Terri’s Top Ten Tips for Networking

1) Do more by joining more…whether it’s the Chamber of Commerce, associations, fraternal organizations, hobby groups.  To be involved, get involved!

 2) Dress like you belong at a business event, not at the sports bar or about to clean out the garage.  If you haven’t gotten a compliment on your hair or apparel in six months, visit the salon and the mall.

3) Schedule your networking events as you would a sales call.  Do Not cancel these events; they are not flexible.

4) ALWAYS carry business cards (it’s a bonus if your business cards can be blown up to billboard size and are immediately self-explanatory).  Does your card immediately answer what you or your company does?

5) Arrive early and stay late – help the organizers of the event and get to know them; they know everybody in the room and will help you get involved.

6) Have some questions in mind for conversation starters.  People love to talk about themselves, so ask questions about their jobs and what you can do to help them meet someone they need to know.

7) This is a NETWORKING event – don’t try to SELL somebody something. You cannot close a deal in a half hour, so stop trying.

8) Before you walk in the door, check for dates and times you are available for coffee in the next 36 to 48 hours.  If you meet someone interesting, invite him or her for coffee (most people know what they are doing in the next 3 days).

9) Rescue the “wallflowers” – they will be grateful and you will have done a good thing. Take the focus off you…and put it on them!  You’ll be surprised how often it comes back to you. 

10) Have fun and stop trying to “power-meet” everyone in the room. Networking is all about building relationships; so commit to whatever group you plan to join and give it time. Most people want to do business with someone they know, like and trust. If you are attending regularly and are involved, people will get to know you and business will flock to you after all!