Learn How to Increase Your Circle of Influence Offline

You can expand your client base by increasing your circle of influence offline. A group of people such as your family, friends, acquaintances and current clients can be considered your offline circle of influence. By talking to your friends, family, acquaintances and current clients about your services you might find other possibilities to increase business. You might meet someone through these people that might need your product or service and they might also recommend people to you. Keep the lines of communication open. You can join offline networking groups within your community so that you can share your services and product knowledge with others looking to network. You can join public associations that relate to your type of product or service or even join a business association for start ups, web entrepreneurs or other.

There are a variety of clubs, organizations and groups to join. Look online for local networking groups and meet ups. Find out where and when they will take place and attend. Do not be afraid to introduce yourself and talk about business as most of the time that is why people are there.

You can also take on a new night school class or learn a new skill. Maybe you want to learn pottery making or take a cooking class. Whatever the course is, you will be networking with other people with an interest in knowledge. You can also get to know the parents of your child’s friends and let them know what you do for a living. You never know, they might show up at your door one day asking for help or advice.

You can also volunteer and meet new people. Volunteers come and go, so there is a large turnover of people you can communicate and share your services with. Stay social and friendly and do not push too much business talk on them to begin with. Let them enquire about your business and what you do. If they are interested they will follow up with you and ask you more about your product.

Make small talk whenever you get the chance. If you are in the elevator say hello and be polite, or if you are waiting in line make general chit chat. You never know what someone might be looking for and you might have the answer or product they need.  Keep talking and network whenever possible.