Want To Be Networking Guru? Here Are 8 Helpful Tips To Remember

| Saturday, June 18, 2011
By Dana McLean


Effective business networking is the bringing together of like minded individuals who, through relationship building, become walking, talking advertisements for one another. Keep in mind that networking is about being bona fide, building trust, and seeing how your relationship can genuinely help others.Always figure out before you even walk into a room what your specific goals are in attending each networking meeting. This helps you to pick groups or associations that will help you get what you are looking for.

Ask open-ended questions during your networking conversations - questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how. Questions that would only require a simple yes or no response should be avoided. You can open up the discussion and show listeners that you are interested if you use this line of questioning.

A walking resource center is what you need to become. When you become known as a strong resource, others remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you at their "top of mind".

Make sure you have your "elevator speech" prepared and know it like the back of your hand. When it comes to an elevator speech, it is commonly known as the response that you would give in the amount of time that it would reach the tenth floor in an elevator. Always rehearse your spiel and be genuine, so that you don't sound automated when you relay it to someone who asks what you do.

You should always be aware of what is going on in current affairs. You need to have a back up topic so that if you're not comfortable just rolling into a spiel when you first meet someone, you will still be able to break the ice.

Before you contemplate on a business card exchange, you must get to know that person first as well as their business and explain your business, which means that you should not just throw your business card at someone the minute you meet them. Otherwise, people will find you rude, pushy, and unprofessional and in turn this will be badly reflected on your business.

Always phone or email your new contacts and let them know that you enjoyed meeting them. If possible, you can even mention things that you have discussed on a more personal note such as telling them that you hoped they would enjoy the movie they are going to see that night. Because of this, you will be known as someone who listens to them, remembers them, and therefore they will form a trust with you.

You need to remember the most important thing and that is to quickly and efficiently follow through on referrals that you are given. If you are given referrals by people, your actions are a reflection on them. Your referrals will grow exponentially if you respect and honor their trust.




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