Are you showing people that you are a valuable resource, even when they are not ready or able to hire you?

The business owners who build strong networks and earn referrals understand that resourcefulness should not be reserved only for paying clients. When you help people, share what you know, and create opportunities for others, you give them meaningful reasons to remember you and mention your name in rooms you are not in.

In this solo episode, Faithann shares two important areas to audit when your network is not growing. You will learn how small etiquette mistakes may be quietly turning people away and how becoming a resource can help you build trust, strengthen relationships, and create more referral opportunities.

Faithann discusses:

You will also leave with a practical networking exercise: identify five types of professionals you wish your clients knew before working with you and five they may need afterward. Then begin building the relationships that allow you to confidently make those introductions.

When you become someone who consistently helps people move forward, you become someone they remember, trust, and recommend.

Learn how to talk about your business naturally in networking meetings, volunteer settings, community events, and everyday conversations. The Curiosity Workshop includes four weeks of instruction followed by in-person and virtual conversation practice.

You can join from anywhere.

The first class begins Friday, September 4. Registration is $125 and closes on Tuesday Aug. 1st.

Register for the Curiosity Workshop here.

What should you say during your 60-second networking pitch so people know exactly who to refer to you?

In this coaching episode, Faithann works with Dirk Neitzel, founder of ThinkBiz Referral Clubs, to build a networking pitch that does more than describe his organization. Together, they create language that helps people recognize an ideal referral, introduce ThinkBiz without criticizing other networking options, and confidently take the next step.

Dirk also shares how ThinkBiz grew from one referral club to eight across the Oklahoma City metro and why in-person networking remains so powerful in an increasingly digital world.

You’ll learn:

• How to make one business the “star” of your networking pitch when you own multiple businesses

Dirk’s ideal referral is not simply a business owner who wants more referrals. It is someone who wants a core group of referral partners they can get to know, support, and confidently refer to others.

Whether you are writing your first elevator pitch, refining your weekly networking presentation, or trying to generate more business referrals, this episode will help you give your networking partners language they can actually remember and use.

Learn more about ThinkBiz Referral Clubs, including club locations, meeting times, current members, and available industry seats:

https://thinkbiz.solutions

Need help creating a 60-second networking pitch that makes your ideal referral easier to recognize?

Schedule a discovery call here: Discovery Call with Faithann 

Would you rather create your referral-driving pitch in a supportive group setting?

Join the Creating Credibility Workshop to develop a 60-second networking pitch that clearly communicates who you help, makes your ideal referrals easier to recognize, and gives your networking partners language they can confidently use to introduce you.

Learn more and register: Creating Credibility Workshop

Networking can bring referrals, relationships, opportunities, and clients into your business.

It can also bring no-shows, bad referrals, awkward mistakes, criticism, and a whole lot of “no.”

In this episode of Business Networking and Referrals, we’re talking about the emotional resilience required to stay in the networking game for the long haul.

Because some things are simply inevitable.

You’ll probably get stood up for a one-to-one. You may double-book yourself and have to apologize. Eventually, someone may send you a referral that’s a terrible fit. Someone may misunderstand you or even speak poorly about you. And when you keep putting yourself and your business out there, you’re going to hear no.

But guess what?

There’s another side to what’s inevitable.

You’ll be mentioned in rooms you aren’t in.

You could be one introduction away from one of the best clients you’ve ever had.

You’ll receive messages from people telling you that your work made a difference.

People will trust you enough to share what’s really going on.

And along with all those no’s, you’re going to get some pretty incredible yeses.

In this episode, we’ll talk about:

Why expecting some networking disappointments can make them easier to handle

When to give someone who stands you up a second chance

The right way to handle it when you’re the one who has to reschedule

How to respond when someone sends you a bad referral

What to remember when you hear that someone has spoken poorly about you

Why you don’t have to take sides when two networking relationships collide

How to keep issuing invitations without becoming attached to the answer

Why learning to forgive yourself is part of becoming a more resilient networker

Networking means building relationships with humans, and humans are sometimes messy. The goal isn’t to network perfectly. It’s to keep moving your conversations, your relationships, and yourself forward.

The Creating Curiosity Workshop begins September 4th.

You’ll learn how to answer the questions you already get asked in networking conversations in ways that help people lean in, ask more, and become genuinely curious about what you do.

The workshop includes four virtual trainings, an in-person practice session for those in the Oklahoma City area, and a virtual practice session the following week, so you can participate from anywhere.

Join the Creating Curiosity Workshop

Go and network, my friends. Keep moving forward. Keep moving your conversations forward. Keep moving your relationships forward. And practice forgiving yourself.

Have you ever been asked a question at a networking event and suddenly felt like you had to prove you belonged in the room?

For newer business owners, introverts, or anyone who struggles with imposter syndrome, even common networking questions like “What sets you apart?” or “How long have you been in business?” can feel more like a quiz than the beginning of a conversation.

In this episode of Business Networking and Referrals, Faithann shares a different way to approach those moments.

Instead of searching for the technically perfect answer, you'll learn how to make the star of your answer something you feel comfortable and proud to say.

Faithann shares two common networking questions that can trigger imposter syndrome and shows you how to answer them in a way that creates a better conversation.

You'll learn:

You don't have to tap dance your way through every networking conversation with the perfect answer.

You get to decide what the star of your answer will be.

The next Creating Curiosity Workshop begins Friday, September 4.

During four weeks of virtual training plus a practice session, you'll learn how to become a better listener, give stronger answers to common networking questions, and create curiosity about your business without slipping into auto-reply.

Investment: $125

Join the waitlist to be the first to know when registration opens, receive a bonus resource, and get access to the pre-workshop welcome call.

Creating Curiosity Waitlist

Connect with Faithann:

Instagram: @thenetworkerstourguide

Join Premium OKC Networking for $95 for a 1 year access to Faithann's networking calendar, community forum, and networking courses.

Join the Private Community: The Networker’s Tour Guide on Facebook

What if the biggest reason your podcast isn't growing has nothing to do with your content?

In this episode of Business Networking & Referrals, Faithann Basore sits down with podcast growth expert Adam Schaeuble, founder of Podcasting Business School, to uncover one of the most overlooked strategies in podcasting: making your show searchable.

Adam shares how a simple name change transformed his own podcast from struggling for downloads to becoming one of the most recognized podcasting shows in his niche. You'll also hear the story behind why Faithann renamed her own podcast—and the results that followed.

Whether you're just launching a podcast or looking to grow an existing one, this conversation is packed with practical, easy-to-implement strategies that can help more of the right listeners find your show.

"We can't have business-level goals with hobby-level effort." -Adam Schaeuble

Connect with Faithann

Episode 89 | Business Networking & Referrals Podcast

How do you make your elevator pitch memorable when you're in an industry where everyone says the same thing?

In this live coaching episode, Faithann Basore works with REALTOR® Michelle Spurlock of Spearhead Realty to transform a broad referral request into a clear picture of the exact client she's looking for.

Instead of asking for "anyone buying or selling," Michelle discovers how to help her networking partners recognize the conversations that happen long before someone ever asks for a Realtor.

You'll also hear the answer Michelle developed to one of the hardest networking questions:

"What makes you different?"

Whether you're in real estate or any service-based business, this coaching session will help you become easier to remember, easier to refer, and more confident in the way you talk about your business.

⭐ Why "anyone buying or selling" is one of the weakest referral asks.

⭐ How to build an elevator pitch around one star instead of a star-studded list of services.

⭐ Why your networking partners need to know what people are already saying before they realize they need you.

⭐ How to teach people to listen for referral opportunities instead of waiting for someone to ask for a recommendation.

⭐ A practical strategy for answering the question:

⭐ How setting healthy boundaries can actually make clients trust you more.

⭐ Why life changes often create better referral opportunities than asking who needs your service today.

⭐ A simple conversation strategy that naturally leads people toward talking about buying or selling a home.

📧 mDiscovery Call to explore how a customized Pitch Strategy Session can help you confidently describe what you do, attract better referrals, and make your conversations more memorable.

🌐 The Networker's Tour Guide

💬 Premium OKC Networking, Faithann's online community

Many business owners unintentionally damage new relationships because they confuse a networking one-to-one with a sales discovery call.

In this episode of Business Networking and Referrals, Faithann Basore explains the difference between these two important conversations, why each has a different purpose, and how knowing when to use each one can strengthen your referral network instead of creating awkward sales pressure.

You'll learn why one-to-one meetings are designed to build trust, uncover referral opportunities, and deepen relationships, while discovery calls are meant to determine whether your product or service is the right solution for someone's specific problem.

Faithann also shares practical advice for handling uncomfortable situations when someone invites you to what sounds like a networking conversation but turns it into a sales presentation.

Whether you're new to networking or you've been attending meetings for years, understanding this distinction will help you build stronger relationships, earn more referrals, and know exactly when it's appropriate to move into a sales conversation.

If you're ready to build stronger referral relationships and create more opportunities in every networking conversation, connect with Faithann Basore at The Networker's Tour Guide.

If this episode helped you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who's growing their business through referrals.

Question for listeners:

Have you ever shown up expecting a one-to-one, only to realize it was really a sales presentation? Share your experience in the comments!

What if the biggest thing holding your networking back isn't your confidence...it's a few everyday phrases you're using without even realizing it?

In this solo episode of Business Networking and Referrals, Faithann Basore shares four common phrases she's completely removed from her networking conversations, emails, and business communication—and explains what to say instead.

These small language shifts create clearer invitations, stronger relationships, and more opportunities because they keep conversations moving forward instead of leaving them stuck.

If you're growing your business through referrals, networking, or relationship marketing, this episode will help you communicate with greater confidence and intention.

One of the biggest ideas from this episode is this:

Be the current that moves conversations forward—not the stagnant water that leaves opportunities waiting.

Whether you're inviting someone to coffee, following up after a networking meeting, asking for a referral, or simply writing better emails, these communication shifts can change the way people respond to you.

Would clearer, more confident communication help you create more opportunities from your networking conversations?

Schedule a Discovery Call to explore how we might work together to improve your networking emails, strengthen your follow-up, and create conversations that naturally lead to more referrals.

Connect with Faithann:

Are you making the most of every conference, networking summit, or large business event you attend?

Whether you're walking in as an attendee or stepping onto the stage as a speaker, conferences create some of the biggest relationship-building opportunities in business. But simply showing up isn't enough.

In this solo episode of Business Networking & Referrals, Faithann Basore shares practical networking strategies that help you create meaningful conversations, build referral relationships, and leave every conference with real momentum instead of a stack of business cards you'll never use.

You'll learn how to prepare before you arrive, make stronger connections throughout the event, follow up more effectively, and maximize every opportunity—whether you're sitting in the audience or speaking from the stage.

Buying Signals Workshop

Learn how to recognize when someone is ready for your next step—and how to confidently invite them to work with you. This live workshop includes practical teaching, guided practice, and real-world application so you can leave networking conversations knowing exactly what to listen for.

Join us on July 10th, 2026, virtually.  Save your spot here.

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that better conversations create better opportunities. Once you learn how to create curiosity, the next step is recognizing when someone is inviting you to take the conversation further.

That's exactly what we'll be practicing in the Buying Signals Workshop, a six-week virtual experience where you'll learn how to recognize buying signals, respond naturally, and confidently move conversations toward the next step without feeling salesy.

Whether you're networking, meeting with prospects, or simply having everyday business conversations, this workshop will help you stop missing opportunities that are already happening right in front of you.

Learn more and reserve your spot in the Buying Signals Workshop today.

What if the reason people aren't referring you isn't because you're bad at networking... but because they don't understand your story?

In this episode of the Business Networking & Referrals Podcast, Faithann sits down with messaging strategist Kelly Harris of Kelly Harris Creative for a live coaching session on refining a networking pitch. Together, they unpack why vague language makes referrals difficult, how to replace business jargon with real-life examples, and why the stories you tell (or don't tell) shape how memorable you become.

Along the way, Kelly shares how networking transformed her confidence, what she learned from the Creating Curiosity Workshop, and why understanding buying signals is the next skill she's excited to develop.

Whether you're trying to explain your business more clearly or make it easier for others to refer you, this episode is full of practical takeaways you can begin using at your very next networking meeting.

If you've been struggling to explain what you do in a way that people immediately understand and remember, Kelly would love to connect with you.

Website: www.kellyharriscreative.com