Remember…
November 5th, 2007
You manage to jump out of bed at 5:30am, rush out the door and sneak in - just in the nick of time - before the 7:00am start. Ah, those morning networking events!
If you‘re coming away less than satisfied, doubting if it was worth your time, keep reading for some ideas to make the most of your networking efforts.
Remember the Boy Scout Motto - Be Prepared? Well, it works the same with attending a networking event. Preparation will make the all difference. Take these 2 easy steps to get ready and you’ll come away with more satisfaction AND great results from any networking event. Read the rest of this entry »
Networking is much more than just socializing with friends. Many people spend too much unproductive time ‘networking’ with friends and colleagues and then have little to show for their efforts.
Now I’m sure it’s on the tip of your tongue – “but aren’t we supposed to build relationships and make friends?” Of course, the answer is yes, BUT there needs to be a balance between nurturing new relationships, socializing with friends and making new contacts.
You can talk with existing friends any time, so treat a networking event as your opportunity to discover or build on new relationships. Acknowledge your friends, catch up on the latest and then devote time to being with people you don’t already know well.
If you don’t want to strike out on your own, try doing some ‘tag team’ networking. Introducing your friend to a new person allows you to praise their business virtues while making the introduction – something that most of us don’t do for ourselves. “Have you met my friend Bob? He’s an amazing Chiropractor who works magic by quickly eliminating small back pain…” One tip – make sure you can adequately describe each other’s business in an engaging way. Read the rest of this entry »
Want to be a successful networker? Then gain an understanding of others’ concerns and problems. In meeting people, instead of delivering your sales pitch, aim to make a connection, determine their interests, and establish rapport. Remember, the objective of networking is NOT to sell.
Networking is in fact a life skill, not just something we do when we want something from a total stranger or even someone we know.
Most people waste the few precious moments they have to make an impression by focusing on themselves. When in fact great networkers are generally great listeners. They believe in having quality conversations, not quantity. They don’t try to talk to everyone in a crowded networking event. What’s the point? The conversations will be shallow, brief and more than likely not memorable for either party. Read the rest of this entry »
Not following up on initial contacts is the single biggest networking failure that people make. Once you’ve made that first networking contact, it’s essential that you keep building on it. As a first step, make sure to call, email or send a note to people you’ve connected with. It can be a simple “nice to have met you”.
Now is NOT the time to start selling unless they’ve indicated that they are interested in your product or service. Remember the purpose here, is to build a relationship – not land a client.
But don’t stop there! A few weeks after your first follow-up contact with someone, follow up again. Here are some reasons to make a second contact. Read the rest of this entry »