It is said that each of us has a circle of influence of at least 200 people. This circle includes friends, family clients and business colleagues. Recently on my blog Women of color in business I posted about referrals being one of the best ways to help your business grow, word of mouth can definitely help or hurt your business.
Let's say you are a gift basket consultant and your attend a family/business picnic where you meet the wife of one of the business men attending the outing, lets call his wife Anne. You talk a little with Anne and you find out that she is an Avon representative. You talk just enough with her to be polite but discount really taking any time to get to know Anne as any type of connection your business would or could associate with.
A few weeks later you find out that one of your competitors who also attended the picnic ended up with a large corporate account from a client of Anne's. You're floored and you can't figure out how this could be possible as Anne is just an Avon representative after all she couldn't possible know anyone your gift consulting business could obtain a large order from.
Wrong! - Your competitor took the time to get to know Anne and Anne was more than happy to share information about your competitor with her circle of influence.
Best practice? Never discount the circle of influence of any of your colleagues, friends, clients or family. You never know who they might know. Someone within their circle could be the perfect client for you.
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Tina D. Fermin is the owner of TD Gift Solutions, LLC. A gift consulting company using the WINS of your clients, friends, family and colleagues to create gifts you will be remembered for. Need a gift unique to your business or a large order for events or hotel amenities, contact us for gifts that make your statement.
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