We have all been there, spent hours each week going to networking events to come home with no new contacts and the feeling of "why did I waste my time on that event". It takes more than jsut being a wall flower in a room full of potential customers. You have to work the room.
- Show up early and ready to work with your pockets full of business cards
- Attend with a business associate and split the room, you will reach twice as many people and you can then share your contacts.
- Make sure that your 30 second commercial is compelling to listen to. The Little Red Book of Sales Answers by Jeffrey Gitomer is a wonderful source for refining your 30 second commercial.
- Have your 30 second commercial refined to a point where you don't stumble over anything when you present it. This may take a few hundred times of practice in front of the mirror but the results will be well worth the effort put forth.
- Be happy and positive. No one wants to be around or do business with Mr. or Ms. doom and gloom.
- Don't waste your time if the person is not a good prospect. Disengage with them gracefully and move on. Remember, your single goal is to make new contacts for potential new clients.
- Eat early, it is hard to eat and mingle.
- Leave the drinking up to everyone else. You will have a distinct advantage of being sober.
- Make sure you stay until the very end. The longer you stay at the event, the more contacts you will make.
Event selection is critical in networking. each week, your local business journal, newspaper or Chamber of Commerce will publish a list of business events. Don't forget about the social and cultural events as well, these are great networking possibilities. Select events that attract customers or people that you want to work with and build your clientele from.
Christine Stalsonburg
President/CEO
Social Media Partners
"Your Partner in Social Media"
231-409-4140
Follow us on Twitter - http://www.Twitter.com/SMPTraverseCity
Like us on Facebook - http://www.Facebook.com/SocialMediaPartnersTC
http://www.SocialMediaPartners.us
Those are wonderful tips. I'm sure anyone following this advice is sure to come out with many contacts.
I really like working with a business associate at events and sharing contacts. Usually my lender affiliate or a title company affiliate will team up and go to these events. Works great.
Good advice... networking isn't easy but its definitely part of the job... you just have to commit to it!
Christine, Those are great networking tips! And I also like to follow up with the people who give me cards with a nice Thank You via e-mail and then they're in your database too! Thank you for the re-blog!
Christine..thanks for the post. Good points. Have a great weekend...
Christine..thanks for the post. Good points. Have a great weekend...
Wanda:
Thank your are also a vital component and it really firms up the contact from the event. I try to do hand written thank you's. It is a nice personal touch and we dont' get many personalized notes anymore in our world. Everything is email. I agree it is much easier to shoot a thank you email but I am still an old school girl and like the personal touch of a card in the mail. which ever way you choose to say thank you, JUST DO IT and be consistent with it. I time block every day for this and it is my goal to send out 5 hand written notes a day. I usually do this first thing in the morning when my energy level is the best.
Wanda:
Thank your are also a vital component and it really firms up the contact from the event. I try to do hand written thank you's. It is a nice personal touch and we dont' get many personalized notes anymore in our world. Everything is email. I agree it is much easier to shoot a thank you email but I am still an old school girl and like the personal touch of a card in the mail. which ever way you choose to say thank you, JUST DO IT and be consistent with it. I time block every day for this and it is my goal to send out 5 hand written notes a day. I usually do this first thing in the morning when my energy level is the best.
Christine,
Good post on networking. I find that most people want to discuss real estate. It's a no-brainer.
Great list of ideas for networking. Thanks
Christine, this is a nice list of things to do when trying to network..but I am not sure where you would apply this...maybe I'm having a brain freeze or something, but the setting you describe sounds more like a business function..am I missing something?
William:
This would all apply in a business setting. I do most all of my networking in a business setting such as Chamber of Commerce after hours and such. I am not sure where you do your networking. I go to many functions with a lender partner or a title company partner and we would share the contact that we make that evening. If you are not networking at business functions you are missing out on a huge group of potential clients.
Great post...
Thanks for sharing this information with us.
Ginger Harper
Great post...
Thanks for sharing this information with us.
Ginger Harper
You are so right. I have found myself just spending time catching up with someone. Need to keep your eyes on the prize!
Might I add... Dress appropriately! How many times have you went to these functions and seen the guy/gal looking like they're on a Mexican Beach Vacation or just finished changing the oil on their car.
I make networking a part of my day, with club meetings, outings etc. It is a good way to get business.
Great post Christine. These are some really good networking tips. I'm planning to get out more and get more involved in my new community this year, so your tips will come in handy.
Great tips Christine! I call it the "Elevator Pitch" and we all need to have one.
Great points in networking. I specifically love #8 "Leave the drinking up to everyone else. You will have a distinct advantage of being sober." I've met a few who had a little too much during a social.
Great tips and thanks for sharing! I agree with Tina, need to keep your priorities straight.
Great points! I plan on attending more networking events this year.