Check your calendar for upcoming outings and make a list of the 3 people you want to meet at your next function. AND, make a list of 3 of your strategic partners/alliances that you will find referrals for at the event.

A referral only really happens when you, the referrer take some proactive action to bring two parties together.

Special note: We’re pleased to announce that we have a guest speaker for our networking workshop on 9/21: Author Jill Lublin.
Jill Lublin is an internationally renowned speaker on the topics of publicity and networking. As author of her best-selling book Get Noticed…Get Referrals(McGraw Hill, 2008) and co-author of the best-sellers Guerrilla Publicity (Adams Media), and Networking Magic (Adams Media)

The problem is, we seldom do all we can for others because we are just so darned…busy…tired…stressed….busy. You know the drill. Then there’s our own personal baggage: insecurity, fear of rejection and all sorts of blockage.

When the anniversary date of your business inception hits the calendar, how do you respond? Do you treat it as a day worthy of note, or just another ho-hum day in the trenches?

I think the true degree of value-added equates to the experience that the end user has when they use your product or service. Ask yourself, what type of experience do you provide for your customers?

If you need to save some coin, and let’s face it, today ‘most every business needs to do so, then do it in ways that the customer won’t find out about it. Kind of goes along with the slogan for a popular deodorant: “never let them see you sweat.” And now, never let them see you cheapen your image!

What are some value-added offerings that leave clients with somewhat intangible, but still highly important feelings of well-being about purchasing your wares?

What are you doing to add value, to stand out from your competition?