Success in network marketing isn’t solely determined by the number of contacts you gain but by the consistent cultivation of meaningful relationships. Think of yourself as a gardener, planting seeds with every new connection and introduction, nurturing their growth through consistent communication, and building the foundation of strong relationships through network growth. Today we’ll give you tips to help you connect with more people and nurture those relationships in your network.

Plant the seeds at the introduction

Every time you connect with someone, a seed is planted that has the potential to blossom into a valuable relationship, whether it’s a future customer or a potential team member. How you plant each seed impacts their ability to grow and flourish. This is where you nurture the relationship.

Be your authentic self

Your parents were right, just be yourself and you’ll connect with people. People can sense insincerity. When you are yourself, people will be drawn to you. When you connect with them, be genuinely interested in getting to know them, their interests, and their needs, rather than immediately pitching your products or opportunity. Remember, you want to learn how to serve them.  

Find commonalities

You connect with people you have things in common with so find that common ground. What do you have in common? What are their passions? Starting a conversation based on shared interests creates a more natural and engaging connection. Also try to understand their aspirations, challenges, and what’s important to them. This information will be invaluable when you nurture the relationship.

Provide value

Once you get in the flow of conversation, instead of immediately asking for something, offer value. This could be sharing a helpful resource, offering a genuine compliment, or providing a solution to a problem they’ve mentioned. They’ll appreciate the focus on them, which will make it easier to nurture the relationship.

Pro tip:

Remember, your initial interaction sets the tone for the entire relationship. Be professional, courteous, and memorable for the right reasons. One way to do so is to use the scripts we offer from Teamzy, which help you get a foot in the door to building a great connection with anyone. Practice them often so they become more natural.

Engage with your network

Once the seeds are planted, they need consistent nurturing to grow. This is where a consistent connection is important. Think of it as providing the right amount of water, sunlight, and care for your network.

Be consistent

Communication is key! Don’t let new connections go cold. Connect with them through text and social media, send personalized messages to share relevant information, and participate in conversations they are involved in. And be sure to personalize it. Tailor your engagement based on what you’ve learned about them. A generic message will not have the same impact as a personalized one. If you want to nurture your network, you have to make it personal.

Provide value

Providing value is so important we mention it twice. Share content that resonates with their interests and needs. This could be helpful tips, inspiring stories, or valuable insights related to your industry or their passions. As relationships deepen, continue to provide value and support. Look for ways to help them achieve their goals, even if it doesn’t directly benefit you in the short term.

Ask the next question

Continue to show genuine interest by asking open-ended questions that encourage them to share more about themselves and their goals. This also involves listening. When the other person does share, actively listen to their responses. Then, repeat it to make sure you understand what they said. Remember key details to reference them in future conversations. This shows you value their input. It helps to add these details into Teamzy so you’ll always have this information at hand. What an easy way to nurture your relationship.

Blooming strong relationships with consistent communication

Consistent and meaningful contact is the sunshine and soil that allows nurtured connections to bloom into strong, lasting relationships. These strong relationships are the foundation of a thriving long-term network.

Have a system

Adopt a system for staying in touch with your key connections, like Teamzy. We specifically developed Teamzy with the network marketer in mind, understanding the essential need for consistent and meaningful engagement. Just log into your dashboard each day and have a clear, actionable list of individuals to connect with, based on your relationship history and engagement goals. Teamzy takes the guesswork out of “Who needs a touchpoint today?” by providing intelligent prompts and tools to facilitate genuine interaction. It helps you organize your follow-ups, remember key details, and track your communication history, ensuring no valuable connection is overlooked.

Build trust 

Trust isn’t built overnight with a single grand gesture; it’s built on the back of being reliable and trustworthy. To do this, follow through on your commitments, no matter how small they may seem. And, be a person of your word. If you say you’ll call, call. If you promise to send information, send it right away. This consistent dependability signals respect for their time and builds confidence in your integrity. Trust is the bedrock of any strong relationship, and without it, your network will be built on shifting sands.

Celebrate special occasions

Reaching out for milestones shows you cared enough to remember.  Acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, and professional achievements. Small gestures can have a big impact!

Be patient

Growing your business and building strong relationships takes time and consistent effort. Just as a seed takes time to sprout, grow, and flower or bear fruit, growing your network marketing business and building truly strong relationships requires patience and consistent effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate returns on every interaction. Building authentic connections takes time to cultivate trust. Focus on the long game and consistently plant seeds, nurture your connections, and celebrate the small milestones along the way. Your consistent efforts today will yield a harvest of strong, loyal connections in the future.

Focusing on Long-Term Network Growth

Your goal as a network marketer is to cultivate a network that provides sustainable growth over the long term. It’s important to shift your mindset from short-term gains to building lasting relationships.

Prioritize your relationships

Of course sales matter, focus on building genuine connections first. Strong relationships naturally lead to more business and growth. Since you can’t spend time with everyone all the time, prioritize your favorite people. Focus your energy on nurturing the connections with your top advocates and those relationships that show the most potential and align with your long-term goals.

Embrace being the center of your network

Be the person your network turns to to connect them with others.  By facilitating those connections between people in your network who could mutually benefit from knowing each other, you’re adding value to your entire network.

Commit to personal development

The network marketing landscape is constantly evolving. Stay open to learning new strategies and adapting your approach to build stronger relationships in the current environment.

Teamzy can help you grow your network

Every interaction is an opportunity to build your reputation and strengthen your network for the future. By embracing the mindset of a network marketing gardener – diligently planting seeds, consistently nurturing growth, and patiently cultivating blooming relationships – you will build a strong and resilient network.  Your network isn’t just a list; it’s a living garden of relationships that requires connection and consistent care. Luckily Teamzy can help! We developed Teamzy to make it easier and more fun to build your network marketing business. Not using it yet? What are you waiting for? Click here to learn more.