There are many skills one needs to be a successful entrepreneur, and one of the most important skills is the ability to network, and to be able to turn that networking into profits. This is something that a lot of entrepreneurs unfortunately don't do, because they simply do not realize the benefits networking can bring. When you know how to network, you can get the best type of advertising there is: word of mouth advertising. Here are some really great ways to use networking to boost your business:

You must give in order to receive: When you are networking, do it in a way that the people you are networking with are affected by you, in a good way of course. Don't treat everyone you meet like a potential sale, but instead, offer something to them. You need to give to get, and when you give people what they want, they will be more apt to want to bring their business to you. They will appreciate what you do for them, and their appreciation will show in the way of profits for your business.

People want value: These days, it is not enough to just sell any old product or service. You need to make sure that your customers are getting value for what they are paying for. When you are networking, let people know just how valuable your services are, or how helpful your products can be for them. Let them know that you understand their problems, and you can help solve them. People talk, and they are bound to tell others, which is going to start the chain of word of mouth advertising.

You've got to work hard – In order to get in good with people, you have to work at it. Most people are not going to just jump on whatever you are selling unless you do a little bit of work to get them interested, and they must also be interested in you. Some people are not always friendly, so you will have to work to get them to be nice to you. If you find people boring, look for things that you may not have seen before. Get to know the people you are networking with. This will take some time and effort, but it is well worth it.

Being selfless will bring you profits: Don't treat people like you want something from them in return for your friendship or services. Just give without expecting to receive, and your efforts will not go unnoticed by prospective customers. Don't meet with people with the attitude that you will only give them something if they give you something in return. Being selfless will make people think of you as being kind hearted, someone that they would like to do business with. This is a wonderful approach to networking, and one that is going to help you achieve your business goals.

Author's Bio: 

Andrew McCombe is the owner of Activate Your Business where they teach new and existing business owners to Start, Grow and / or Automate their business(es) with EASE, so they can live a life of EASE. For more information visit http://www.activateyourbusiness.com.au