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About.com About Money Small Business: Canada . . . Business Networking
By Mark Hunter
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Networking events have beenpart of the business andsocial scene for as long asanyone can remember. Formany people, they make a tripto the dentist seem fun. Forothers, networking events areenjoyable, but because ofwho they have to spend timewith, they wish they hadscheduled a visit to the dentistinstead.
Regardless of your feelingson the subject, whenattending an event, it's
important to have the perspective that your goal should be to help others first.
Unfortunately, it's an old cliché that is oftenleft at the door. The next time you're headedto a networking event, keep in mind thefollowing simple, helpful rule: after it's all saidand done, you want to have earned the right,privilege, honor, and respect to be able tomeet with them again. This is not a license tosell yourself, but an opportunity to buildrelationships.
22 Networking Tips
1. When you arrive at a networking event,avoid gravitating to people you know. Youshould initially thank the host and thenimmediately find someone new to introduceyourself to. This will help keep you in theright frame of mind as to why you came.
2. Stop selling and start listening! When youmeet someone for the first time, use it as anopportunity to get to know them. Don't try tosell them anything. Rather, begin to establisha relationship.
3. Keep your business cards in the breast pocket of your coat, a shirt pocket, or in anoutside pocket of your purse so they are easy to access and in good condition.
4. When giving a person your card,personalize it by hand writing your cellnumber on it. This will cause the recipient tofeel that they are receiving somethingspecial.
5. When giving or receiving a business card,
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Get more than cards out of your next business networking event. Image (c) Leukos / Getty Images
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be especially careful when dealing withpeople from outside the US as many culturestreat them with very high regard.
6. When receiving a business card fromsomeone, take a moment to write yourself a note on it such as where you met. If you dothis while you're still talking to the person, it will help convey your sense of personalconnection.
7. During the course of a conversation at a networking event, use the other person's firstname two or three times. People always like to hear their own name and it will help you toremember it when the discussion is over.
8. Rather than telling a new contact all about yourself, spend your time asking themquestions. It's amazing how much you'll learn!
9. After you meet someone for the first time, use the back of their business card to jot anote about something you learned from the conversation and the date and place you metthem. Recording the information will give you something to talk to them about the nexttime you see them.
10. Connect with the person you're talking to by tilting your head as you listen to them. It isan effective body language technique which communicates that you're paying attention towhat they're saying.
11. When a person is talking to you, be sure to look directly at them. Giving a person fullattention with your eyes will encourage them to share more.
12. When giving someone eye contact, remember it's not a "staredown" contest. Give theperson 3 to 5 seconds of eye contact and then look away briefly before returning yourfocus to them again.
13. The best location for networking is by a hightraffic area such as a main door, the bar,or near the food.
14. Never approach someone if they are walking towards the restroom or if they have aphone in their hand. Wait until they have returned to the networking area or put theirphone away.
15. After the person has shared something with you, ask them another question aboutwhat they just said. This shows that you're paying attention and that you care about whatthey're telling you.
16. Always keep one hand free to allow yourself to shake hands with people. This meansthat you shouldn't eat and drink at the same time. Remember, you're there to network, noteat a fullcourse meal.
17. As a way of demonstrating your networking skills, introduce each new person youmeet to at least one other person.
18. Never try to barge into a group of four or more people. Come along side of the group,but do not attempt to enter into the discussion until you've made eye contact witheveryone and a minimum of two other people in the group have said something.
19. Do not approach two people who are talking, as you may be interrupting an importantdiscussion.
20. Initiate conversation with someone who is standing by themselves. They'll be happy tohave someone to talk to them and, as a result, will many times open up with valuableinformation.
21. When you meet someone for the first time, you have 48 hours to follow up with thembefore they will completely forget about meeting you.
22. A networking event is not a time to see how many business cards you can acquire.Rather, it is a time to develop a few relationships that have potential.
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