Starting this week and each and every week, introduce yourself to at least one new business person a week. Within your community, consider talking to:

• Professionals in your field
• Birth professionals outside your field – if you are a doula, contact some midwives or a childbirth educator in your area
• Holistic Health Providers such as Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, Homeopaths, Chiropractors
• Bodywork Therapists such as Massage Therapists and Reiki Practitioners
• Owners of locally-owned baby stores, maternity stores, or herb stores
• Yoga instructors and prenatal fitness experts
• Small business owners who provide services to women

Give a quick call or send an email to someone you’re really interested in meeting and invite him or her out to coffee or lunch. Tell her a little about yourself, that you came across her website or heard about her from a colleague or friend, and that you’d like to meet with her to learn more about her services and tell her about yours. If you think you could possibly work together in some way, say that too.

The worst that can happen is that she declines your invitation, but most likely, she will be more than happy to make a new contact. It’s beneficial for the both of you because you can both start referring clients to one another, and it’s great to get to know about another person’s passion and how their services can help you or your clients.

If you can make one new contact every week, after a year you will have 52 business contacts with whom you can share referrals. Word of Mouth is probably one of the most powerful marketing tools we can take advantage of, so start building your network today!

Here’s a powerful request: Make a list of 5 professionals that you would like to get to know better. Next to each person’s name, write down why you would like them to be a part of your network. Then, contact one person on your list today and invite them to coffee or lunch next week.

Share your success with me by adding a comment. If you already practice this type of marketing, tell us your story and any additional tips you have.

These posts may also inspire you:

1. Expanding Your Professional Network
2. Building Your Referral Network
3. Marketing in Small Ways Every Day
4. Marketing Tip: Presentations and Public Speaking
5. Should You Include Your Prices On Your Marketing Materials and Website?