The Definitive Prospecting Thread

DKOfTFC wrote: MacCO wrote: BillyGoat wrote: Awesome post Sir! Small talk is one of the things I sometimes have trouble with. I've found, for others with the same issue, that if you focus networking activities on areas you have a passion for the small talk becomes very easy and enjoyable making the transition to "needs" discussions easier.   I've used Meetup.com to find groups that I have a lot of common interests with. Bizarre, I just stumbled on to Meetup.com this morning before seeing your post.  I'll probably test drive a couple of groups. I  myself have been looking at MeetUp.  Maybe a dumb question, but as you mentioned you have looked for groups that you have common interests in, what types of things have you found? Is this pure Business (Small Business) Owners, or things like hobbies etc.  I'm just curious what mix has produced well for you. Thanks !

Well, I test drove a couple of groups and even started one, and it's about as I expected:  Very few serious players, virtually no understanding of reciprocal business relationships, just people fishing for leads. 

MacCO wrote: DKOfTFC wrote: MacCO wrote: BillyGoat wrote: Awesome post Sir! Small talk is one of the things I sometimes have trouble with. I've found, for others with the same issue, that if you focus networking activities on areas you have a passion for the small talk becomes very easy and enjoyable making the transition to "needs" discussions easier.   I've used Meetup.com to find groups that I have a lot of common interests with. Bizarre, I just stumbled on to Meetup.com this morning before seeing your post.  I'll probably test drive a couple of groups. I  myself have been looking at MeetUp.  Maybe a dumb question, but as you mentioned you have looked for groups that you have common interests in, what types of things have you found? Is this pure Business (Small Business) Owners, or things like hobbies etc.  I'm just curious what mix has produced well for you. Thanks ! Well, I test drove a couple of groups and even started one, and it's about as I expected:  Very few serious players, virtually no understanding of reciprocal business relationships, just people fishing for leads.

I joined a couple groups and ended up Test-driving one of the hot chicks I met in them. I also got this other one as a client (Small $25,000 but adding DCA every month).

They were a waste of time for the most part business-wise. Besides the happy hours with the divorced women craving some D.

Some of the "networking" meetups in my area want $100 per meeting. I don't think that includes any food or drinks with that. There is a new women's networking group that works schedule-wise, but only has like 4 members and says no more financial advisors can become members. There is only 1 in the group. They say you can go to 3 meetings before joining so I think I might check it out and if it is pointless then no harm, no foul. If it does seem useful then I'll get my life and health licenses because they do have spaces for just about any i surance agents.

Meetup seems to be a fairly dead platform these days, but I think anything other than "networking" groups would be better. I think I'm going to check out Rotary and Toastmasters too. The closest Toastmasters group to me has a board that is almost entirely CFPs. It might be useful to get some mentors or other job prospects...butmost likely won't get me clients.

Anyone try their local Chamber of Commerce meetings for prospects?

The longer I door knock and the Moore success I have with it, the thought that continues to push me to do it more is that I fucking hate "networking." I'm sure it's because I'm not good at it but being in a room with a bunch of people at a function and "slyly" trying to build rapport so I can get their info just plain sucks. No thanks.

Monkey wrote: Networking is for fags.

I was thinking more that it's the ultimate avoidance activity--nick murrays shark. Lulling you, making you're thinking you're prospecting but you're really not.

I realize there is a time and place for every method though

At a kool aid meeting, I heard "networking is one letter from not working"

Better use of time is using your leverage and getting to know your clients CPAs and attorneys than meeting MLM salesmen, web site developers, landscapers, etc that you find at these meetings

SN says you are going to fail.

Lol

dj2485 wrote: bc2051 wrote: As a backup, DJ has a future as a moderator here. He’s already doing things that I still can’t like pulling in quotes from other threads. I bet he can post pics too. Damn millennials

luvindy wrote: dj2485 wrote: bc2051 wrote: As a backup, DJ has a future as a moderator here. He’s already doing things that I still can’t like pulling in quotes from other threads. I bet he can post pics too. Damn millennials Perhaps you should pursue a career in web site development, or whatever it is that millennials do between drinking coffee and visiting breweries with their dogs.

Beards, you forgot beards.