Avant's seven step guide to networking for home based and small business franchises

Networking can be one of the most cost-effective small business and home based franchise building tools, as long as it’s not approached as a method to sell.

Networking creates mutually beneficial relationships where one party can help the other achieve goals and vice versa.

Networking know-how is important for all small and home based franchise owners because small business franchises and home based franchises rely on building relationships on trust where referrals play a large role in generating business.

In order for these win-win relationships to work, both parties must be willing to engage in a give and take mentality. Networking is a conversation where both sides share ideas, information and resources. 

Avant has developed a seven step guide to help franchisees use networking to get the most for their small business franchise or home based franchise.

1. Assess several networking groups for chemistry and perceived value. While the Chamber of Commerce is a popular and valuable resource, it is important that key groups are targeted and networking happens where those resources can be found.
2. Being regular and persistent will pay off. Go to all of the groups meetings - building mutually beneficial relationship will take some time. Contacts need to hear a message continually to open up opportunities to get a deeper understanding of thoughts, ideas and capabilities.
3. Be visible and get involved. Do as much as you can to stand out from the crowd. Volunteer to help with meetings, be on committees or become a leader or board member. Being involved gives more opportunities to establish connections and positions the active member as a leader who will attract others to them.
4. Communicate valuable ideas, information and resources with contacts. Keep constant communication and don’t assume they have knowledge or loyalty to a particular small business franchise or home based franchise.
5. Give referrals and share valuable information. Part of good giving is not making assumptions, particularly about supposed experts. Be willing to ask about a resource and ready to share if they don’t.
6. Focus on quality and not quantity. It’s not necessarily about the number of connections made but the quality of them and if they are mutually beneficial relationships. Quality connections will be identifiable because all involved parties will be actively sharing ideas, information, and resources. It is important to know what is important to the other party in a quality relationship but also to conceptualise the information or resources needed for the small business or home based franchise as well.
7. Be persistent and patient. Networking usually takes time and quality relationships need to be developed and nurtured. The aim of networking events is to make great connections.