10 Steps to Successful Networking
"It's not what you know, it's who you know." This old saying rings true in everything we do, especially in
business. Finding contacts is key to the success of your
business, and a great place to meet these contacts is at
networking meetings or events. It is not enough just to
attend networking gatherings, you need to know how to
network. There are many sources of networking tips and
information, but the following are ten tips that I find most
useful. 1. Set a goal prior to the event Figure out who will be in attendance. Decide who you would
like to target and what you would like to take away from the
event. Having a specific goal will ensure that you remain
focused and will have success. 2. Pre-plan personal greeting You need to get a person's interest right away or you've lost
your chance. Planning a personal greeting before hand will
be very helpful. The greeting should be not more than thirty
seconds long, interesting, informative and about you. You
need to sell yourself before you can sell a product or
service. 3. Be first to arrive and last to leave The longer you stay, the more contacts you will meet. 4. Be aware of how you smell Sounds funny? It's really a very important part of how
people react to you. Do not smell like a cigarette. Many
people find it very disgusting, and it can create a negative
first impression. Also, your favorite perfume or cologne may
not be another person's favorite. Be sure that when
applying these scents that you do so lightly. A strong scent
can be overbearing and force people to go as far from you
as they can. 5. Be positive and enthusiastic Nobody like to be rejected, but if you don't at least try to talk
to someone you may lose out on an opportunity. Keeping a
positive attitude will increase the positive results.
Additionally, nobody wants to be around an unhappy person.
Be sure that you are in an upbeat mood before you enter the
event and keep smiling the entire time. 6. Spend time with people you don't know Although it is okay to spend some time with acquaintances
you've already made, the majority of your time should be
spent meeting new people. People with whom you are
already friendly know what you offer. Networking meetings
should enable you to expand your contact list. 7. Say the other person's name three times A person's name is a pleasing sound for them. In addition,
repeating the name will help you to remember it. People are
really impressed when you remember their name the next
time that you see them after you had only met briefly before. 8. Collect business cards with a purpose When you leave you have a stack of business cards, great?
It is only good to have a lot of business cards if each one
allows you to an action. They should have notes on the
back giving you a follow up opportunity with the person. 9. Learn what the other person does You don't want to spend all of your time explaining what you
do. First, find out what the other person does. Not only do
people love to talk about themselves, but it will give you time
to understand their needs and how you may be of service to
them. 10. Dress for success Attractive people receive attention. This doesn't mean you
have to the be the star of a beauty pageant to meet contact.
Anyone can be attractive with the right attire. Dress for a
networking meeting as you would if you were going to visit
your biggest client. A sharp, neat, and coordinated attire is
sure to focus all eyes on you! Martin Cohn is president of The Cohn Group, Inc., a full
service public relations firm in Needham, Massachusetts.
You can read more articles at http://www.cohngroup.com
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The 4 Actions of Awesome Hospitality
These Actions of Awesome Hospitality? will help you manifest the power of approachability through your organizational front porches.
Is The Company You Keep Hurting Your Business?
When you look at your friends, it's like looking into a mirror. Take the sum of characteristics of the five people you spend most of your time with and you will be the average of that sum.
Are You in the Relationship Business?
Are you in the relationship business? Of course you are. Everyone who has to work with, deal with, sell to, convince, is! Unless you're on a deserted island, you must connect with, interact, and influence people every single day. Building relationships today mean better business tomorrow.
Politics, Religion, Race; Conversational No-No?s in Business
Do not destroy all your positive displacement and high energy and customer confidence by discussing politics in your small business. Remember not every one in the world is as smart as you are or sees as much dealing with all these different types of customers in so many different professions each day. Therefore they may have incorrect political views and disagree with you. You do not have time to change everyone's mind nor should you bother trying. Since we have a two party political system and it is pretty much split down the middle, you have a 50% chance of pissing someone off when talking about politics in an office building. The owner may be Republican but the people overhearing the conversations may be one-half Democratic and they are also potential customers. Please don't talk about abortion, assault weapon bans or cigarette laws. People who are into these issues are really into them, and if your opinion differs from theirs, you have just created an enemy and lost a customer.
10 Top Tips for Successful Networking
1. Recognise the importance of networking
Where Does That Word Come From?
"Instead of a handshake, I gave Toby a high-five to break the ice; and when we sat down on the front porch and started talking off the cuff, it was as if serendipity brought us together."
10 Steps to Successful Networking
"It's not what you know, it's who you know."
Create a 10 Second Introduction From Your USP
You can generate a ton of business by networking, whether you belong to a networking organization or just get referrals from existing (satisfied) customers. Whenever you meet a new potential client, it's important to create the right impression about you and your business straight away. That's where a 10 second introduction comes in handy ? and the more this introduction stands out from the rest, the more likely your new acquaintance is to remember you.
Four Brainless Self-Promotion Techniques To Avoid
Many workers think that their hard work will speak for itself. They quietly do their job and stay late at the office hoping that their boss will notice their efforts. However, when a job promotion or pay raise goes to someone else, many employees retreat into a corner, wondering what happened.
Flying High, Flying Far
"What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"
Keys to Successful Networking While In Transition
Let's be real. With other pressures of life upon us, having to network can be a burden and increase stress levels.
Good Manners Mean Good Business
Good manners, good networking and good business all have the same thing in common. What they have in common is "you!" You are the secret weapon that everyone is looking for to help promote themselves effortlessly, enhance their communication skills, and more effectively network.
People Know People
I recently entered the keyword "networking" into Google. In 0.13 seconds, it returned 21,600,000 entries. Amazing! What's even more amazing was when I entered the same search ten minutes later 200,000 additional entries were found. Countless articles and information are available about this subject. By reviewing the latest information, many of you are taking the first step towards learning more about networking tools and techniques.
8 Ways To Develop Confidence In New Situations
Do you enjoy one-on-one networking, however, the thought of walking into room full of people you don't know horrifies you? You're not alone. Yes, even a social butterfly, President of the Social Committee in High School and avid networker knows how you feel. Here are some of my tricks.
And they have all worked!
Strategic Networking: Take the Shortest Path to Success
Do you use Ryze or LinkedIn to promote your web based business? If so, you may have noticed that everything is linked to everything else. Here's how to take the shortest path to networking success: use keywords and a targeted linking strategy.
Networking
Put join a networking group on your to do list with a big underline, star and happy face. You'll be glad you did for more reasons than you can count. And the advice is coming from this confirmed non-networker who, in 20 years of business, considered networking a colossal waste of time. The old dog is here with a new trick.
How to Generate More Business by Telling People What You Do
What do you tell people when asked what you do? Many small business owners and independent professionals repeatedly miss great opportunities to generate new business or develop leads by answering the "what do you do?" question with a poorly crafted or completely unplanned answer. If your answer does not regularly start a conversation about your business you need to change your answer.
Should You Offer Commissions For Customer Referrals?
As a small business owner you may find yourself in a situation where you want to partner with another business but they are asking for a commission on your services. You will want to be prepared to handle such a request BEFORE you find yourself in this situation.
Getting Leads
How many leads do you pass on?
Lessons from the Wedding Mafia
One of my clients shared a story with me from his networking group, a chapter of BNI. Ivan Misner, the creator of BNI talks about what he calls "contact spheres".
|
