Networking– Who Do You Know Who…?

“It’s not what you know, or who you know – it’s how well you know them that makes the difference”

Have you ever attended a networking event, collected a bunch of business cards, and when you go through them the next day, you can't remember who many of them are?
      Well, you certainly don't want to be one of those that other people can't remember? It's ok to pass out business cards, but if people don't remember you well they would not keep you in mind for their future needs or possible referrals.
     But, what is networking and how do you learn important networking skills to meet more people and make better contacts?

    The Oxford Dictionary defines networking as: “A group of people who exchange information, contacts, and experience for professional or social purposes.”
    
    There are 8 strategies which work very well for events like a Chamber of Commerce meeting or your company open-house party.
1. Be prepared to introduce yourself.
Have your networking tools with you you at all times. All successful business people have an informative name badge (include both your name and your company’s name), plenty of business cards, brochures about their business and a pocket-sized business-card file that has the business cards of the professionals they refer. Make sure the print on your card is readable to people standing a few feet away. Always look for a profession or company’s name on the badge, knowing it makes easier to start a dialogue, because you you can ask about his or her business.
2. Set a goal.
To get the most out of a networking event, set a goal about the number of contacts you want to make or the number of business cards you want to collect. And do not leave the event until you have met your goal.
3. Know How to work a room.
Joining a networking group of any kind is an investment; most investments take time to pay off. . When you join a new group, spend some time planning your strategy to make it work. Before going to the meeting think about a group of people whose profession could be related to your business. In other words, who could benefit from your service or products.
When you arrive, at the reception desk ask someone who knows everyone to introduce you to a person from the profession you want focus on for the event. 

Ask the person you’re introduced a few business-related questions: 

• How did you get started in business? 
• What do you enjoy most about your job/profession? 

Then just listen. Let him talk and you will get a good credit. Don’t try to close a business deal while you’re networking. Instead, finish by saying: It was a pleasure to meet you. I think, we can do some business together, here is my card and call me to set up a day for the meeting to talk more about this.”
4. Listen and ask five thought-provoking questions: Who, What, Where, When and Why.
As Dale Carnegie said: “take a genuine interest in other people.” Try listening for three minutes without interrupting. Follow 20/80 rule: 20% speaking and 80% listening. Asking questions is the key that opens the magic box. Most people love talking about themselves and their business. You may ask: “Where are you from?” or “Do you have pets?” Or “What hobbies or sport do you like?”
5. Be able to clearly describe what you do.
After you have learned what other people do, make sure to tell them what you do. Use 15-second intro, be specific and brief, and make use of your memory hooks. Have it ready to go if there's an opportunity. Make yourself or your business more memorable .For example, does your business have an unusual name? What's the story behind it - what does it mean? Refer to your place of business when telling an incident that occurred.
6. Spend 8 minutes or less with each person you meet.
If your goal is to meet a certain number of people, then you don’t want to waste your valuable time just talking to anyone. When you meet interesting people and want to spend more time, set up appointments to meet up later. On one of the event, I observed a group of business friends who were standing and talking with each other for two hours. In the end of the meeting, one of them complained, “What a point of these all, it just a waste of my time.”
    Learn to leave discussions elegantly. For example, say you want another drink or you want to meet a few more people. I like to introduce new people I meet to someone i know.
7. Write comments on the back of the business cards you collect.
I learnt this tip from my business partner and found it very useful. I write anything what is helpful in remembering the person, including the date and the location of the event. It helps me to organise my Outlook contacts and when I follow up the next day.
8. Follow up after the event.
All the networking in the world serves no purpose if you do not follow up effectively with the people you meet. I’ve seen people who work hard at making contacts but whose follow-up was so bad that the contacts were lost. Follow-up letters and phone calls set the stage for further contact. The more you’re in contact with others, the more business you’ll generate.

I would really appreciate your comments or suggestions. Or may be some tips to share.

If you want a Business Acceleration session of how you can use this in your business, please Click here to schedule a call with me.

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