Networking is an important cornerstone in the success of any business. By networking in your specific industry you reach new customers, build a base of business referrals, stay up to date on trends and new technologies, and form strategic partnerships with other businesses.
Relationships are the key factor in successful networking activities. People do business with those they know and trust. Building those relationships takes time and active participation, but the payoff is a network of resources for your business.
Successful businesses use a variety of strategies for networking. Professional organizations within your industry are a great way to fast track the networking process. The network already exists. You simply plug yourself into it by participating.
In today’s online world, social media often takes center stage in the networking world. Social media is an excellent way to reach your customers and begin two-way conversations with a wider audience. But social media is not a substitute for traditional networking methods. Think of social media as a valuable supplement to your networking efforts rather than a stand-alone approach.
Getting face time with your network is the best way to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. Attending industry conferences is a sure way to interact with your network. Conferences can put you in touch with existing customers, potential customers, and other businesses with complimentary services and technologies.
At Mercury® we take networking very seriously. It’s the core of our business. We foster our own success by investing in the success of partnering businesses. We rely on our carefully crafted relationships to develop and deploy our solutions industry wide.
One of our most important networking strategies is through our membership and participation in The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA). The RSPA is a well developed and well known professional networking association dedicated to the retail technology industry.
The RSPA provides a variety of resources for professionals in our industry including legal assistance, business and health insurance, industry specific education and training, scholarships, discounts on various business supplies and services, and inclusion in a diverse member directory.
Mercury’s top networking event is The RSPA’s annual RetailNOW convention and expo. Mercury exhibits along with 174 other top industry players featuring emerging technologies, new business trends, and the latest products in the retail technology industry.
Attending the industry’s premier convention provides us with the most important opportunity we have to network with our partners, customers, and competitors.
In the true spirit of networking, Mercury has partnered with the RSPA to offer free RSPA memberships to our partners who join the RSPA for the first time. If you’re working with us, and haven’t joined the RSPA, we’ll pay your annual membership as well as your registration to RetailNOW 2013 in Las Vegas August 4-7, 2013. Join and start networking today in earnest. Contact Mercury for more details or click here to enroll!
