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Episode 96 - How to network the right way
179 Plays2 years ago
Happy Woo Wednesdays!
Today I share with you my "networking" journey.
I used to want to hide under a rock if my friend told me to go chat with someone that was a leader in the industry. I would get so scared to get stuck in a conversation.
I've gotten better at it and I want to share with you things and mindset shifts that have helped me along the way.
Tips
1. Change your mindset: you don't want to get clients at an event, you want to attract clients
2. After a networking event, you are vibrating high, so go do a IG live, write a blog post. You are at peek "inspired mode"
3. Have an Alter ego. Mine is Clarissa
4. Write down notes after you meet someone so you don't forget what they said.
5. Practice, confidence is. muscle
6. Make offers : high quality only
DM if you would like a website audit
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Transcript
Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. I'm your host, Carissa, and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all. I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story,
00:00:32
Speaker
Time hacks because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. I want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey. I hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesdays so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon. Happy Woo Wednesdays.
Memorial Day Activities and Listener Engagement
00:00:57
Speaker
Hope you guys had an amazing Memorial Day weekend.
00:01:02
Speaker
What did I do? My team shot a beautiful wedding for me at the Portofino in Redondo Beach. It was photo and video for a beautiful, lovely couple. I'm going to be posting their photos soon. I hung out a lot at home. I decluttered my closet. I did some roller skating with my kids, and I still don't know how to stop, so it's very scary. I barbecued with my hubby,
00:01:32
Speaker
and some friends and yeah it was a great time so just comment me at Carissa Wu what you did for Memorial Day weekend and I'd love to hear it.
Overcoming Introversion and Networking Success
00:01:43
Speaker
So today I'm going to be talking about how to network the right way and the wrong way. So my story is I did have a lot of friends growing up but
00:01:59
Speaker
It was always like I had a best friend and we did everything together. We're like hip to hip or we were twinning every day. And I kind of always grew up like that. Even in college, I always either had like a best friend or a boyfriend walking around the campus at UC Riverside. I would be talking to my boyfriend at the time and just always had that one-on-one relationship.
00:02:28
Speaker
Um, after college, it wasn't really like that, but I've always kind of cleaned onto one person. So I always kind of felt shy in situations where it was like new surroundings or a new group of friends. I wasn't someone that could just be like, Hey, what's up? You know, the party's here.
00:02:51
Speaker
I was not like that. I just always cling to that one person. So when I got into the wedding industry, I hit the ground running and I booked a lot of weddings really fast through bride shows and my blog. But every time that a friend asked me to go to a networking event or a networking party, I was always super shy and super awkward. I remember going to the utterly engaged
00:03:19
Speaker
I forget where it was. It was a new venue in LA. And I was so terrified that I would get stuck in a conversation with a wedding professional. And I would start strong and just say, what do you do? Where are you from? And then I wouldn't know how to keep the conversation going. I was so awkward. I remember a time when I went to the California wedding day party. This is years ago. And my friend was working there.
00:03:49
Speaker
my high school friend, Jessica Stafford. And she's like, you should go talk to like this person, my boss, you know, this venue manager. And I wanted to cry. I was just like, I wanted to go to the bathroom. I was scared. I was clammy. I was sweating. This is me guys. This is any time I had to network. I was so uber, uber shy. So yeah. So just wanted to tell you if you guys are anything like me, I totally understand.
00:04:17
Speaker
Hopefully this podcast episode will help you.
Transformation through WIPA and Networking Tips
00:04:21
Speaker
And yeah, so just a little pre-homework for networking purposes. If you don't know who to reach out to or even what networking events are out there, maybe just do a Google search of wedding professionals networking groups or wedding photographers or wedding DJs or post on Facebook and ask people, ask your friends or even DM me and ask me. So yeah.
00:04:46
Speaker
Anyways, I got to know a lot better at it. I joined WIPA, Wedding International Professional Association, maybe a year and a half ago. And I just wanted to start networking again. Holly Gray from Anything But Gray Events, she reached out to me. And the first time I went, you know, I didn't really know anyone.
00:05:09
Speaker
Second time I knew a couple more people and the third time I was like giving hugs and like fist pumps and people were like, what's up crazy? And now they ask me to be their speaker on the big stage. So it could happen fast guys. So just keep networking and keep connecting and it's going to get easier and easier. And yeah, I'm pretty good at networking now. So I've come a long way.
00:05:37
Speaker
So I have, let's see, I have five tips for you today on this Wednesday. So number one tip for networking is to change your mindset about not like getting clients while you're networking, but just attracting clients to you or maybe attracting people to you or attracting good
00:06:00
Speaker
energy to you because when you have that like, Oh, I have to like meet my ideal client or I have to get this, it just puts you in that low energy and people could kind of feel it. People could find out kind of feel like, Oh, you want something from them? And it just feels like icky. So just have that mindset of just getting to know people and you know, people will be attracted to you.
00:06:25
Speaker
And I'm taking like random frienders to networking events. And, you know, I hear them being a little negative, like, Oh, like, I don't know, this is good for me. Or, you know, maybe it was a waste of time or I did, I didn't meet anyone that could help me. Like, no, that is a really, really bad mindset. Literally just be there, get to know people, be a human.
00:06:48
Speaker
You can start telling everyone you are a wedding and portrait photographer or you are a brand photographer and DJ or florist and just start talking to people and creating rapport with people and treat everyone. Maybe if they're here.
00:07:02
Speaker
Future friends, maybe they're your future clients or maybe they're your future tribes. So just truly try to get to know you and just talk to everyone. Like you have no idea who you're going to sit next to or run into or talk to or who they are, who they can connect you to. So treat everyone like gold.
Offerings for Wedding Professionals
00:07:22
Speaker
Pardon this short interruption, but me and the Get A Heck As team have some exciting news. If you haven't heard, I have a free mini-masterclass how to get on your first preferred venue vendor list, the Holy Grail of Bliss. Hot leads and these couples don't really care about price. It's 20 minutes and packed with goodness. The link is in the show notes.
00:07:44
Speaker
Also, we are offering website copy writing for all wedding professionals. With my digging and coaching skills and my team member Cindy with 15 years of copywriting experience, we will create your perfect website copy.
00:07:58
Speaker
We want you to cry of happiness when you get it back and say, wow, I'm so proud of myself as a business owner. Get a free audit of your current site. Go from meh to heck yes. Just DM me your website and I will send you a loom audit back. My Instagram is at Carissa Woo. Back to the conversation. Step number two for how to network is after you network, I feel like I'm really inspired. I'm just like,
00:08:28
Speaker
kind of in a really cool headspace. I'm vibrating high. So I like to go live like right after a networking event and just talk about it and talk about what inspired you or what you learned. Maybe you can make like a blog post about it. Maybe you could do a TikTok.
00:08:47
Speaker
Maybe you could send out a newsletter and just help promote their networking group. But yeah, after you just, you feel this sense of motivation, this hunger, this like, wow, I'm surrounded by people that are just like me that want the same thing as me. And, you know, I just want to help them too. And a rising tide lifts all ships. So yeah, after networking, go out there and go live and put more energy into your business.
00:09:16
Speaker
Number three, oh, I think I have six tips, but I would say this is for networking, I kind of use my alter ego. So I call my alter ego Clarissa. So regular Clarissa, she was like a little boring, a little shy, very reserved. But Clarissa, she brings a party, like she dresses up, she wears like a really hot pink lipstick, she wears a fun dress.
00:09:44
Speaker
She is working the room and people, if you know how to work the room, you will run the world.
00:09:51
Speaker
So yeah, I always journal about who I want to become and just how am I going to get there as fast as possible. Maybe Carissa back in the day, she would get run over by the wedding party with those aggressive bridesmaids and maybe she was shy and feel like less than, no, alter ego, Clarissa, she steps it up. She works the room, she hustles. She is like a party animal. She is outgoing. She is not shy at all.
00:10:18
Speaker
So become your alter ego and soon enough, your alter ego, you will catch up to them and become that sooner rather than later.
Effective Networking Strategies
00:10:27
Speaker
All right, tip number four is write notes after you start networking. So everyone that you meet, you are going to want to jot down notes on your phone. So you actually remember what they told you and try to be a good listener, be an active listener, because the next time you see them,
00:10:48
Speaker
If you remember what they said, wow, they're going to be blown away. Their guard is going to be completely down. They're going to be impressed and they are going to want to be your friend. And this is a start of an amazing relationship and maybe an amazing friend or relationship where you guys can refer each other. So jot notes, even people like I meet at school, my kids school, I'll write their names down.
00:11:13
Speaker
what they're wearing, what they said to me, what they do. And I just try to remember. And the next time I see them, I ask them about it and they're just like, wow, like she really listened and she wants to be my friend and she, uh, she wants to connect and you know, they're impressed by it. So write down everything, journal it down. All right. Tip number five for networking.
00:11:39
Speaker
is practice. So even if you went to a networking meeting and you felt like you were a little uncomfortable, it wasn't for you, it's okay. Still get out there. The confidence is a muscle. Keep talking about what you do, what your niche is, why you're different. And practice, practice, practice. You're going to get better and better. I do this all the time. I go to different networking events and tell them
00:12:01
Speaker
that I'm a coach, I see it in a different way and see how it rolls off my tongue. And yeah, it rolls off my tongue a different way every time but a little bit better. Alright, so tip number six is after like you get to know all these people and you make contacts,
00:12:20
Speaker
people are going to want your services. So start making offers. So you can say, Hey, I remember you telling me like you needed some brand photos. Maybe you need some music at your next party. Maybe you need some florals for your next bridal show. So start making offers and telling people like, this is what I have to offer. Yes, it could have a price. I make these offers in domsado. I was just at a Pilates class and this lady said,
00:12:48
Speaker
Hey, is there anyone willing to try my new scrub, hand scrub? I said, sure. I started talking to her and she wanted to know like how much I charge for social media pictures. And I wanted to know exactly what she wanted. And I was going to make her an offer through a proposal on the Sado. And she booked me and she happened to be a wedding planner and has been referring me people. So you truly never know who you're going to meet. So it's okay to make money.
00:13:18
Speaker
It's okay to start making offers. I'm gonna talk about high quality and low quality offers. So when you're coming from a place of service, this is high quality. You're literally wanting to serve. I used to be like, I would hang out with my friends and they would say, oh, hey, introduce me to another friend. Hey, Chris, as a photographer, like you serve for this and this and this. And then I would get so like squirmy and shy because I thought like,
00:13:44
Speaker
I was trying to use them. No, like when you have the service service mentality all the time, then you won't feel icky about it. I could go to my kids preschool now and just start talking to people be like, Hey, do you want family photos? Like, let me know. Let me know. Let me know. You need brand new phones. Let me know. Make them offer.
00:14:03
Speaker
low quality offers is on the other spectrum where it's like needy, like, oh shoot, like I really need the money. I really need this, um, I really need this coaching thing to do really well. And I, I really, I just have to like make this program like work now. I need people to pay me. Like you get into this kind of needy state night and clinger energy and, uh, people could feel that and it just doesn't feel good and people will not give you their money because it just is not,
00:14:32
Speaker
a high quality offer. So yeah, what other tips?
Conclusion and Call to Action
00:14:37
Speaker
I think a lot of my students have been using POPL. I think it's P-O-P-L-E. It's like this app where you could exchange all your information. You could tell them, hey, let's exchange Instagrams or let's get coffee, get to know each other. I want to hear your story. Just start talking to people, getting to know them.
00:14:59
Speaker
And the next time you meet them, it's going to turn into a friendship. And the next time you meet them, it's going to turn into a deeper friendship. So yeah, I hope you guys enjoyed all of these tips. I have a new free course for you guys. I think it's about 30 minutes long. It's an audio course and it's how to blow up your Instagram and finally start making money as a wedding photographer
00:15:26
Speaker
Sorry, pros, this is for wedding photographers, but if you want it, you can have it too. It can help you as well. And I will teach you how to blow up your Instagram like literally today. So yeah, go check that out in the link below. I don't have everything and hope you have a great rest of your week. I will see you next Woo Wednesdays. Talk to you soon.
00:15:53
Speaker
Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me! Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine. See you next time, wedding pros!