Second Article in the Series:
Attracting Your Ideal Client
Now that you have identified your Ideal Client communities, how do you get known within that community? Obviously you can attend meetings and conferences hosted by the community. You can join the organizations and clubs of your Ideal Client Community and you can hang out where they socialize. In doing this, you will find a great deal of your valuable time being eroded away with few results. You will find yourself saying, “This networking stuff doesn’t work.” That is true, if the approach you take is simply to show up for the regular meetings.
To get known, you must contribute. Give first before you expect anything. What? This is the mistake that many make; not understanding that one must provide value before value is received. How do you provide value?
Get involved to get known. Take a leadership position within the organization. Contribute your time, energy and resources to help the group reach its objectives. In the process, community members will come to know you. They will begin to see you as a valuable member of the community; one that does what you say you will, shows up on time and contributes to the cause.
Get known by contributing educational content. Write an article for the journal or newsletter for an organization or for your community newspaper. Participate in the school fair by having a booth with an intriguing give-away or contest. Or, offer free 15 minute consultations.
Chair an event for an organization or host a panel discussion. Speak on a topic of interest to a group or share your expertise on a particular subject.
Get creative here and write down ideas for how you can get involved in all aspects of your Ideal Clients’ communities. There are likely several groups, organizations, publications or even online communities where you can begin to play an active role, contribute your resources and get known as a valuable member of the community.