But there’s a challenge: your contacts likely know more than one person who does the same type of work as you. So why should they choose to refer you over someone else? To make sure you are the one they choose, focus on these five essential strategies:

1. Build a strong referral network.

Building a network isn’t just about meeting people; it’s about developing meaningful relationships. While you probably already know the basics of networking—meeting people, following up and nurturing connections, don’t overlook these steps:

  – Stay connected. Make sure your referral sources are in your contact database and connected with you on social media. Keep your database updated regularly to ensure your marketing efforts reach them.

  – Demonstrate value. Show your expertise and trustworthiness consistently as discussed below, so people feel confident referring you.

  – Use technology. Tools like CRM systems can help you keep track of your contacts and follow-ups, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.

2. Make yourself memorable.

To earn referrals, you need to be top-of-mind when your contacts encounter someone who needs your services. Here’s how:

  – Be specific. Clearly communicate what you do, who you help and what sets you apart. The more specific you are, the easier it is for people to think of you when opportunities arise.

  – Define your differentiators. Highlight what makes you unique, whether it’s your niche expertise, approach or background. Avoid generic claims like “I’m responsive” or “I care about my clients”—everyone says that. Instead, focus on what truly sets you apart.

  – Polish your online presence. Ensure your website and social media profiles reflect your expertise and values. Then google yourself. When people look you up online, they should find content that reinforces your credibility.

3. Stay top of mind for the long haul.

Even if people love and remember you today, you need to maintain long-term visibility. Use tactics like:

  – Email marketing. Send regular, educational emails to your contacts. Monthly updates may be enough, but frequency may vary based on your business. Even if recipients don’t read every email, seeing your name in their inbox keeps you top of mind.

  – Social media activity. Post consistently on platforms where your audience is active, especially LinkedIn for professional relationships. Share a mix of original and curated content, and engage with others by commenting on their posts.

  – Content: Create blogs, articles, presentations, videos and other content to showcase your expertise. Repurpose this content across platforms to maximize its reach and longevity.

4. Show appreciation.

Referrals often come after you’ve given something first. Consider:

  – Offering help beyond referrals. Introduce contacts to complementary businesses, send them useful information, comment on their posts or invite them to events.

  – Thanking referrers. Always express gratitude for referrals. Depending on your business, this could include a handwritten note, a small gift or even a referral fee.

  – Keeping referrers in the loop. Let them know the outcome of their referral. This reinforces their good deed and strengthens your relationship.

5. Have a plan.

Success with referrals requires consistent effort and planning. Get organized:

  – Set goals. Determine how much content to create, how often to send emails and how many contacts to reach out to monthly.

  – Prioritize your network. Focus on contacts most likely to refer you, such as those with complementary client bases or strong existing relationships.

  – Use a calendar or CRM. Schedule your outreach and follow-ups to ensure regular touchpoints with key contacts.

Getting more referrals isn’t luck. It’s hard work, but the rewards are worth it. Take the time now to map out your strategy for success.

If you need help with your marketing, contact us for a free consultation.

Instead, you want to provide a clear and concise response that tells them who you help and how you help and indicates something that is unique or memorable about you.

With that in mind, what are some of the top mistakes you may be making?

1. Providing too little information. Some networkers just introduce themselves with either their job title or profession (I’m an attorney, accountant, etc.). While you’ve given basic information, it’s not enough. For example, who are your clients? What types of problems do you specialize in handling?

The same is true of your Linkedin profile. Your headline (that’s the text under your name), “About,” and “Experience” sections should give people relevant specifics about what you do.

2. Listing everything you do. Many professionals handle different types of clients and issues. However, listing more than a few things will ensure that you are not remembered. Instead, focus on your sweet spot. Highlight your niche expertise to stand out.

This is true when meeting in person and in your written materials like your social media and website bios. Once you’ve explained your niche, you can mention that you handle other areas as well.

3. Trying to cram in too much information about yourself. At a networking event, say one or two sentences about yourself and then shift to the other person. You can follow up afterward with more details. Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm and bore the listener.

You also don’t need a lengthy website bio or social media profile. People don’t need to see everything you’ve ever done, especially if you are a seasoned professional. Get to the point and focus on the key elements that would most matter to the people you want to attract for business.

4. Not explaining how you help clients. People don’t care that much about what you do. They want to know how you can help them or someone they know. Be specific. What problems can you assist them with? How will working with you benefit them? You don’t want to make this a sales pitch but you do want your description to focus on what your listener cares about. Make it relatable to them.

5. Using industry/technical jargon. Ask yourself whether people outside your field really understand what you are saying. Often, professionals use terminology, acronyms and other descriptors that are not clear to lay people and they may be embarrassed to ask. Instead, they will just forget about you. Use plain language and keep it simple in person and in writing.

6. Forgetting to listen. A conversation goes 2 ways. If all you care about it is getting out what you want to say, the meeting will be a failure. Talk less, listen more. Ask lots of questions and respond to theirs.

7. Not tailoring your answer for your audience. Your answer will vary depending on where you are and who you are with. Introducing yourself at an event where everyone has a chance to get up and give their elevator pitch is different than chatting with people at a business cocktail party or meeting someone new at a friend’s backyard party. You should have several elevator pitches that can be adapted for any situation.

Similarly, you should have multiple versions of your bio for your website, social media, and other places where it may appear (ex. membership directory, speaking engagements, articles, etc.).

8. Forgetting to show excitement/passion for what you do. Adding a bit of enthusiasm and excitement to your answer can make it more engaging and memorable for the listener or reader. A great way to do this is to have stories that show people the kind of person you are.

9. Failing to have a next step. If you meet someone at an event, you likely want to continue the conversation at a later date, so your next step may be to exchange contact information for follow-up. But don’t be pushy and make it seem like the only goal of your follow-up is to sell them something. You are building a relationship.

Answering the question “What do you do?” can be a challenge, but avoiding these common mistakes can help you provide a clear and engaging answer that makes a positive impression on others.

If you need assistance with your marketing or branding, contact us for a free consultation.

The most interesting thing was that most of the networking challenges discussed were not unique to being a woman; they were universal. Here are some of the top takeaways:

1. Getting known by others. You are at an event meeting new people. They know nothing about you or your business. How can you quickly educate them about yourself without sounding like you are trying to “sell” them? While it’s tempting to talk about yourself, it’s best to keep it short and sweet when talking about your business and focus on getting to know the other person. You will be liked and remembered more for listening than talking. You can always follow up with another meeting to share more details about what you do and how you may be able to help each other.

2. Minimizing time with the person who is too salesy. Often at events, you get stuck with someone who monopolizes your time trying to make a sales pitch and not really interested in hearing about you. Women especially can sometimes be too courteous and find it difficult to get away from such a person. However, there are many ways to extricate yourself from this situation including simply stating politely that you want to go mingle, you are leaving to get food/drinks, that you’ve just seen someone you need to talk to, etc. The point is to not let the person keep you from networking with others and not worry about offending the person.

3. Standing out. When you are networking, usually, you only have a short time to make an impression. You may also have competitors in the room. The best way to stand out is to have a clear idea of your personal brand – how you differ from others and what people should expect from you personally and professionally. While you shouldn’t go on and on about yourself, you should be able to provide hints of your personal brand in even short conversations. Be honest and authentic, tell stories that reveal something about your personality and what you value, share unique experiences, ask questions and offer to help the person.

4. Helping others. It’s better to give than receive in your personal and professional life. However, there is a limit to this. Sometimes you have to say no because of the monetary or time commitment. There is nothing wrong with this. You may want to develop some guidelines and responses to explain when and how you will help. For example, if you are being asked to donate to a cause, you can set a limit on what you can donate and let others know when they should contact you with a request.

5. Limiting the number of groups/events you participate in. There are endless opportunities to network. However, it’s important to focus on a few groups rather than casting a wide net. In addition, it is best to limit how many meetings/events you attend. Most of the women in the discussion group, attend one or two events per week and only belong to a small number of organizations so they have time to develop relationships.

6. Being consistent in your activities. We all have busy lives but we have to make time for networking and follow-up. Because of COVID, many of us have gotten out of the habit of attending live events and meetings and it’s easy to talk yourself out of going. However, regularly showing up is the key to successful networking. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in person all the time and you don’t have to spend a ton of time with any one individual but you have to consistently stay visible.

7. Using other methods to supplement in-person meetings. No one has time to follow up with everyone they meet. You need other ways to stay top of mind. Connecting and engaging with others via social media is an effective way to help you build and maintain your relationships. Email also serves that purpose – both individual emails and an email newsletter.

8. Sticking with it. There will be times that you feel like giving up but don’t. It takes time to be successful –months or even years. That doesn’t mean you don’t prioritize some relationships over others. That’s where it is helpful to have other ways to keep in touch. You may not stick with a particular networking group but if you are connected via social media and email, you are still in front of them in some way.

What are your networking challenges? For more tips, see Do’s and Don’ts for Successful Networking.

Thanks to the Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce Women’s Group for hosting the discussion.

Contact us if you need help with your marketing.

Step 1

Your marketing plan doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as a few written pages that outline specifically what you are going to do to market yourself. Before you get to that part, however, you first have to answer a few key questions:

(a) What’s your personal brand? Your brand is your reputation– what you are known for and what people expect from you personally and professionally. You should be able to succinctly state what you do, who you help and how you add value to relationships. Focus on what differentiates you from your competition.

(b) Who do you want to target with your marketing? You have to develop a profile of the person you are trying to reach, including their demographics, industry, geography, etc. Then identify their interests and concerns and the best places to find them (ex. industry organizations, publications they read, etc.). This will help you develop a strong marketing message and promote it in the right places.

(c) What are your priorities and goals? Where do you want to focus your efforts? For example, is your objective to get new accounts, retain or upsell existing clients, get a promotion/new job or attract media attention? Once you know what you want, then set a concrete target, such as a certain number of accounts, amount of revenue generated, positive reviews from clients and so on.

(d) How much time and money are you willing to devote to marketing? If your firm is supporting you, then you may not need to outlay money. However, the firm will have a budget. If you aren’t getting assistance, set your own budget. Regardless of whether you are getting money, you still need to devote your time to marketing. How many hours a week will you set aside?

Step 2

Next, you have to outline what specific marketing activities you will undertake and set goals for yourself. For example:

(a) Outreach to referral sources or prospects. Who will you meet with? How many people will you contact every month?

(b) Speaking engagements. How many per year? What types of organizations?

(c) Articles. How many per year? What types of publications?

(d) Networking. How many and which groups will you join? How often will you attend meetings?

(e) Marketing to past and current clients. What materials will you send and how often?

(f) Social media. How often will you post? What types of content will you post? How often will you interact with your contacts online?

(g) Website. What content will you create for the firm’s site (blogs, videos, eBook, etc.) and how often?

(h) Publicity. Will you submit your name for awards, reach out to reporters or podcasters, send out press releases, etc. and how often?

Step 3

Finally, you need to determine whether and how your firm will assist you. Can they create appropriate marketing materials, provide social media and business development training, research and pitch organizations and publications on your behalf and/or provide client data, prospect lists and competitive intelligence?

This may seem overwhelming but once you answer the first few questions, the second part is basically a spreadsheet listing your activities and goals. Importantly, you don’t have to do it all from the start. Pick one or two things to focus on and be diligent and consistent in your activities. Then expand from there.

If you need help with your personal marketing plan, contact us for a consultation.

The key to effective marketing for any type of professional is to establish and maintain strong relationships. As an introvert, it can be more difficult to get to know new people. Once you do, you need to nurture the relationship to build trust and credibility and stay top of mind, which can also present challenges. How do you do that as an introvert? Here are a few tips that can help:

Networking:

1. Focus on small groups. Introverts often prefer smaller groups of people, so join a professional association or charitable organization and volunteer on a committee. Or get involved in a business referral networking group.
2. Take a breather at large events. If you go to a big event, try to talk to a few people, then if needed, take a break from the crowd by walking outside or sitting in a lounge area. Cellphones make it easy to look busy when you really just need to get away.
3. Follow up for one-on-ones. Reach out to schedule a call or one-on-one meeting. This should be your focus whether you are an introvert or extrovert.
4. Be helpful. It’s better to give than receive in any relationship. Make introductions and referrals and ask contacts about other ways you can help them.

Social media:

5. Connect to contacts. Once you’ve met someone, connect on social media. It is an easy stress-free way to stay in touch and learn more about the person.
6. Share your thoughts. On social media, you can plan what you want to say, write it down, and think about it before anyone sees it. This is an ideal situation for many introverts. Take advantage of social media to post thoughtful content and comment on other people’s posts.

Research:

7. Read, listen and learn. Introverts like to be prepared. Use Google and social media to research your contacts and prospects before a phone call or meeting. The more you know about their interests and activities, the easier it is to interact in a meaningful way.

Writing:

8. Start a blog. If you like to write, blogging is a flexible platform that you control, so you can write what you want, when you want. Make the information helpful and share it with your contacts to keep you in their minds.
9. Write for other publications. Have a staff member or hire someone to look for writing opportunities. This is great to help you demonstrate your expertise and build credibility.

Video/Public speaking:

10. Consider video vs live presentations. An introvert may not feel comfortable presenting live, but be okay with video because you can keep re-recording yourself or have someone edit the video so you look and sound professional. I personally don’t enjoy either one, but I realize the tremendous value of verbal communication, so I tend to do live presentations over video. (At least I don’t have to watch myself if it’s live.)

Email:

11. Maximize email marketing. Emails are a great supplement to networking. One-on-one emails help you stay in touch and have the benefit of allowing you to respond on your schedule as with social media. Email newsletters to all your contacts serve as a tool to highlight your expertise and stay top of mind with your network.

If you are an introvert, you can be an effective marketer and you may even end up a better marketer than many extroverts. While you may have to stray outside your comfort zone at times, there is still room to adapt tactics to best suit your personality.

For help with your marketing, contact us for a consultation.

1. Update your LinkedIn profile. Do you have a strong headline (at the top under your name)? The default is your current position, but you can and should change it to reflect the type of work you do and who you help. Also draft a compelling summary section. The first few lines are the key because that’s all that shows when someone first sees your profile. Make them want to click on the link to read more. Finally, remember to fill in every section or most of them. Add in your writing, volunteerism, awards, association memberships, etc. This is essentially free advertising to highlight your skills and activities.

2. Be more active on social media. Regular posting is essential. You can share your own content or other people’s content so long as it is helpful and interesting to your audience. Remember every time you post something it is an opportunity for your contacts to be reminded of what you do as well as reach new people. For social media posting tips, read Do’s and Don’ts of Using Social Media to Grow Your Business.

3. Ask for recommendations/reviews. Email people you know well – referral sources, colleagues, vendors, and happy clients – to ask them if they would be willing to give you a recommendation or review on social media, Google and other relevant websites. Remember to give them one as well if you can.

4. Start an email newsletter (or consider publishing it more often if you already have one). Email is a great way to stay top of mind with your contacts and it is a very inexpensive way to market. A newsletter can contain a range of information from snippets of content you have created, links to third-party resources, upcoming events, and other material that would be of interest to your contacts. Check out How to Maximize Your Email Newsletter for more information.

5. Follow up with key contacts, referral sources. Everyone is worrying about their families and business. Reach out to contacts to find out how they are doing. Consider ways you can help each other now and in the future.

6. Check in with existing and past clients. Don’t pitch your services. Just let them know you hope they are doing well, and you are happy to help in any way you can. If you know of any third-party resources that may help them, point them to that assistance.

7. Create and/or update your contact database. People change jobs and email addresses. You are missing a great opportunity to market and stay in touch if you don’t have an up-to-date contact database. Leverage staff working from home to help create or clean up your data. And while you are at it, segment your contacts so you can tailor emails to particular groups of contacts (ex. past and current clients, referral sources, prospects, industry, job title, etc.). Consider which segments make sense for your business.

8. Create content. Writing and speaking are great ways to highlight your expertise, build credibility and be more visible. Consider blog posts, articles, tips, charts, graphics, podcasts, presentations, webinars, and PowerPoints. Experiment with video because it has been shown to get more views and interaction than written content. Video on your website should always be produced by a professional, but amateur efforts are forgiven on social media.

9. Participate in virtual networking. Many groups have now turned to Zoom. Face time with contacts is still important so join these meetings to stay in touch. You can also easily create your own groups and facilitate introductions among your contacts.

10. Refresh your website. When was the last time you updated your website? The content and/or the design could be stale so do it now.

While you may be worried about loss of business because of COVID-19, if you don’t market during this period, your recovery will be that much harder. Don’t get left behind.

If you need assistance with your marketing, contact us for a consultation.

As a Generation X-er who is active in several associations, I am involved in the struggle to demonstrate the value of membership and encouraging others to take advantage of the opportunities. If you are a potential or existing member of an association, here are some suggestions:

1. Join a committee. Committee meetings are smaller so it can be easier to meet and get to know members than if you go to the big events or programs. Also, if the group brings in speakers or invites guests, it is an opportunity to engage with others outside the committee.

2. Go to most meetings. Even within committees, many members don’t show up consistently. The more you go, the more likely you are to meet everyone and build relationships with the regulars.

3. Ask the organizer/chair to introduce you to others. You can be specific or more general about your request depending on your interests. For example, ask to be introduced to someone who does certain type of work, is on the board, or who is new to the organization. By the way, the membership chair and committee members should be adept at doing this so you should not be embarrassed to ask.

4. Volunteer to help with a charitable endeavor. Many organizations give back to the community in some way – a fundraiser, walk/run, pro bono work, etc. This is a great way to do something worthwhile while also getting to know other people.

5. Find out who is attending. More organizations are starting to allow people to see who else is attending an event and connect via social media or otherwise. This can help you identify other individuals you want to meet and learn about them before you are introduced in person.

6. Participate in the group’s social media, listserv or other communication channels. You may not have time to go to many meetings, but you can still get to know and engage with other members. Pay attention to what is being posted, like and comment on posts, respond to questions, and share helpful information.

7. Become a speaker or writer. Although you may not get to present a program for the whole membership right away, some committees struggle to get speakers giving you an opportunity to show you are capable. The same is true with respect to writing. Chapter newsletters can be easier to write for than statewide journals. Speaking and writing, especially if you do it regularly, gets your name out to others and builds your reputation even among those you have never met. It also helps you establish credibility that can get you speaking and writing opportunities with other organizations and publications.

8. Shop around. Typically, there are several different organizations that serve your profession. There may be state and local chapters, specific associations for women and various ethnic and racial groups, or in the case of lawyers, organizations for those in different practice areas.

9. Follow up. A group setting is not the place to really get to know someone. Connect afterwards and repeatedly to make the most of your new connections. For example, send them an email, set up a call or meeting, send a LinkedIn invite, add them to your email database, make an introduction to someone else, and ask how you can help them.

10. Speak up. If you think meetings are at an inconvenient time or topics are boring, say something. But also make your own suggestions. It’s easy to complain, but hard to be the one trying to come up with something that others will like.

For associations, consider these complaints from those interviewed by the NYLJ –

“Dues are too expensive. The events aren’t cool. Everyone in the room is twice my age. No one listens to me. I don’t feel like I’m part of the clique.”

I am on the board of a professional association (PRPLI) and a past committee chair and member of other organizations. I know there is a limit to cutting dues because it is hard to find enough other sources of revenue to support the organization, but we do what we can. That leaves trying to address the other issues, which boils down to providing more value. I don’t know that any group has found a perfect solution. We try to test everything – different times, locations, types of programs, etc. to encourage greater attendance and a more diverse crowd. I also think employers should play a part. The Legal Marketing Association consistently fills the room with its programs, but many of the employers seem to pay for employees’ membership. However, many other employers don’t pay employee dues to save money, but don’t consider that employees are losing educational opportunities and networking connections that could be very valuable to their business.

If you are considering joining or you are minimally involved with an association, give it another try. It can be a great resource. Maybe you can make it even better.

1. Mid-year checkup. We’re 6 months into the year. What have you done to market your business? What has worked and what hasn’t? Are you on track to meet your goals for the year? What should you be doing differently? If you did not set goals at the start of the year, set them now.

2. Work on your contact database. Leverage staff and interns or hire students to help create or clean up your database. If you don’t have a database, now is the time to build one, especially for email

3. Attend summer networking events. During the summer, many groups go on hiatus, but not all of them. Those that have events often schedule more casual networking which may bring out different people than ordinarily attend the regular networking events.

4. Update your website and social media profiles. Verify your credentials and activities are up to date including memberships, new positions, writing and speaking, publicity, awards, etc. Also, go to the My Network tab on LinkedIn and check out suggestions of people you could connect to and add a personal note if you send them an invitation. You can also email them to further build the connection.

5. Create evergreen content. Evergreen content is content that doesn’t go out of date quickly. Develop blog posts, articles, video or other content that you can use months or even years from now, so you have material you can promote when you don’t have time to create something new.

6. Get into the habit of marketing. If it seems like you are always too busy to market, start with a small commitment of time every week. It doesn’t matter how much time you set aside but pick a set amount and keep to it even if it’s 15 minutes. Then gradually add more time as you get comfortable with your efforts. Little things add up.

For more help, read our related post – It’s July. Do You Know How Your Marketing Is Doing?

Do network with a purpose. Know what you want to accomplish before you go and plan for how you will do it. What groups and events are the best ones? Are you attending to stay in touch with people you already know or to meet new people? Who do you want to meet? Can someone facilitate introductions?

Don’t talk too much. The best way to build relationships is to ask questions and listen carefully. If you spend the whole time talking about yourself, you’ve lost a valuable opportunity. Also don’t monopolize someone’s time. You’re all there to mingle and meet people. Keep it short and continue the conversation the next time you meet.

Do follow up. At a minimum, send a simple email note, add them to your contact database and newsletter list and connect on social media. However, you should also schedule meetings or phone calls with potential referral sources on a regular basis. This is true when you meet new people as well as to keep in touch with your existing contacts. One tip I got recently was to invite several people to a follow up meeting especially if you all have synergies with each other.

Don’t forget to ask how you can help contacts. The key to building strong relationships is to give first. Who would they like to meet? What kind of information would benefit them? Is there something else you can do to assist them with a problem? You want to ask your contacts what they need and sincerely try to be helpful.

Do use social media. Your first step is to have a strong up-to-date LinkedIn profile because people you meet will check you out. Next step is to invite new contacts to connect and add a personal note reminding them where you met. Once they have connected with you, take time to review their profile and look at their contacts. You may find that they know people you would like to know. Also pay attention to what your contacts are posting or doing on social media. It helps you learn more about them, their industry and contacts and also offers opportunities for you to help promote their content or reconnect with them on a regular basis so they continue to remember you long after you met them.

Don’t focus on quantity. What good is it to have hundreds of contacts if they aren’t the right ones or you have no time to stay in touch with that many. Emphasize quality connections. You want to develop stronger relationships with a smaller number of contacts.

Do keep your contact database updated. If your contact information isn’t current, you can’t stay in touch. Add new names to your database as soon as possible after meeting them. Then every time you learn that someone has moved locations, changed jobs, etc. have a process for someone to make those changes in your database. Remember if you send out an email newsletter, check for bounced emails and try to locate the person. If you get a notice on LinkedIn that a contact has a new job, send it to the designated staff person who will make those changes. (By the way, remember to congratulate your contacts too.)

Don’t give up too soon. It takes time to get to know people. Don’t expect to meet someone once or twice and walk away with business. In many cases, you can’t really tell if a networking group will be good for you, until you’ve attended a few events and followed up afterwards with some of the attendees. On the other hand, before you attend, try to find out as much as you can about the group and ask regular attendees questions during and after events to figure out whether the group is a good fit.

I struggle with networking and I think most people feel the same way so we can all use a few pointers. If you have tips, send them to me and I will add to this post and share it with others.

1. Ask how you can help. How can you really assist someone if you don’t know what they need? Do they want to meet certain types of people or get an introduction to a specific person? Maybe they would like to spread the word about an event, find opportunities to speak to business groups or get an internship for their child.

2. Be a connector. When you talk with people ask them what types of individuals they would like to meet (profession, job title, industry, etc.). Then make a real effort to think about whether you could make an introduction that would benefit both parties. This isn’t about sending them business. It’s about connecting individuals who may have similar or complementary interests.

3. Give referrals. We wait around for others to refer us business but when was the last time we referred business to the other person? It doesn’t have to be quid pro quo but both sides should be making the effort.

4. Provide helpful information. The essence of “content marketing” is that when you provide people with useful content, they are more likely to remember you when they have a problem, see you as credible and knowledgeable, and trust you because you offered free information. Give genuinely helpful tips in a blog, newsletter, article or eBook. Speak at seminars (your own and for other organizations). Answer simple questions from contacts. Don’t be afraid of giving away too much information; that’s rarely the case.

5. Share information from or about your contacts. Content marketing isn’t just about giving people useful information written or spoken by you. In fact, sharing other people’s content is a great way to demonstrate that you do want to be helpful even when you aren’t touting your own abilities. You can post content to social media written by people you know or strangers. Of course, when it relates to people you know, they will be particularly grateful. When you share, like or comment on other people’s content on social media, your network will see it, so it gives the individual extra exposure which will be appreciated (and often reciprocated).

6. Volunteer. If there is a cause that is meaningful to you, get involved. It’s an opportunity to help others in need and you will also meet like-minded people. Some of the best relationships are built when you work together with others who share your commitment to something. People also prefer to do business with those they like and trust and volunteering together helps on both counts.

It’s the season of giving so give back to your contacts. The rewards will be worth it.