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10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding

Written by: Alvah Parker

Article Overview: Good relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if you have your own business or work for someone else that network is critical. Lawyers, solo professionals freelancers, and sales professionals must constantly network and generate new business. Your network will be invaluable when you want to find a new job.

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10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding

Good relationships are essential to any career. It doesn’t matter if
you have your own business or work for someone else that network is
critical. Lawyers, solo professionals, freelancers, and sales
professionals must constantly network and generate new business. You prove your
worth to your employer by bringing in new business. Those who do not
network will not advance their careers as rapidly as those who do. You find
your next employer by keeping your network alive and active.


1. Review the names in your address book on a regular basis. Plan to
have lunch with one of the people or invite the person to a networking or
social function. Work becomes fun when your networking connections
become friends and you are likely to do more business.

2. Before you attend a networking event, think of a few topics that
would be interesting to discuss with people. Keep the conversation
flowing by asking thoughtful questions of the people you meet. That way when
you meet a great contact you’ll be able to reference the conversation
when you reconnect with them.

3. Using email is a great way to connect with others, but make sure to
move on to other methods of communication. Talk to the person by the
phone, or if possible get together for coffee and start to build a
relationship.

4. Don’t rush the process or expect too much too soon. Networking
feels awkward at first and often those who are new at it become
discouraged. It becomes easier and more natural after a while. Don’t focus on
getting a client/customer/job. Focus on building a relationship.

5. Don't get stuck talking to the same person all evening. You are
there to meet several people. Excuse yourself from the present company
every five to ten minutes with a pleasantry such as, "It was nice meeting
you . " and move on to introduce yourself to someone new.

6. Keep good records of your networking contacts. Whenever you connect
with someone online, on the phone, or in person, jot down a few notes
to remind you of who they are and what you talked about. Record the
ideas you have about working with that person too so you can schedule a
future meeting to discuss those ideas.

7. If the event has a speaker or if someone at the event receives an
award be sure to acknowledge the person if appropriate. People always
appreciate positive reinforcement. You can do this at the networking
event or write them a note afterwards.

8. When entering a conversation first listen to how you can help the
other people in the group. Don’t try to dominate the conversation or
focus it on yourself. Your goal is not to control the conversation but to
participate in it. When appropriate offer information about yourself
that will be interesting to your new contacts.

9. The purpose of networking events is to make connections not to get
business. Ultimately you will get business from it but don’t expect it
to happen immediately. Your success rate will improve if you have a give
and take attitude. Listen to what other people do and show interest
in their work.

10. Some people find networking events a little intimidating. If this
happens to you, try attending with a friend who is in a different
business so that you can help each other out. You can work as a team,
introducing each other and giving testimonials about each others business.
This will build your confidence as well as your credibility to others.

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  How to get business from social networking
  Great Networking Tips from the Relationship Masters Academy

Home > Business-Coach > Alvah Parker > 10 Tips To Make Your Networking More Rewarding
Article Tags: freelancers, lawyers, networking, new business, new job, own business, relationships, sales professionals

About the Author: Alvah Parker
RSS for Alvah's articles - Visit Alvah's website

Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor (The Attorneys’ Coach) and a Career Changers’ Coach as well as publisher of "Parker’s Points", an email tip list and "Road to Success", an ezine. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website http://www.asparker.com/samples.html and receive a free values assessment. Work becomes more meaningful and enjoyable when you work from your values. Alvah Parker began her career as a high school chemistry teacher. She later transitioned to a sales career at AT&T. As a Sales Professional at AT&T for 15 years she was elected to the prestigious Counsel of Leaders for the top 3% of the sales force. After leaving AT&T she transitioned into a coaching career.  Alvah is a senior coach for Boxwood Technology where she coaches association members on career issues and also  a SCORE Business Counselor where she advises and counsels small business owners. Parker’s Value Program© enables her clients to find their own way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are attorneys, entrepreneurs, managers and people in transition who want to find work that is in line with their own values. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.

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More from Alvah Parker
Finding Meaningful Work Starts With Self Awareness
Ten Characteristics Of Meaningful Work
Career Success How to Be a standout
Three Simple Ways to Get Job Satisfaction From a Job You Hate
10 Marketing Actions to Reconnect with Potential Clients or Referrers


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Re: Quote of the Day - "The only people witho Re: Quote of the Day - "The only people witho - Thanks for sharing this Evan, there are some very powerful quotes in there, I particularly like this one:- You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully. regards, Mal.
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Re: Make Friends...Literally BUILD them! Re: Make Friends...Literally BUILD them! - [quote="burnsrunner":1zobscwk]I agree! Networking is definitely the key word here. What does everyone feel about the different Networking platforms out there? Twitter Facebook LinkedIn what are some others?[/quote:1zobscwk] I am on Twitter and Linkedin, have not joined Facebook yet as my time is fairly limited and one needs a lot of time to devote to all these various networking platforms. Unless you do this full time (the networking I mean). MichelleJ


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