Skip The Sales Pitch: Networking For Long-Term Value (Networking Series)

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Welcome back to Brand Breakthroughs!

We’re wrapping up our networking and strategic partnerships series (next month is ads since last poll was a tie) with or without LJ.

(I’m just salty I couldn’t go with them!)

Similarly, with or without partnerships you can have a successful brand.

I love the phrase “when everyone wins, so does the customer”.

It’s one mantra that’s shaped our entire brand. Everything from BIRDIE to all of our many frameworks that make the juice worth the squeeze.

Staying Top-of-mind (Without The Sales Pitch)

Resource sharing, making introductions and providing a real value to your network creates an ecosystem ripe for referrals.

Most of the novel, and often most impactful, connections come from “weak connections”.

While “strong connections” are your close friends, family, and former clients.

Weak connections are former colleagues, acquaintances, or even folks that you meet at networking events (wink wink).

Imposter: Not Found

Last week, LJ opened up about the struggle of having social anxiety and still relying on networking as our main method of client and partner acquisition.

Imposter syndrome, defined as a persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills, affects approximately 70% of us.

(Me included.)

A lot of that comes from the fear of being told “no” when in fact a no is just a redirection to a better situation or approach.

In our business, there’s a lot of time spent on building each other’s confidence to make those asks and create the connections…

…despite being told no *many* many times.

My advice is to learn from a no and instead of reading it as “you are unworthy of my time”, read it as “I’m not ready for this type of partner/opportunity.”

In all cases, there’s someone for you.

(It’s like Tinder for business.)

Thanks for reading this week!

Fahad

This Week’s Campaigns

Retail/E-Commerce

• Concept: Take your audience behind the scenes into your creative process. Show a glimpse of your mood board, sketchpad, sourcing trips, or the story behind a particular design or theme. Share your personal vision and passion that infuses everything you sell.

• Why it works: You're inviting customers into the heart of your brand's creation, allowing them to connect with your unique vision and the personal passion that drives your business. This makes your products feel more special and meaningful.

Consultants/Coaches

• Concept: Share a personal belief, a counter-intuitive strategy, or a key lesson you learned the hard way about navigating the unique Las Vegas business landscape. It should be an insight that sets your approach apart and has led to success for you or your clients.

• Why it works: You're showcasing your unique thought leadership and providing exclusive, high-value insights rooted in your personal experience. This positions you as an innovator and a trusted guide who offers something truly different and effective in the local market.

Realtors

• Concept: Share a personal story about what first drew you to Las Vegas or a specific neighborhood, and why you've chosen to build your life and business there. Highlight personal experiences, favorite hidden gems (like a specific local park, a unique coffee shop, or an under-the-radar cultural spot), and how these places shaped your connection to the community.

• Why it works: You're not just selling properties; you're sharing your authentic love for Las Vegas. This creates a powerful emotional connection with potential clients, showing them that your commitment to the city and its neighborhoods is genuine, not just transactional.

Therapists

• Concept: Share a brief, relatable personal insight or "aha!" moment from your own journey with mental well-being (without oversharing or crossing professional boundaries). Connect this learning back to a core principle or approach you use in your practice. For instance, you might talk about discovering the power of a certain coping mechanism and how you now guide others to find theirs.

• Why it works: You're building deep trust and empathy by showing your human side and personal understanding of mental health challenges. This vulnerability makes you more approachable and reinforces that you're a compassionate guide who truly "gets it."

Photo by maks_d on Unsplash