Don’t expect overnight results

Many introverts network for business development. For some types of businesses, the best way to build your client base is to build your network. For these people, networking is crucial and – even though they would almost always prefer to be home alone – they force themselves to join organizations, have coffee with strangers, and attend Chamber of Commerce mixers. And do you want to know what’s really frustrating? Sometimes it takes a very long time to see the fruits of all their hard work.

A friend recently told me she had landed a new client with a large project. She tracked this new client to someone she knew through a local professional association. She's been an active member, serving on several committees, for nearly four years. But it wasn’t until she had worked for a year on a committee with this connection that he was able to make the referral. Building your network for business development requires that people get to know, like, and trust you – and that doesn’t happen overnight.