This is perhaps the hardest thing to do. When you are given the opportunity to tell people what you do you may think that you must tell them everything you do. After all, this is your one chance and we need to cast a wide net. We live in a multiple-choice society and everyone expects that you will have multiple offerings. And you should. However if you wish to be the top of mind choice, you must be known as a specialist in something.

In day-to-day networking efforts, you should focus your message toward a specific solution your prospective networking partners will be hoping to fill. It is important that you make it easy for your networking partners to think of you first when they hear someone has a need that you can solve.

You can own that top of mind position in your category by being consistent when you tell people what you do. People will bring you referrals based on the picture you draw for them of your client. Be sure to draw a picture of an ideal client. That way your networking partners will bring you more of what you want and less of what you don’t.

Resist the temptation to talk about what you do in a way that sounds like you want to sell everyone in the room your product or service. Specialists are rarely seen selling products and services. Specialists are problem solvers.

Above all else, keep to one thing. Gone are the days of generalists. When our foot hurts we see a podiatrist. When someone has a need that you can fill, you need to be known as the specialist.

Specialists command higher fees, have fewer unhappy clients, and subsequently do better work since they continue to hone their craft in a specific area. Of course you’ll have other offerings and you’ll do other things, but your specialty will provide you with a steady and reliable source of quality referrals.

Being able to provide good service, low prices, and fast turn around is essentially what everyone expects as a minimum qualification to do business. What you must do is provide something no one else does. That something is being a specialist.

Today you can spark an economic revolution. Are you up for the challenge?

It has been said that environment is a direct reflection of the people in it. If you want to change the environment, just change the people. Shouldn’t this apply to our economic situation as well? So how do we change the local economy? By changing the way the people interact and do business. When each of us becomes more focused on helping our friends, neighbors, and local businesses, everyone will experience an economic revival and it starts by referring friends and acquaintances to people we know.

And best of all, it’s not a new skill to learn. You’ve already referred people to others before. Maybe you referred a friend to a local dry cleaners or auto mechanic. Perhaps you helped someone find a store in town when asked, or maybe you just conveyed well wishes from one friend to another. These are all forms of networking. Everyone is networking all the time, whether for business, charity or friendship, networking is a part of all our lives.

Networking is and has been one of the most relied upon ways for small and large businesses alike to build their business base. Networking is cost effective, easily measured for success or failure, and often times fun! It brings great joy to know that you have helped someone address a need or solve a problem

Most everyone knows that a customer that comes to us through word of mouth promotion is very likely to be one who will become a loyal customer and one who will send us future referrals. But did you know that a potential contributor to your favorite charity will donate more money more often if they have a personal or networked relationship with that charity? Even our relationships are enhanced when we are referred to a potential new friend. As the saying goes, “Any friend of yours is a friend of mine”. What most people don’t know is they can control to a large extent the quantity and quality of the referrals they receive.

There is a golden rule in networking as there is in life; treat others the way you wish to be treated. In business, local business owners wish for local consumers to shop in their store. As consumers, we wish for businesses to give us excellent service, quality, and value for the price we pay. Whether buying or selling, we wish for others to consider our needs.