How To Integrate Your Online Networking with In-Person Events for Best Results
How To Integrate Your Online Networking with In-Person Events for Best Results
3 Must-do's for in-person networking
* Show Up! You need to be prepared to network. That means bringing enough business cards to hand out. Bring a pen and a notebook. Part of showing up is being able to articulate your message. Can you articulate your message in 5-10 seconds? No one will listen for any longer than that. So make sure your message is relevant. Remind the listener of their problem that you can solve, how you will solve the problem and the benefit you provide that your competitors can't.
* Follow-up! Did you collect the business card of everyone you met? Even though you didn't think you'd want to connect with them again? Of course you did! Because you just never know what they can do for you. I like sending a simple email after the event, "I enjoyed meeting you at the event yesterday and hearing what you do. I had a chance to look at your website this morning. Look forward to connecting to you at a future event. All the best."
* Give to Get! The networkers who GIVE stand out in a crowd because there’s too many ME ME people. Frankly, most of us are ME ME people. But ME ME means not only looking for new business but supporting your current customers. When you GIVE a referral to one of your customers, you’ve enhanced your reputation with that customer. No longer a transaction-based vendor, you’re on your way to trusted advisor status with every good referral you give. It’s much easier to sell to your existing customers vs getting new ones so make sure your customers have you at the top of their mind. Giving referrals to your customers also helps them remember to give you referrals back. And makes them referenceable as well!
Pros of in-person networking:
- Quality of relationship
- Reputation easily built
- Keep your contacts and relationships confidential
- Habit forming
Pros of online networking:
- Quality of contacts
- 24/7 networking
- Long reach of network
Cons of in-person networking:
- Time consuming
- Your competitors are at the same event
Cons of online networking:
- Quality suffers due to quantity
- So much useless data to weed out
- Hard to keep your relationships private
So why not combine the best of in-person networking with online networking? Diane Darling of Effective Networking calls this “hybrid networking.”
Combining allows you to build the quality of an in person network with the reach of the online network
Much of the new social media in online networking, such as pictures, videos, podcasts, group forums help strengthen those relationships
Many local networking groups are offering online capabilities – whether built themselves or thru a trusted partner such as Inquisix. Solutions like BlitzTime are also effective in offering immediacy of in-person with reach of online. That’s one of the reasons we work w/ them.
100% in person or 100% the other way with online is not effective. Capitalize on the best of both and build your own powerful referral network.
How To Integrate Your Online Networking with InPerson Events for Best Results - To learn more about this author, visit Michael Kreppein's Website.
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Many entrepreneurs who network with other business professionals should consider an integrated approach to networking. For best results, make sure your online presence matches your in-person efforts.
3 Must-do's for in-person networking
* Show Up! You need to be prepared to network. That means bringing enough business cards to hand out. Bring a pen and a notebook. Part of showing up is being able to articulate your message. Can you articulate your message in 5-10 seconds? No one will listen for any longer than that. So make sure your message is relevant. Remind the listener of their problem that you can solve, how you will solve the problem and the benefit you provide that your competitors can't.
* Follow-up! Did you collect the business card of everyone you met? Even though you didn't think you'd want to connect with them again? Of course you did! Because you just never know what they can do for you. I like sending a simple email after the event, "I enjoyed meeting you at the event yesterday and hearing what you do. I had a chance to look at your website this morning. Look forward to connecting to you at a future event. All the best."
* Give to Get! The networkers who GIVE stand out in a crowd because there’s too many ME ME people. Frankly, most of us are ME ME people. But ME ME means not only looking for new business but supporting your current customers. When you GIVE a referral to one of your customers, you’ve enhanced your reputation with that customer. No longer a transaction-based vendor, you’re on your way to trusted advisor status with every good referral you give. It’s much easier to sell to your existing customers vs getting new ones so make sure your customers have you at the top of their mind. Giving referrals to your customers also helps them remember to give you referrals back. And makes them referenceable as well!
Pros of in-person networking:
- Quality of relationship
- Reputation easily built
- Keep your contacts and relationships confidential
- Habit forming
Pros of online networking:
- Quality of contacts
- 24/7 networking
- Long reach of network
Cons of in-person networking:
- Time consuming
- Your competitors are at the same event
Cons of online networking:
- Quality suffers due to quantity
- So much useless data to weed out
- Hard to keep your relationships private
So why not combine the best of in-person networking with online networking? Diane Darling of Effective Networking calls this “hybrid networking.”
Combining allows you to build the quality of an in person network with the reach of the online network
Much of the new social media in online networking, such as pictures, videos, podcasts, group forums help strengthen those relationships
Many local networking groups are offering online capabilities – whether built themselves or thru a trusted partner such as Inquisix. Solutions like BlitzTime are also effective in offering immediacy of in-person with reach of online. That’s one of the reasons we work w/ them.
100% in person or 100% the other way with online is not effective. Capitalize on the best of both and build your own powerful referral network.
How To Integrate Your Online Networking with InPerson Events for Best Results - To learn more about this author, visit Michael Kreppein's Website.
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