If so, then you need a plan to make this happen. Simply showing up and collecting a few business cards, is NOT going to create new money in your business.  

First, you need to research which networking opportunities are the best fit for you. Don’t just go to an event for the sake of going. Look for events, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc., that cater to your ideal client and/or individuals who could be referral partners for you.

To help you keep track of your research, I suggest you setup an account with Evernote. It's completely FREE and you can setup individual Notebooks to keep this information organized and accessible while on the go. Plus it's easy to update on your computer or your smartphone.

You also might look into Highrise,which is FREE (up to 250 contacts) and will allow you to keep track of your interactions with the people you meet. You can take detailed notes on each conversation and set reminders for yourself so that you remember to reach out to them and stay in regular contact. There are other, more sophisticated systems you can use for this purpose such as SalesForce and InfusionSoft, but Highrise is a great place to start.

Last but not least, you need a follow-up system! Your fortune is in the follow-up! When you’re networking, and meet a new person, you’ve established a connection. Your goal is to turn that connection into a mutually beneficial relationship. That means you need to continue the conversation long past the first time you’ve met.

To make sure you do this, don’t unintentionally collect business cards. Develop a system that tells you exactly what to do when you meet a new person. Your system might include:

• Entering the person’s full contact details into your database
• Reviewing their website
• Signing up for their blog - I suggest using Google Reader (It’s FREE!) which will pull all of your feeds into one place that you can read instead of visiting each site individually.
• Connecting with them via social media •Sending a follow-up email or handwritten note
• Scheduling a follow-up appointment
• Scheduling an appointment on your calendar to check in with them a few weeks or months down the line

Have a specific series of steps to follow will make your networking time more worthwhile and get you better results. Most importantly, you will build stronger relationships.

Keeping all of the information you’ve gathered organized is key to your being able to actually use it! And that is how you turn your networking efforts into dollars for your business. I’d love to hear a quick story about how networking and following-up lead to new business for you! Can you share the details with me by leaving a comment below?

Perhaps you love networking. Or not. Either way, it's a simple and highly effective way to create more profits in your business. Listen in as my friend Devora Zack, author of "Networking for People Who Hate Networking" and a veteran consultant shares her best networking tips. (She's been in business for 15 years and is 100% referral based!) Click on the play button above to listen in.

Take Away Tips:    

Creating a referral based business, where you’re consistently getting leads from your current clients, has multiple benefits. It helps cut down your marketing time and costs, it gives you more opportunities to provide great service and can help you grow your network exponentially.

Here are six PROVEN steps to use to create the type of business that people love to rave about!

1. Be worth of referring – Always do your best! This doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect. But it does mean that you need to give your very best effort and deliver on what you promise. Under promise and over deliver at every opportunity that you can.
2. Ask for referrals – Don’t worry if you feel intimidated! Asking your existing and past clients to introduce you to those in their network is a perfectly acceptable way to grow your business. This is simple to do when a client has just commented on the excellent quality of your work.
3. Educate your audience on how to refer you – It’s easier for your contacts to refer to you when they know exactly what you are looking for. Give specific and relatable examples. For example, “I work with small business owners who are struggling to get organized in their workspaces so they can have peace of mind.” Provide terms and problems they should be looking for so they know when to present your services.
4. Create referral agreements with key “Power Partners” – For example, if you are a professional organizer, reach out to a real-estate agent, an interior designer and a personal chef to create a referral circle. All of you are committed to making sure your clients have a comfortable, functional home space and lifestyle. And likely your clients will at one point or another need the services of these professionals and vice versa. Your Power Partners will introduce your services to their clients when they need it – and you’ll do exactly the same for them.
5. Systemize your efforts – Send out a monthly letter to your referral partners to let them know what’s new in your business. Be sure to promptly follow up on any leads you receive (within 48 hours). Keep track of your leads and check-in regularly with prospects.
6. Offer a gracious and generous thank you to anyone who refers business to you. Show your appreciation by promptly sending a thank you card and a gift. Whether it’s a gift card, a delivery of flowers or another gift of your choice, make the time and extend the effort to let that person know how much you appreciate their confidence in your services.

By implementing these six steps, you’ll be able to create a solid stream of referrals and create more profits and more freedom in your business!

What was the best referral you ever received and what did you to to secure it? Share your story in the comments below!

Your Take Action Plan for the Week:

1. Ask your current clients who else they know who would be a good match for the solutions you offer.
2. Create a list of qualities, problems and terms that your ideal clients would use so that your referral partners know what to look for.
3. Make a list of people that you know (or want to be introduced to) who can become your Power Partners. Reach out to them and set up a referral arrangement. Give them your list of things to look for and ask the same of them.
4. Create a system for connecting with referral partners, following up on leads and referring business to other people.
5. Send a surprise gift to clients and partners who refer work your way.

I have found various forms of networking to be highly successful strategies to help grow a business [i.e. enroll new clients]. If you want to see the best results with your service business, leverage the following opportunities:    

Why am I telling you this?  Because attending has been a MAJOR contributing factor in growing my business to its current level.  Did it cost me money to attend this?  YES!  (The registration fees have ranged from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars!)  Plus, I paid my own travel expenses AND took off time from my business.  But was it worth it?  ABSOLUTELY!  I’ve gotten at least one new client from every live event I’ve ever attended. Every single one.     

If you’re confused by how to use social media to grow your business or are worried about your social media usage, make sure to avoid these three common mistakes:

Mistake #1 – Putting too much value in social media.

Putting all of your business eggs in the social media basket is never a good idea. Social media can definitely have an positive impact on your bottom line – but it’s a tool to be used in one part of your overall marketing plan. Don’t invest time in social media to the downfall of the rest of your plan. You need to incorporate social media into your overall inbound marketing strategy and make sure that it coordinates with the rest of your efforts. This means having high quality, relevant content to promote, an informative, easy to navigate website to send your contacts to and a plan for following up with leads. Many businesses make the mistake of growing their Twitter followers or pumping up their Facebook presence and ignoring their other marketing responsibilities. Social media is important, but a small part of the overall picture – be sure to create balance in your business for best results.

Mistake #2 – Using social media haphazardly.

Social media is easy to start – spend just a few minutes signing up and you can have an account ready to go. But just because it’s easy to get started doesn’t mean that you should use it just as nonchalantly. Many business owners get a cold splash of reality when they realize that their midnight updates or inconsistent posting schedule aren’t getting them the results that they want. Don’t jump into social media without having specific goals in mind. Focusing on specific strategies to achieve your goals will keep you from getting distracted, avoiding precious time or wasting valuable financial resources. If the tool of social media is used without strategy, it won’t be very effective at all.

Mistake #3 – Focusing too much on the sale.

Consumers *choose* to be on social media networks – they don’t have to be. And they won’t follow you or look forward to your updates if you’re too focused on selling to them. Selling on social media should be a side benefit to the real goal – building a relationship with your target market. If you do nothing but pitch your products and ask people to buy your product or service, you are going to repel the very people you're trying to attract. Balance your sales pitches with helpful information, and you’ll have a winning combination for social media.

Avoiding these social media mistakes will help to position you as a resource that your audience can trust. This will allow you to develop strong relationships that will support your revenue goals for years to come.