Top 10 Tips For Networking Success

Do you think you are good at networking, but are frustrated when you aren’t able to close the deal? Are you attending lots of events, but aren’t seeing the fruits of your networking efforts? Or, do you wish you could just fade into the background when you are at a party, only talking to the people you already know?

Well, I have news for you. Extroverts and introverts can both be excellent networkers who can build strong relationships and reel in the deals (and the job offers/promotions). Both types of personalities offer different strengths and challenges to networking. For instance, an extrovert may have more confidence to approach a group of people and talk to them. But an introvert will spend a great deal of time really listening to others and taking in the details of the conversation, which will be immensely important in building relationships after the party for the follow-up calls.

Tips for Networking Success

1.Be Yourself – Everyone has something to bring to the table when networking. It is important to bring YOU! If you are guarded, people will not get a sense of who you really are and it will be difficult to connect with you. If you try too hard to be the life of the party, you may be seen as somebody who is only out for fun but cares little about their business.

2.Relax – Remember everyone at the event is a person hoping to connect with others, just like you. With this in mind, make a point of approaching at least 5 new people at every event you attend.

3.Business cards – I am constantly surprised when I am talking to people at networking sessions and they have forgotten their business cards. Carry them with you at all times! I have even given out a business card when I was in the midst of getting an ultrasound! There are always opportunities to connect.

4.Be passionate about your product or service…or else find the door- This may sound harsh, but I actually think if your personal values don’t line up with the product or service that your company sells, you need to leave the organization. How can you passionately talk about your business when networking if you are not excited about it. If you are not enthusiastic about what you offer, others won’t be interested in what you stand for. And honestly, isn’t life too short to work at a place that doesn’t light you up?

5.Put the technology away – If you are going to socialize, then you need to focus on the face-to-face interaction. People often pull out their smart phones when they have a moment at these sessions, but what they don’t realize is that others may be ready to approach them but when they see the technology out, they don’t want to interrupt. You’d be surprised what opportunities you are missing out on when you bring your technology to the party.

6.Dress for success – I hate to say it, but as human beings, we tend to judge a book by its cover. With this in mind, you need to think about what you want to communicate about yourself when you go out? I challenge you to remember to include your appearance when considering how to build your brand and differentiate yourself. Wear clothing that is professional and feels comfortable to you. Strive to wear something a bit different than the others. Guys, this may be as simple as a brightly coloured tie. Ladies, this could be a chunky piece of jewellery or scarf. Give yourself some spark. Others will remember it…and you too!

7.Get personal – Don’t be afraid to shift out of business discussions and ask people about their families, vacations, and other passions. Be prepared to share the same about yourself. People want to do business with those they like and connect with. Taking the time to show others you genuinely care about them will be one of your greatest keys to networking success!

8. Follow-up – We know that the follow-up is key to cashing in on your networking efforts, but this is one of the greatest areas of missed opportunity because people don’t make time for it and then wonder why they didn’t get the deal. The day after your networking event, send everyone you received a business card from an email and ask them for lunch. At the lunch, continue the dialogue and then ASK them for their business. Tell them exactly what you want them to do and then share the benefit to them of doing what you are requesting. If at first you don’t succeed, keep connecting with them and building the relationship.

9. Go online – Networking online is exploding. I have received as many new customers through my online networking as through my face-to-face meetings. It seriously pays to go online. But there are so many different social media forums out there – Facebook, Twitter, Pininterest, YouTube, blogs, Linked In, and the list goes on and on. So how do you choose where to go?

Unless you have serious resources allocated to social media, I would encourage you to put greater focus on one area of online relationship building and do a great job there versus having a presence everywhere and not really reaching anyone. I personally think that LinkedIn is a great resource for building professional connections and increasing business. You have to fish where your fish are. For me, my audience is largely professional executives and entrepreneurs so LinkedIn makes sense for me. Evaluate your audience and do your research.

To be successful at online networking, you need to reach out and connect with others. Online relationship-building may be a more comfortable networking forum for introverts who can sit behind their computers and connect with others. The key is to reach out to others. Invite them to be a part of your network. Join up for groups that reflect your interests and comment on others’ posts. Then follow up with an invite to meet in person.

10.Use your gut- I am a big advocate of using the gut instinct. So much so, I am even writing a book on it. Have you ever walked into a room and just felt a connection with someone there? Perhaps your eyes met or you just felt something really intriguing about this person. When you feel this way, make the effort to walk over to that person and say hi. Every time I have felt this kind of ‘pull’ towards someone, I have never regretted making the effort to reach out to him or her. Something good has always come from it.