THE CLIENT QUEST

Hey there! Are you a home-based business owner looking to find new clients? You’re not alone. The most popular question I get from students of my Work From Home as a Virtual Assistant Udemy course is “How do I get clients?” Of course, there’s no magic wand to wave or secret spell to say that will suddenly have clients or customers landing in your lap. There are many different ways you can try to find clients. All of them have been proven to work, they just don’t always work for everyone. The true secret to finding clients is to find what works best for you and to keep trying new things.  To help you with that I’m starting a new series for the newsletter for a few weeks. Each week we will focus on one way to find clients in a more in-depth way than you may find anywhere else.

This week we are going to look at Networking Events. If you’re groaning and rolling your eyes, I totally understand. I have never been a huge fan of attending networking events, not even when I was an employee asked to attend them for the company I worked for. The thing is, when it comes to running your own business you often have to step outside of your comfort zone and do things you might not love to do. The good news is, not only may you make connections and find clients, you may find out that getting out and socializing with other business owners isn’t so bad after all. So before you tune out, go ahead and read the newsletter, stay open-minded, and be willing to give it a try.

Tips and Tricks for Finding Clients at Networking Events

It's true, attending networking events can be a great way to make connections and find potential clients.   

Even if you don’t find a client at the networking event, you could connect with someone who ends up connecting you to a client. If you are serious about finding clients, it’s worth the time and effort. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1.   Find the right events: With so many types of networking events out there, it can be overwhelming to choose which ones to attend. Look for events that are relevant to your industry or target market. Local networking events can also be a great place to start, since you might already be familiar with some of the other business owners attending.

2.   Have a strategy: If you're attending a large networking event, having a strategy in place is a good idea. Identify the people or companies you want to meet and make a plan to connect with them.

3.   Be prepared: Bring plenty of business cards and/or your intro packet and be ready to talk about your business. Have a short elevator pitch ready to go. (see the section below on elevator pitches)

4.   Ask questions: Be interested in what other people have to say. Ask questions and listen to their answers.

5.   Follow up: After the event, follow up with the people you met. Send them an email or connect with them on LinkedIn.

6.   Be patient: Finding new clients takes time. Don't get discouraged if you don't find clients right away. Keep attending events and making connections.

Here are some examples of networking events that may be available to you:

Virtual Networking Events for Women Entrepreneurs:

• Ellevate Network Events: Ellevate Network hosts virtual networking events for professional women from diverse backgrounds and industries. These events provide an opportunity to connect with other women and build relationships.
•  Virtual Networking Event for Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners: This event is hosted by Enterprise League and is open to women entrepreneurs and business owners from a variety of industries. It provides an opportunity to introduce your business to guests and discuss any support you may require at the moment.
• Women Business Networking Event: eWomen Network hosts virtual networking events for women entrepreneurs. These events provide an opportunity to connect with other women entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences.
• Women Who Network: Women Who Network is a community for women entrepreneurs and sales professionals. They host virtual events committed to building relationships and helping women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

 Small and Home-Based Business Networking Groups: 

Meetup.com has a variety of groups for small and home-based businesses. You can find out what's happening in your area and start meeting up with the ones near you.

Network After Work:

This is a business and professional networking event that offers both in-person and virtual events. You can book 1:1 meetings, attend events, and find business opportunities, new leads, and referrals.

Online Business Networking Events: 

Eventbrite.com has a variety of online business networking events. These events are a great way to have fun, learn, and find potential clients.

Chamber of Commerce Events:

Your local Chamber of Commerce may offer networking events for businesses in your area. This is a great way to connect with other businesses and find potential clients.

With the right strategy and preparation, you can increase your odds of finding new clients. Good luck!

Ten Tips for Making the Most of Networking Events

1.   Choose the right events: Look for events that are relevant to your industry or target market.

2.   Set goals: Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve at the event. This will help you stay focused and make the most of your time.

3.   Bring business cards: Make sure you have plenty of business cards to hand out to potential clients. You can also bring your intro packet or provide a QR code that leads to your intro packet online.

4.   Dress appropriately: Dress appropriately for the event. You want to make a good first impression. If you’re not sure what the normal dress code may be, contact the event coordinators. For example, I live in a very small town in Maine, so jeans and a nice shirt or sweater are pretty normal. However, when I worked for a title company in another town and attended networking events business suits and casual dresses were the norm.

5.   Be prepared to talk about your business: Have a short elevator pitch ready to go. This will help you introduce your business to potential clients. There’s a section below about elevator pitches to help.

6.   Listen actively: Be interested in what other people have to say. Listen to their answers and ask questions. Don’t be scanning the room for your next interaction. Stay focused on the person or persons in front of you.

7.   Follow up: After the event, follow up with the people you met. Send them an email or connect with them on LinkedIn.

8.   Join the sponsoring group: Become a member of the sponsoring group if possible to get the most value from networking events.

9.   Be sincere and show interest: Show sincerity and interest in the people you meet. This will help you build rapport and make connections.

10. Attend a variety of events: Attend a variety of events to meet different types of people and expand your network.

What’s an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short and quick summary of yourself or your business. It's called an elevator pitch because it's supposed to be as short as the time it takes to ride an elevator, which is usually around 30 seconds. Imagine you're in an elevator with someone important, like a potential employer or a client, and you only have a short time to tell them about yourself or your business. That's where an elevator pitch comes in handy! It's a way to quickly introduce yourself and make a good impression. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to quickly tell someone about yourself or your business, you can use your elevator pitch to make a great first impression!

Here are some examples of great elevator pitches:

1.   Airbnb: "Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels, for a more authentic travel experience."

2.   WeWork: "We provide flexible office space and coworking solutions for freelancers, startups, and established businesses."

3.   Slack: "We're a messaging app for teams that makes communication easier and more efficient."

4.   Personal Trainer: "I help people get fit and healthy by creating personalized workout plans and nutrition programs."

5.   Graphic Designer: "I design logos, websites, and marketing materials that help businesses stand out and attract more customers."

6.   Social Media Manager: "I help businesses grow their online presence and engage with their audience through social media."

7.   Event Planner: "I plan and execute events that create unforgettable experiences for clients and their guests."

8.   Copywriter: "I write compelling copy that helps businesses connect with their audience and increase sales."

9.   Financial Advisor: "I help people plan for their financial future and make smart investment decisions."

10.Photographer: "I capture beautiful moments and memories through photography, whether it's for weddings, events, or portraits."

Remember, a great elevator pitch is clear, concise, and communicates the value of your product or service. It should be no more than 30 seconds and should grab the listener's attention. Use these examples as inspiration to create your own elevator pitch that will make a great first impression!

Recent Articles About Using Networking Events to Find Clients

These articles provide tips and strategies for finding the right networking events, making connections, and finding potential clients. They also discuss the benefits of attending networking events and how to make the most of your time at these events. With the rise of digital events, there are now more options than ever for finding networking events that are relevant to your industry or target market. So, if you're a home-based business owner looking to find new clients, attending networking events may be a great way to make connections and grow your business.

"7 Best Small Business Networking Events To Get Clients" by Skylinesocial.com

"How to Make Networking Events Pay Off" by Getclientsnow.com

"8 Ways to Generate New Clients From Networking Events" by Huffpost.com

"10 Types of Networking Events Actually Worth Your Time" by Careercontessa.com

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