Networking is probably the best way to build a profitable business, or sales pipeline over the long term. Many of us understand the value of networking, but we don't always know the best way to go about it. Here are 10 simple tips that will help you maximize the effectiveness of your networking efforts.
1. Build Relationships not Stacks of Business Cards
Networking is not a contest to see who can collect the most business cards. It's about building great relationships. Walking around an event forcing your business cards on other people is not going to help you to build any of those relationships. Spend your time at a networking event really getting to know the people you're talking to.
2. Think Quality not Quantity
The next time you find yourself at a big business after hours try to get to know a small number of people. The number isn't important, it may be 3, 5 of 10 depending on the length of the event. It might even be 1 or 2. What's important is focusing on a few people as you begin a quality relationship. You'll be remembered for having spent the time to get to know them.
3. Listen!
When you're spending time with people make sure you're listening. Don't let yourself get distracted or watch for the next person you'd like to meet. Pay attention to that 1 person in front of that you're talking with now. What you're listening for is unique information about them. You also want to pay attention for ways that you might be able to help them. This is your key to reconnecting with them again.
Listening also means you should be using your ears more and your mouth less. The best way to do this is by asking questions. By asking questions the times that you are talking will really be about them. Dig deeper into who they are, what drives them, what they're passionate about, what's important to them besides business.
4. Smile
You'll come across as a much nicer and more approachable person if you smile. It's a very simple tip and it works!
5. Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
Do not ever write anybody off! Even if you've spent some time listening to someone, and you don't think they're important to you be polite when you decide to move on. You never know who people really are or who they might become. I've heard too many stories of people who weren't in a position of power and someone was rude to them. Later when those people find themselves at the top they don't forget about those who had written them off. People have very long memories. Treat everyone with respect. Each person you meet is not just a job title. They're all people, and are all important.
6. Follow-up
This is probably the most important step of all. Even if you spent 30 or 40 minutes getting to know someone at a networking event they probably won't remember who you are 3 weeks later. You must follow-up! A phone call, an invitation to coffee or lunch, a handwritten note, even an e-mail. It doesn't really matter how, just that you do. When you do follow-up make it personal and about them. Sending a form letter and your brochure is not going to work. This is why a phone call or a hand written note is probably best. Make it all about them and you'll be remembered.
Following up is not something that you do once. This is something you need to do on a regular basis with every person in your network. Continue to solidify the relationships you've started building.
7. Give, Give, Give
Successful networkers know that giving is more important than receiving. The more people you help, the more you'll get in return. It's also the best excuse to follow-up with someone. If you've listened carefully to what they had to say you should have found a couple of ways that you can help them. It doesn't have to be something grandiose. It can be as simple as sharing a free resource that you've found online, or referring them to someone else in your network that can help them solve a minor problem.
The more you give the more you'll get, and the more you give the better you'll get at it. You'll see opportunities to help people all the time. That's when networking really gets fun!
8. Have Fun!
Don't take networking or yourself too seriously. Enjoy the time you spend getting to know people. You'll find networking to be a lot easier if you're having fun.
9. Do What You Say You're Going to Do!
All the networking in the world won't make a difference if you aren't a man or woman of your word. One of the great benefits of networking is that you'll get the inside scoop on a lot of things. This will be disastrous if you don't have total integrity in all that you do. Fortunately it works the opposite way as well. If you consistently make good on your promises people will remember that, and tell others. Word will spread about what you've done.
10. Commit
The hardest part about networking is being patient. It will work if you commit yourself to doing it consistently over a long period of time. You probably won't get results right away, but when they do start coming look out! As a marketing strategy networking is a long term undertaking. Look around at those that have been doing it for an extended period of time. 9 times out of 10 times they're successful. If you ask them if they'd do it again they'll all tell you yes!
11. Go the Extra Mile
Whenever you can, give people more than they expect. You'll soon be getting all the referrals you need, and great word of mouth will spread far and wide. Happy networking!
Scott Ingram is the founder of NetworkInAustin.com, a networking resource for networkers in Austin, Texas who use networking as a business development and marketing strategy. He also posts regularly to his blog: Business Networking in Austin. When he's not out building relationships at Chambers of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and numerous other business associations and networking groups Scott is busy spending time with his beautiful wife Emily. They are currently expecting their first child, a baby girl.
MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. February / 04 / 2012Fabulous Frizz Free Hair At Home – J F Lazartigue Inventorspot I searched for some at-home remedies for curly or frizzy hair that would provide similar results for a fraction of the cost. French hair experts from JF Lazartigue has come to the rescue with a line of straightening products consisting of shampoo, ... |
Study finds many home remedies for acidity trump pharma drugs Times of India A series of tests conducted by Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, found that many home remedies are more effective than pharmaceutical medications. As per the results, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like antacids provide relief ... |
India-specific Home Remedies Will Be The USP For Medico.in: Elan Dekel, Medico ... VC Circle He added, “We will also keep the India specific home remedies in mind like Ayurveda to reach out to the larger audience.” Backed by VC firms like First Round Capital, FirstMark Capital, Greylock, Nexus Venture Partners and prominent angel investors, ... |
Expert advice: Home remedies for headaches Times of India Dr. Vikram Singh, Consultant, Neurosurgery at Moolchand Medcity, gives us some excellent home remedies for headaches. Read and practise these tips today. Over to Dr. Vikram Singh... Hydrate yourself: Dehydration can be one of the top causes for a ... |
 Care2.com | 6 Wonderful Ayurvedic Home Remedies Care2.com Give these simple Ayurvedic remedies a chance to work their magic. Chew on a clove slowly, letting the juice penetrate the affected area. Clove has been used since ancient times as a star treatment for dental problems. It contains a healing compound ... |
Home remedies for glowing skin Times of India Today, with expert inputs from Dermatologist Dr Meghna Gupta of Delhi Skin Centre, let's get back to our roots and understand a few quick home remedies for glowing skin. - Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Virgin coconut oil or coconut ... |
Moms Talk: Home Cold Remedies Patch.com Patch: What are your favorite home cold remedies? Christie Arias: Lot of rest. A day of doing nothing and going no where. My favorite remedy for a cough is a spoonful of honey. When my kids are really congested, I like to give them a hot bath and steam ... |
Obama proposes remedies for housing market recovery Home Channel News ... from foreclosures to new mortgage agreements, President Obama unveiled a “Homeowners Bill of Rights” today that he hopes will speed up the recovery of the housing market and prevent unscrupulous lenders from taking advantage of new home buyers. |
Friday reader's view: Home remedies Midland Daily News Did you ever stop to think that there are probably as many home remedies as there are modern remedies? And the important thing is they don't cost a bundle of money. Back in January 2006, I witnessed a band of nomads passing through Naples, Fla. |
Home Remedies: The Quick Fix COS The Campus The role health plays in scholastics demonstrates the value of knowing reliable treatments. Many home treatment methods exist descending from a variety of cultural traditions, however most minor symptoms are easier to avoid by adhering to proper habits ... |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES:
Business Goals - The 10 Commandments The Ten Commandments of Goal Setting While it's good to set goals and work them into a proper plan, the fact is many people succeed in business without setting any goals. Be careful not to set your goals too high. Top Ten Things to Do to Make your Signature File Sell Always include a powerful signature on every email you send out, even to friends. It's even more important when you send out articles to opt-in ezines (no spam) and top web sites in your field--more important than your article's message. Top 7 Strategies for Writing Accounting Procedures Part Two of Cash to Cash Cycle Series. Next: Sales; We've already found $250,000?so let's find another $250,000?Laying the Foundation. Last week, we raised the question: what would your business do with $1,000,000? To lay the foundation we introduced inventory as the first of four areas that will lead toward our million dollar goal. And you saw exactly how to achieve the first $250,000 in cash savings by avoiding delays with an increase in velocity, as well as an increase in discipline and competency. Top Ten Listening Skills for Speakers Good Speakers need good listening skills to become Great Communicators. Speakers spend a lot of time developing speaking skills and often don't focus enough on the equally important communication skill of listening. As a Speaker trained in the art of listening I have put together the tips below. Top 7 Reasons You Should Back Up Your Data Online! How much is your data worth to you? In this modern electronic-age we rely more than ever on our computers to supply us with the information we need. Chances are every piece of data you might ever rely on to make an important decision has been reduced to a digital format and resides somewhere on your computer's hard drive. The Warning signs of Online Fraud and How To Avoid It The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004 in the Unites States alone, computer users logged in more than 207,000 Internet fraud reports to the U. Top Ten Reasons to Write a Sales Letter for Each Product? - Part 2 Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know their products. 10 E-mail Organization Tips Who doesn't have issues with organizing their inbox!? I receive close to 600 e-mail each day due to the variety of activities and contacts I have online. Some I am truly interested in their content - most I am not. 7 Strategies for Handling Last Minute Meetings Have you ever found yourself having to scramble to organize a meeting at the last minute? Wouldn't it be nice that if and when this daunting situation arose, you were well prepared with all necessary information ready at your fingertips? That's why I've developed the following seven survival strategies to help you plan for the inevitable, because you know as well as I, it's going to happen 'someday.' Survival Strategy #1. 7 Steps Toward a Better Website Creating a website is one thing, making it better is another. Matt shares 7 steps to help you gain a better website. 7 Reasons You Want Referral Business and How to Get Them Studies have proven that there is one reason why people don't do more referral business: they don't ask. There are two reasons why, they forget or they don't have a strong enough relationship with their clients, so they don't feel comfortable The truth is every professional should strive to have all of their business be referral because the benefits of referral business are undeniable and extensive. 7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses We all know that running a home business is highly satisfying, and at times downright liberating! No clock to punch, no dress code, and best of all, no boss to answer to. But there are also many facets of business ownership that entrepreneurs must stay on top of. Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of the Next Training You Attend Sometime soon you will be attending some training. It may be a one hour tele-seminar, a one day class, professional conference, or a weekend retreat. Why Don't They Just Get It Done: 7 Performance Tactics for CEOs Buckling under the weight of chronic corporate restructuring, and frustrated by performers who don't respond to carefully crafted strategic plans, high level executive leaders are being confronted by a growing performance gap between what needs to get done and what gets done. Sound familiar? It's a troublesome trend that is likely happening in your firm right now. 7 Online Banking Success Stories You have seen their ads and you may have wondered if they are worth a second look. What am I talking about? Online banks! Also known as internet banks, these are financial institutions who provide the majority of their banking services over the internet. 7 Ways To Get One-way Links To Your Site One way links will help you gain better rankings in the major search engines. Here are 7 ways to get them :1. 10 Things To Do When Business Slows Down Over The Holidays I'm sure you've seen it happen every year: your business slows down during predictable times, like the summer vacation months or year-end holidays. For the self-employed who rely upon steady cash flow, this can be a disconcerting time. The Seven Secrets of Top Performers Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales or any profession, is due to luck, chance, and/or hard work. There is nothing further from the truth. Famous Business Strategies Either simply a looker-on or a player in the world of business, you see millions piling into the accounts of world's most famous businessmen and naturally the question pops "How?", wondering what is the alchemy they've discovered? Yet, there is no magic here - it's mostly pure strategy. And what it takes to spot it and make it real. Making Money over the Internet : 5 Cool Tips The Internet is a fast growing medium, transcending the personal ,geographical, political and cultural barriers. Because of its popularity and diversity, for an ambitious and hard working person, it is the right medium to make unlimited wealth the only thing is that you should know how to do it, the knack of doing it comes only with practice ,but a non-starter doesn't get any practice.
|
Akron City Directory
www.AccessFreedom.Does.It
www.Akron.Has.It
www.NoGas.Drives.It
|
 |
auction news and listings for Akron, Ohio Akron crafts and hobby news center Advertising and promotions Akron, Ohio The Akron blogging news center Akron Ohio web site design news Akron Mortgaging and refinancing Best Home Remedies and do it yourself tips
|
|
|
HOME |
SITE MAP
© 2009 All Rights Reserved
|
|
