Creating your Business Community Base.
An article by Lisa Barone got me to reevaluate the importance of good networking, good neighbouring and good community relationships. It is not just a matter of being nice, polite and well educated for the sake of others, this is more about taking the time to build your supporter base which will become your natural referals as time goes by. You need to become active, an important part of your community.
How do you do this? With 4 tips like the following ones I am listing, or several related that will start popping into your head as you read.
1. Teach a local class: For one year now, I am teaching Business 101 at the local campus of my Alma Mater College. This is not only because I love teaching, but also because it let's me
keep in contact with college students that will grow up and graduate and have me as a referral. I also teach another course (Negotiation Skills) at another college. In this way, I have an audience, they know I know. With some luck they will come back to me for an advise, or to seek my help in the future. Besides, I get lots of free training for myself from the institution.
2. Join the Local Chamber of Commerce. Ok, in Mexico this sounds plainly crazy, but believe me it is worth the effort. Even when we know that Chambers are good political training fields for wannabes, and that they fumble and may seem somehow disorganised. There are good points in favour of this advise. You get to know people, you learn early of some commercial events, you are "there". You see them, they see you.
3. Start a Meetup. And make them recurrent. Organising this kind of activities doesn't have to be forcefully business related. Create an environment in which you can get together with some of the “native population” and just hang around comfortably. It can be industry related, or a parents reunion, or a group for environment discussions, whatever. You can do it formal or informal. It's your choice. I used to get together with 2 or 3 of my students for “review” coffee on Tuesdays. Today, we are gathering 14 persons in 2 tables. And we not only discuss class lessons, but every other relevant business topic that we can think of. The coffee shop should thank me, i guess. Bonus tip: avoid alcohol.
4. Use Local Vendors. You are a local vendor and they are local vendors. From groceries to Real State, from Car dealers to handcrafts sellers. The idea is to prefer and consume local products and services when available, than those from other towns or from international distribution. In this way you are showing local businesses that you support them, and it is more probable that they will support you, or at least refer clients towards you. And also, while
consuming their products and services, you should be creating long term relationships, for future business transactions. Synergy is the word.
All this is true for those living in small towns or communities. Now, for those who live in medium or big cities, how do these tips apply? Well, exactly the same, you just have to find your scale and the organisations that are near you.
Now go out and do something for you neighbours. You can bet they will do something in return for you.
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