I have named the post below, “Growing your Network while Being a Mom”  4 How-To’s based on my personal experience of being a mom and growing my network of clients and collaborators – But, the How-To’s below are really applicable to any person who is on a time crunch or just can’t make it to a million networking events (which tend to be  in the early morning or the evenings – not great times for moms!)

Growing your Network while Being a Mom (or just a busy person!)

Those of you who are also moms know that, depending on your child’s age – motherhood can be a full-time job. I have to say, I really did not have much time or energy for business (or sex, or beauty for that matter) until my son was past the age of two. Though I certainly appreciated the time with my son, I was exhausted and just did not have a lot of energy to go out in the evenings to network, etc…

I did use those years to do relaxed growing of my contacts lists – and my relaxed approach worked!!!

Even as a tired and not-getting-enough-sleep mom, I was able to expand my contacts lists. And the contacts whom I met during that time are still faithful, supportive and partake in my current offerings

Here is How:

1. Every few months I hosted a social dinner party with a “bring a friend that I should know” invitation. Note: The focus of these dinners was NOT business! Strictly social – this is important: Most of us can fill our private practices SIMPLY WITH THE LEADS THAT OUR FRIENDS SEND OUR WAY – the more fun social friends/connections you have – who really enjoy you as a friend – the more people you have, who are happy to send their friends your way for business later. Marketing should be FUN! Especially when your stance is one of connecting deeply and having a good time…

2. Since women are really my demographic and my heart, I also, occasionally (hey, I had a young child – this all transpired over a period of a few years) hosted all women’s craft nights, cocktail parties and chocolate soirées. Woohoo! Same as above – I was privileged to meet a whole new assortment of fun women, who shared similar interests as I. They had fun, and brought their friends to the next one and the next one…my Crafty Vixens events now see 30-40 women each time! And they are a BLAST!!! I still meet new clients at my current Crafty Vixens events. And the ladies enjoy networking with each other as well. With this type of event I provide a hub for women to connect with one another. Even though these parties ar not business events, the women who attend, tend to be savvy and bring their business cards and Verbal Logos with them!

Naturally I had the email addresses of all of the people who attended these events and for the most part they were happy to be added to my casual email list.

I lied! Sort of…

the next two How-To’s technically ARE networking techniques -and- I want to emphasise that the most important part is to focus on quality connection, and building of repationships – rather than “networking”

3. I also used these low-key years to get out and meet other moms. I emphasis low-key. When I was going out to meet moms, I was not going out to meet them with an agenda to turn them into clients. I was going out to actually get connected. To spend some much needed time with grown-ups (since I spent most of my time with a precious creature who couldn’t even talk yet) many of these women, I am still friends with today.

4. Though I did not technically have a job for the first two full years of mommy-hood, I did teach yoga at the Berkeley YMCA. Woot! Volunteering at a large gorgeous facility like the Y – which has TONS of women who fit my desired demographic, has been one of the smartest marketing moves I have ever made. I get to stand in front of 90-180 people every week. They get a great feel for who I am and what I am up to. My students like to be added to my announcements lists – they are always curious about the poetry and music that I use in class, and so they email me – a number of the women have joined my retreats and women’s circles, and therefore really enjoy seeing me and each other when they work out at the Y. So they feel more connected to me and they share their experiences with their friends.

Ok, ok, not everyone is a yoga instructor…but, a number of other women I know have volunteered or been employed in the YMCA child watch, the swim facilities – meeting hundreds of people, networking, setting up play dates, etc…Volunteering is a GREAT way to meet new people!

The simple break-down:

• Get Ye’ to your Calendar and plan your next free SOCIAL event!!!
• Sign up to volunteer at a high-volume org like the YMCA…

I know that many moms return to work and to their businesses while their children are babies. Some women choose this, and many women pull out of nursing earlier than they actually want to, for money and security concerns. Some women place their children in daycare earlier than they want to for the same reasons.

I am very grateful that I did not have to work much for my son’s first three years. And I hope the above suggestions also offer a way for any mom or busy person to simply have FUN!

Share