Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Marketing 202: Networking Skills

Written by: Jay Hamilton-Roth

Article Overview: You now know your goal for attending an event. If you're naturally outgoing, then you're well on your way. But what if you're shy? Nervous? Insecure? Not a "people-person"?

Free Download - Marketing Happiness By Jay Hamilton-Roth
Name: Email:

Marketing 202: Networking Skills

(Prerequisite: Marketing 201: Networking Goals
http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/967/Marketing-201-Networking-Goals.html ])

You now know your goal for attending an event. If you're naturally outgoing, then you're well on your way. But what if you're shy? Nervous? Insecure? Not a "people-person"?

I never considered myself good at social events until I realized that socializing is a skill that can be authentically learned. You don't have to fake a personality to succeed, and in fact the only way you can get good at socializing is to develop your strengths. There are some people who are naturally magnetic. If you don't know your social strengths, ask your friends for their honest evaluation.

Here are some of my networking skill tips:

1. Count Quality, Not Quantity. Some people I know go to events to collect other people's business cards. They judge their success by how thick their card stack is. How often have you had someone come up to you, hand you their card and say, "Use my services!", then they repeat this with everyone they see? Rather than playing the "numbers game", spend time getting to know people in-depth.

2. Be More Interested In Them. People love talking about themselves. Ask people what they do. Why do they do this job? What's in it for them? Where's their passion for their job? I personally love hearing about people's passion - whatever it is.

3. Avoid The Common Questions. "What do you do?" is the common first question people ask. People need to get their elevator speech off their chest. Let them. Pay attention. Then ask a question that you ARE interested in. Why? How long? What did you do before?

4. Talk in Specifics. Don't talk about the weather.

5. Reveal Something About Yourself. You build trust by sharing something about yourself.

6. Find Commonality. If nothing else, you're both at the same event. Why? Anything you both witnessed?

7. Thank You. A single interaction doesn't build relationship. Send a "nice meeting you" email. Even better, a hand-written note.

8. Reconnect. When you see someone you met before (even if you don't remember their name), say, "Hi". People like to be recognized.

9. Remember Why Are People At The Event. People go to networking events to network. That means that you can potentially go up to anyone at an event and say, "Hi". Introduce yourself.

10. Look For Other People Not Talking To Anyone. Inserting yourself in someone else's conversation can be awkward. People are often relieved to have someone talk to them.

11. It's Networking, Not Dating. Don't take it personally.

12. It's Networking, Not Dating. Keep your goals professional. If you're at an event to get a date, it'll confuse the person you're talking with. Are you interested in them or their business?

13. Dress Nicer Than You Normally Do. You'll feel better about yourself. When you feel better, it's easier to be friendly.

14. Play The Host. Even if it's the first time at this sort of event, welcome people. Look them in the eye. Ask them how you can they help. Pass along some tip (the bathrooms are around the corner). Introduce people to each other.

15. Help The Host. Introduce yourself to the host. Tell them why you're at the event, tell them that who you'd like to meet and why. By being open to introductions, you make the host's job easier.

15. Pay Attention To Your Energy. You don't have to be networking all the time. Allow yourself some quiet time. Look around the room. Grab something (small) to eat.

16. Be Careful About Alcohol. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Alcohol may cloud your professional judgment or cause your tongue to slip.

17. Make Eye Contact. Make sure to give the person you're talking with your complete attention. Besides being polite, it'll relax the both of you - since they know you're "there".

18. Smile. Happy looking people are more approachable.

19. Don't Take It Personally. Social events can be stressful. Some events are better for you than others.

20. Practice. Think of networking like dating. When you first started dating, you might have been quite awkward. Instead of trying to make the event be a huge success for you, simply try to improve your technique.

The key thing is to be authentic. People can spot fakes easily. Find (or develop) some social skills and get really good at them. You might even find yourself looking forward to attending more networking events.

How do you keep track of your network? One free software solution is Highrise (http://www.highrisehq.com/)

Related Articles
  Is marketing about getting organised?
  Networking Mistake Myopia
  A New Kind of Networking for Recessionary Times
  Make Your Contacts Count
  How to Find the Right Social Networking Marketing Video Course to Meet Your Marketing Needs

Home > Small-Business-Consulting > Jay Hamilton-Roth > Marketing 202 Networking Skills
Article Tags:

About the Author: Jay Hamilton-Roth
RSS for Jay's articles - Visit Jay's website

Jay Hamilton-Roth founded Many Good Ideas (http://www.ManyGoodIdeas.com) to help small businesses brainstorm, design, and implement effective marketing strategies. He combines creativity with common sense to demystify the process of getting great results. He has used his high-tech background from MIT to help him launch five businesses. He consults with companies in a wide range of industries and publishes a monthly marketing newsletter and daily marketing blog (http://ask.ManyGoodIdeas.com). He is the host of the new TV series "Business With Passion" (http://TV.ManyGoodIdeas.com).

Click here to visit Jay's website
Dashed Line

More from Jay Hamilton-Roth
Are You Selling or Consulting
Self Test Small Business Marketing IQ
How To Branch Your Business
Marketing With Love
How To Field Others Pitches


Related Forum Posts
Re: MLM Marketing, youtube,  and buzzirk mobile. Re: MLM Marketing, youtube, and buzzirk mobile. - I have experience with MLM too. My initial reaction to the business was "snake-oil salesman" but once I got to understand the "overall business model" I am now an advocate to it. MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) is also known as Network Marketing. I realized an MLM business is no different than any other business. One needs to focus on both words "Network" and "Marketing" and give both equal respect. Some people focus heavily on the Networking part but forget "Marketing". I've started to use Building on a Budget and Magnetic Sponsoring concepts in my NM business and have found that people don't get involved so much because of the product but more because of what you bring to the table as far as marketing systems and support. I have both products listed in my signature. you don't have to buy it as the link to the free videos itself provides you a good understanding of what is required to position yourself as my above paragraph. If you do plan on purchasing it I can tell you that the measly $40 will open your eyes BUT your upline will not be too happy (atleast in the short term) beacuse the system is not duplicateable. I wrote this post as a polar post to Bulmer's reply as I have exhausted the friends and family networking and realized i never really focused on marketing. My leads now are more qualified and open to hearing about my opportunity than the other way around. my 2 cents if you plan on growing an MLM or Networking Marketing business.
niche forum categories niche forum categories - I think Kevin just touched on the point that I was going make... and that is developing 'categories' that stick. Sales and Marketing may be too broad for example. However I can almost guarantee you that you would see many more sign-ups if you tailored a category to 'internet marketing' for newbies. I've seen this work on other forums, however, [i:1i903wkn]it can get a little frantic[/i:1i903wkn]... Fine tuning the categories, or expanding the scope should be effective. I think a lot of IM folks are surfing right on by because they're not finding what they're looking for here... Just a few thoughts: Better Blogging Developing Info Products Internet Marketing Presentation Skills More How to's Another point is... a lot of people don't know that they can benefit from participating in forums. The signature links to their site - if they have one - can / should be motivation enough to get more involved. The more internet savvy members that have signatures seem to stick around more... Don't you think?
Re: Make Friends...Literally BUILD them! Re: Make Friends...Literally BUILD them! - 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?
Re: How to Promote Your Business Online Re: How to Promote Your Business Online - Thanks for the list ZekeLL , I use many of these ways to promote my online business and am looking into using more of them. I also use Article Marketing, Social Networking and Blogging which I find a very good way to get traffic to my site and also gain valuable backlinks. Take care, Carol
Re: What are you doing to grow your business Ladies? Re: What are you doing to grow your business Ladies? - At the moment I'm concentrating on Article Marketing, Blogging and Social Networking to gain backlinks and drive traffic to two of my websites. I'm also in the middle of creating another website, totally unrelated to my other sites where I will be selling jewellery. I only started this one yesterday and am pretty excited about it. Take care, Carol


Recommended Article for You close

  Is marketing about getting organised?

Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Here's a great ROI

How to Handle the “I Am Not Interested” Objection

Why Marketing Outsourcing is Growing So Quickly

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.