produce referrals, but rather, encouraging the participation and ongoing motivation to get to know their fellow members and from there the referrals organically come in.

I’ve seen in my years of business, that when people are simply working from a genuine setting leads will manifest and success comes with ease!

Informative Marketing Tips

The world of business we live in today is constantly changing and with the rise of technology it can be difficult for a new company to stay up to date with all those changes. At SPARK they understand this! Their meetings are filled with not only presentation from current group Members but also with guest speakers to talk about the new facets of marketing, social media management, and staying fresh in a market that is constantly growing!

Whether you work in finance, construction, real estate, or retail you will benefit from the informational seminars held for SPARK members only!

Check out our Instagram and Facebook Pages to learn more about SPARK and if you are curious about joining then visit our membership sign up page!

Community Engagement

What makes a community?

Is it the families living within their homes? Is it the land or is it the properties on that land? Could it be the many flourishing businesses within the shopping malls, or perhaps a civic arts plaza where performances are held? Schools, government entities, law enforces?

I think it’s safe to say that a community is created through all of the above aspects. A community stands to serve the residents within it, who then turn around and make positive impacts back to their community so it can continue to be prosperous for all.

Now think about your own community. How long you’ve lived there, the great restaurants you like to eat at, your family and friends you like to spend time with, the hiking trails you enjoy on Sunday afternoon…these very aspects that make your home so special, and where you live so valuable probably owe a large thanks to your town’s chamber of commerce.

Chamber of Commerce Influence

Most cities have one and it is through the hard work and relentless dedication of your commerce to cultivate a town where people will love to live.

Not only is it a trustworthy place for consumers to turn to to get great information on their town. It is also an economically sound place for business owners to invest their dollars and increase their presence within the exact community they are working to engage. The chamber promotes entrepreneurship and provides assets that help a company go from a start up to a thriving and revenue earning business. The Balance, a sales based blog talks even more about how chambers can help increase your success

Benefits of Networking

Chamber’s do this not only through their events but through their organized networking groups within their organizations. These networking groups bring the right businesses together whose main goal is to create quality referrals to drive revenue and sales for its group members. The best way to get involved with one of these groups is, of course, to become involved in and get to know your chamber. It is only through this avenue that you then get the opportunity to experience and try out the different networking groups to see where you fit best! Just ask The Daily Herald, and they will give you 6 reasons why it’s beneficial to link up with a networking group from your local chamber!

Networking to some may seem fruitless however, just ask anyone who is a part of a group, and more likely than not they will say not only have they gained friendships through their groups they have been able to send leads to the businesses within it.

Getting Started

You see the whole goal of a networking group is to find other businesses that are as passionate and committed to growing their companies as you are. It is when you find the right group that you will see those referrals coming in naturally, relationships building on their own, and the dream of growing your establishment coming true!

So, if you’ve recently started your own business or maybe you’ve been in business for a while now go and search for your nearest chamber of commerce and once you’re a member start visiting the networking groups within your organization. You will be happy you did!

If you are within the Conejo Valley then visit: https://www.conejochamber.org/ to find information on how to become a member today!

Then visit the SPARK Facebook Page to start your path on a successful business with great relationships to back it!