“You never know who you might meet.”

Basic Networking Best Practices to Keep in Mind

1. Do your research: Who is attending the event? Do some research into similar companies, their backgrounds, how they got started and obstacles they’ve had to overcome. Seek out founders of companies you admire and people who have been in your position before. The more you know, the better you can prepare to grow your own business.
2. Become a resource on social media: Using social media to not only market your business but use it to network and connect with other business and potential customers is quickly becoming the quickest way to achieve business objectives. Use platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and even Facebook to network and build connections.
3. Offer your help first: Many individuals will approach others seeking answers to their own problems or challenges. However, one of the best ways to form meaningful, productive relationships is to ask questions and discover how you can provide value to them when you meet people. Ask what you can bring to the table, and share helpful tips with others. Don’t expect anything in return. When you provide value, it’s much more likely to be reciprocated. Cold email contacts suggesting ways that they can make more sales. Make introductions to people who you know can help your contacts. Share what’s been working in your business and encourage colleagues and contacts to try it. This is how you get people’s attention, command respect, and encourage others to proactively try to help you.
4. Set a goal to meet five or more new people at each event. Make a point of heading straight for people you haven’t met. Greet the newcomers – people will appreciate this, as networking events are often intimidating for some. If you don’t make this goal a habit, you’ll naturally gravitate toward the same acquaintances at these events and your attendance will be unproductive.
5. Try one or two new groups per month. You can attend almost any organization’s meetings a few times before you must join. This is another way to stretch yourself and make a new set of contacts. Determine what business organizations and activities you would best fit into. It may be your local chamber of commerce, the arts council, a museum society, a civic organization, a baseball league, a computer club or the PTA. Attend every function you can that incorporates your goals and potential customer interaction.
6. Carry your business cards with you everywhere. You never know when you might meet a critical contact, and if you don’t have your cards with you, you may lose out on the opportunity to further the connection. Take your cards to church, the gym, parties, the grocery store–even on walks with the dog. Keep them in your wallet, purse, and car. To ensure that people remember your name, and most importantly your business names, invest in some quality stainless steel business cards for your employees! Such custom business cards can be found on sites similar to Metal Kards, having personalized business cards have proven to boost your networking.
7. Don’t find your seat immediately. You’ll often see people at networking groups sitting at the dinner table staring into space–half an hour before the meal is due to start. This is wasted time that could be used to take full advantage of valuable networking time before you have to sit down. Once the meeting starts, you’ll have far more trouble mingling.
8. Don’t sit by people you know. You may be in your seat for several hours during a meeting, so don’t limit your opportunities by sitting with friends. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself to people on either side of you. Obviously, it’s considerably more comfortable to socialize with familiar faces. But remember, you are spending precious time (and sometimes money) to attend these events.
9. Get active. People remember and do business with leaders. Make an impression and get involved by joining a committee or becoming a board member. If you don’t have time, volunteer to help with hospitality at the door or checking people in. This gives you a reason to talk to others, gets you involved in the inner workings of the group, and provides more visibility.
10. Be friendly and approachable. Make people feel welcome by pretending that you’re hosting the event. Find out what brought them there, and see if there’s any way you can help them. Introduce them to others, make business suggestions or provide them with referrals. Not only will you likely make a new friend, but putting others at ease is proven to decrease your own self-consciousness. If you make the effort to help others, you’ll soon find people helping you.

Networking events work, when YOU make them work.