Networking Tips from the Pros

I attended a Relationship Building Network (RBN) focus group today and the topic of discussion was networking. Below are a few tips I learned from the experts at RBN on the most effective ways to network:

Network with a Vision. Know your goals for attending the event before you go. Whether it’s finding someone who knows a particular person you want to meet or if it’s finding at least one quality lead, have a goal in mind and commit to achieving it. This will help you move away from conversations that are counter-productive while giving you a specific topic to address with everyone you meet.

Network When Business is at its Best. When business slows down, you’ll have a rolodex full of contacts to follow up with.

Offer Gifts/Raffles/Prizes. Not only does this make you a popular person at the event, it’s also a great way to give someone a constant reminder of you every time they use or see the gift. But make sure your gift doesn’t come with strings attached, such as “free” consultations or “free X with the purchase of X”.

Arrive Early and Leave Late. If you’re going to take the time to attend an event, maximize your presence there. At the end, offer to help the hosts clean up after the event.

Let Others Talk First. This is one of the best ways to build rapport with others you meet. People love talking about themselves, so let them. They’ll not only like you more for it, you’ll have an understanding of their business so you can better frame how your product/service may be of benefit to them.

Demonstrate Value. At the end of the day, we all need to sell our products/services. Find a way to demonstrate that the benefit of what you’re offering far outweighs the cost. Communicate with the buyer’s perspective in mind… and you’ll understand their perspective if you let them talk first :)

Posted by: Caroline Callaway, caroline@boltpr.com