All businesses function within a network of other people, businesses, and organizations, with a view to providing a mutual benefit. These benefits can be based on operational functions or strategic functions.

Operational functions involve networks that help your business operate and provide services to your clients. These can include peers, mentors, and clients.

Strategic networks refer to the parts of your Reiki business that relate to development and growth of your skills and business services.

Operational networks are viewed as the day to day function of your business, whereas strategic networks focus on the overall view of your business and how it can grow into the future.

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It is important that you understand who is in your business network to help you develop better planning and marketing strategies. To understand who is in your business network, take a piece of paper (or document) and list all of the people you had contact with over the past 3 months with regard to your business.

You don’t need to list all of the individual people, but instead write down the main categories. For example:

• Clients
• Referral sources
  Professional Associations
• Colleagues
• Mentors
• Social Media Groups
• Communications – phones, internet, website host
• Financial – Accountant, Banks

You should also add any categories of people that you have contact with less regularly (eg. Annual contact)

Once you have created your network list, you can categorize them based on Operational and Strategic functions. Some groups may overlap. Below is a suggested breakdown of how your network might look:

OPERATIONAL

• Clients
• Referral Sources
• Professional Associations
• Colleagues
• Mentors
• Communications
• Financial
• Social Media

STRATEGIC

• Professional Associations
• Referrals
• Colleagues
• Mentors
• Communications
• Financial
• Conferences/Events
• Social Media

Once you’ve established your network list, think about the categories that you might want to develop further in your Reiki practice. Examples include:

• Increase client list
• Increase referrals from other professional sources
• Create professional development list

Business administrative networks are also important for your Reiki practice. Some examples of areas to review include:

• Do you have an Accountant?
• Who do you contact to assist with data breaches or hardware problems?
• Who do you contact if your website or payment system stops operating?

Initially you should create a database of contacts that represent your business network. You should then regularly review your contact list and engage with anyone on your list to strengthen your network.

Most of your administrative networks that involve communications and financial contacts can be established once and remain in place. Other strategic networks for developing client work may require more attention.

This could be seeking referrals or conducting a workshop with a colleague. You could also engage in social media networks and offer your services as an authority in your specialty. Using your networks allows you to personalize your contact and engage in activities that are mutually beneficial.

When developing your networks ensure you have the below information readily available:

• Business cards
• Referral letter template
• Elevator pitch that explains your business and the services that you provide

The focus of networking is to build relationships and this might create immediate or long term results.