Business Networking

YES ..... more has been written on this subject than you could ever read (or want to read). I will most likely not tell you anything that hasn't been written before. Nevertheless, there are some very important aspects upon which all good business networkers agree. I would like to highlight them in this posting.

NUMBER ONE: You can't win the lottery unless you buy a ticket. You can't network unless you go places to meet people. Sitting at home wondering how you are going to get into this company or meet that person will not grow your business. Go to every event you can.

NUMBER TWO: Sit with strangers. When I go to a networking event I look for a table that has people I do not know. Many business people want to feel comfortable by being with people they know. That defeats the whole purpose. Get out of your comfort zone.

NUMBER THREE: Wear a name tag that is big enough for people to read. It doesn't need your company's logo, vision statement, etc. It only needs your name in big, easy to read letters so the people you meet can easily remember your name.

NUMBER FOUR: Do NOT bring brochures and fliers. You are not there to sell. You are there to meet people.

NUMBER FIVE: Bring five times as many business cards as you think you will need. The old saying is that "The most expensive business card is the one in your pocket." Give everyone more than one.

NUMBER SIX: Be prepared with your "elevator speech." You need to be able to describe what you do (not your title or what profession you are in - but what you DO) in one to three short sentences. If someone asks, "What do you do?" and you respond "I'm in insurance." you may as well have stayed home.

NUMBER SEVEN: Make sure you have a pen with you. Writing a few notes on the back of business cards you receive will help you remember something special about the people you meet so you can bring it up the next time you speak with them. You can also use it to write the name and phone number of the person who was too dumb to bring enough cards and doesn't have one for you.

NUMBER EIGHT: Don't sell. Ask questions and listen. Show an interest in the person you are meeting. People love to talk about their family, their occupation, and their hobbies or recreational activities. Ask about any of those and then LISTEN.

NUMBER NINE: Send HANDWRITTEN notes the NEXT DAY via good old U.S. mail to everyone you met. I use note cards with my company name and my picture. I write just a short note saying that I enjoyed meeting them. I may mention something of particular interest that they said. If it is someone I would like to get to know better, I tell them in the note that I will be giving them a call in a few days to see if he/she would like to get together. I would be willing to bet that you will stand out because you will be the ONLY PERSON who sent a handwritten note. And remember, send it the NEXT DAY so you are still fresh in their minds.

NUMBER TEN: Call and set up the meeting.

It's not rocket science - just common sense. Yet most people want to go to a networking meeting and talk, talk, talk, and sell, sell, sell. If no one buys - which they probably won't - the amateur networker makes a mistake by simply moving on to the next event.

I think if you follow these ten rules, you will be a successful business networker. What do you think? I'd like to hear your comments.