The Professional Networker, Your Online Resource for Expanding Business Relationships

Networkers Credo “What Can I Do For You?”

Knowing how to network is a must-have business tool. Today’s marketplace is extremely competitive, and professional networking groups can:

  • Keep you informed.
  • Increase your referral base.
  • Increase your visibility.
  • Help you stay on the cutting-edge.
  • Networking is actually warm calling and not cold calling.

It is important to have networking strategies and goals that you want to achieve at each event. This will allow you to achieve your goals at each networking event you attend. Keep in mind, this could be your hidden agenda:

  • Setting appointments
  • Keep moving – circulate around the room
  • Focus your attention on the person who is speaking to you
  • Make up your mind you will have fun at this networking event

Here are some networking tips you may want to keep in mind:

Break Bread

Have you heard the term power lunch or power breakfast? Both are better than a traditional cocktail hour for focusing on the person you want to get to know better. Where you dine is secondary. Just make sure the restaurant is quiet enough so you can talk – and you don’t have to shout to be heard. This is an important way of finding out how you can help him or her get more customers and how the person can help you and your business.

If you think the relationship is worth maintaining, follow up with a nice email message or personal note saying: “Lunch (or breakfast) was so enjoyable that we should do it again soon.”

Contributing Your Services

Many good networkers sit on the board of an organization or an association. If you are interested in more visibility, ask about the requirements to sit on the board or chair a committee for an association. Most organizations and associations are anxious for willing volunteers. Keep in mind, that many networkers who sit on boards do so without receiving a fee. Volunteering is important in today’s business climate, but if you volunteer, your reputation is on the line for fulfilling your commitments to the organization.

Saying Thank You

We are sure you are aware of relationship marketing in dealing with your clients, but what do you do with other networkers who help you in many ways? If you don’t want to give a small gift, a personal thank you note is always appreciated. When you thank people, they appreciate it.

Fish For Negative Feedback

Why do you want negative feedback? Negative feedback helps all of us improve. We would never know how to do things better without this information. For example, someone may say you speak too fast in your 15 second elevator speech, or you speak so softly no one can really hear you. These are negatives that can become a positive.

The best way to get feedback is to:

  • Let other networkers know that you really want feedback – good and bad
  • Provide ways for them to tell you

The simplest way to get this information is to listen and use open ended questions to get this information. For example, “What did you think of my 15 second elevator speech this morning? How do you think I can improve it?” An even better way is to ask your networking associates ahead of time for their critique of your “15 second elevator speech” or your “10 minute Infomercial” after you are done. Let them know ahead of time that their input positive and negative will help you learn to be a better networker. Follow up with them after the presentation for their comments, and thank them.

Say Please And Thank You

Be polite. It may sound old-fashion, but there are some rude networkers out there! Sometimes the simplest things can make a difference in another networker’s perception of you. Thanking someone for a referral is crucial.

Ask for permission to follow up with them. “Would you mind if I follow up with you (tomorrow, next week, etc…)? Would you like me to contact you by phone, e-mail or letter?” As a networker, if you are presented with a question on follow-up and you are not interested in hearing from that networker, please let them know that in a professional manner. For example, “I respect your time as a busy professional, and I don’t want to waste your valuable time, but my son is a Financial Planner and I refer him to my clients. I will keep your card for future reference if you don’t mind.”

Watch Your Personal Appearance And Grooming

From the moment we see another networker across the room, we start to size up the individual. As the old saying goes, you have one chance to make a good first impression. Some keys are:

  • Smile
  • Dress appropriately – Determine what level of professionalism you want to convey
  • Be sure your attire is clean and pressed
  • Be sure you are clean and groomed
  • Wear your nametag on the right shoulder so when people go to shake your hand, they can see your name and profession

The Fear Of Public Speaking

Public speaking is the number one fear of most people. Even if you are shy, you can learn to be a professional networker. Watch other people. Take a seminar on public speaking, or join Toastmasters. Read books. Listen to tapes. People will not reject you at networking events. There is always someone to talk to. You won’t be boring if you ask questions of the other people, and keep them talking about themselves. Ask open ended questions that do not require just a yes, no answer. “How do you do what you do?” “Who is a good lead for you?”

Networking Can Take Place Anywhere

Who says networking can only take place at a planned event? Networking can be done in a meeting room with badges, while eating finger foods, at a wine tasting party or even in an elevator. Networking can even take place as you are waiting in line at a restaurant or a movie theater. It can happen with your waiter at a restaurant, your hair stylist, or on vacation. If you follow the practices of good networking, and follow the networkers credo “What Can I Do For You”, you can network anywhere.