Episode 34: Ditch the Pitch: The Networking Strategy That Actually Works

In this episode of Main Street Success Stories, host Jennifer Kok sits down with Sara Barco, business and networking consultant and founder of 52 Connections. Sara is passionate about helping business owners strengthen customer retention and build authentic connections. She shares her unique approach to networking, why traditional hard leads groups don’t work for everyone, and how entrepreneurs can find the right networking opportunities that fit their personality and business goals.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by networking or unsure where to start, this episode is packed with insights on how to make it easier, more natural, and ultimately, more effective for growing your business.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🔹 The truth about networking: Why it’s more than just exchanging business cards.🔹 Different types of networking groups: How to determine which one is the best fit for you.🔹 Why hard leads groups work for some, but not all: How to choose what is right for you. .🔹 How to set networking goals: The key questions to ask before joining a group.🔹 Tips for overcoming networking anxiety: How to walk into a room with confidence (including an unexpected tip about reading body language through people’s feet!).🔹 The non-monetary benefits of networking: How networking can provide support, collaboration, and personal growth beyond just sales.🔹 How to build meaningful relationships: The importance of showing up consistently and giving before asking.Meet Your Host: Jennifer Kok has been a business owner for over 25 years and is now a business coach guiding small businesses to level up and increase profits. She turned her first business into a franchise and successfully sold it 20 years later.  She was passionate about building a business and a family at the same time.Today she works with creative business owners who are tired of not getting paid enough for their hard work.  She walks them through the 3-step process she developed to allow them to Create More…Earn More…Stress Less.What if I told you that growing your business doesn’t have to mean working more hours? What if—right now—you could be sitting on untapped profit without even realizing it?  In the free resource I’m going to walk you through the exact 3-step framework I used to help a client increase net profit by 193%—without adding more hours to her workweek. Read how you can do it too.  https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/profit-boost Connect with Jen:  https://nextwavebusinesscoaching.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferowenskok/Meet our Guest: Sara Barco Founder, TRUE Self Consulting & 52 Connections Customer Retention Detective | Connector | Relationship-Driven Strategist Sara is the visionary behind TRUE Self Consulting and 52 Connections in 52 Weeks, dedicated to redefining the way business leaders, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs connect and retain customers. With a background in Social Services and Emotional Intelligence, Sara blends strategic thinking with a relational approach to help businesses turn prospects into loyal advocates. https://www.52connections.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-barco-468760111/Love this episode?🌟 Subscribe & Leave a Review! Your support helps more small business owners discover the show and grow their businesses through real, actionable advice.My name is Jennifer Kok, and I’m a profit and growth advisor for service-based women entrepreneurs. I help women business owners make smarter, more strategic decisions so they can grow profitably, pay themselves consistently, and avoid burnout.Because the truth is, business owners make decisions all day long, but the ones that really matter are often the hardest ones. Should I hire? Raise my prices? Invest in marketing? Let go of a draining client? Expand, or simplify?Those decisions carry weight, and they can impact your time, your profit, your energy, and your long-term growth.That’s why I created the Focused Growth Collective, a virtual mastermind for women business owners who want support making the kinds of decisions that move a business forward. Yes, we talk strategy, but we also look at the bigger picture like mental load, health, profit, and long-term sustainability.My goal is to help women build businesses that pay them well, support their lives, and still feel worth leading 10 years from now.Connect with me:Website:Facebook:Instagram:LinkedIn:YouTube: