How to succeed in your career


 

15 Ways to Maximize Your Networking Effort

1/ The #1 success of Networking is tomake connections, ask about their business or
show-up.When you join a group or anservices. Be curious, ask about them.People
organization, it is very important that youlove to talk about themselves, so ask
commit to the group, and attend the meetingsquestions and more importantly, listen to
on a regular basis. Weekly or monthlytheir answers. Use those answers to see how
depending on the group you choose.In order toyou can help them, how you can assist them,
build relationships with other members, theywhat resources you can share with them...And,
need to meet you more than once and you needas I mentioned earlier, this will always come
to meet them more than once. The more timesback to you. People you meet will also be
you attend the meetings, the more you willable to help you, give you referrals and
get results you will achieve. At eachresources, even if is it not today, the time
meeting, you will learn a little more aboutwill come.7/ Be a problem solver.People will
them and their business, and they will learnbe more interested in you if you tell them
more about you. The more they see you, thehow you can solve their problems and
more they know about you, the more they trustchallenges instead of just telling them your
you, the more referrals they will give you.2/story. Blah, blah, blah. Stand out from the
Always arrive prepared.Conduct some researchcrowd. Over the long run, you'll win all the
before you decide to attend an event to knowbusiness you desire.8/ Go to people; don't
what kind of people will be attending. Arewait for them to come to you.Some people are
they in your target market, will you face avery shy, and they will be happy if you make
lot of competitors or do you have a clear waythe first move. Remember, people attend
to stand out from the crowd?Spend some timenetworking meetings to meet other people and
on the website of the group that organizedexpand their circle of contacts. Help them ;
the event to learn about them. Do theymake it easier for others to meet you.9/ Go
specialize in a specific industry? Does theto events with a friend, colleague, or
group focus on small and intimate events? Orclient, and introduce people to each
do they pack the room with hundreds ofother.You will be considered a "PRO
people?Sometimes I have people who come to myNetworker." People will think that you know
events, and are surprised to see only 12 toalmost everybody, and as a result other
15 people, but it is mentioned on the websitepeople will come to speak with you. This
that is what makes Biba4Network and ourtactic puts you in the center of the group
meetings different from other groups'and brings people to you.10/ Give a
meetings and programs. On our home page weprofessional image.Maintain a brochure and/or
mention : "Because networking is more thana website. Some people will probably want to
just shaking hands and collecting businesslearn more about your business later, so give
cards, most of our events are limited to 15them the opportunity to get the information
people, to drive better results. There's morethey are looking for in a format they can
time to introduce yourself and your businessdigest and on their own timetable. Make it
to the group, more time to get to know eacheasy for people to get to know you.I get very
other, so more time to get business." So iffrustrated when I meet someone and can't
they had taken a look at the website first,understand what they do. Sometimes the reason
they would have known our style and wouldn'tis that we met only for a few seconds and
have been surprised or disappointed.When youother times because they were not very clear
go to an event, it is also very important towhen they described their business or because
have one or two important goals in mind. AreI just didn't understand. Remember English is
you looking for leads, partners, new clients,not my first language, so sometimes I can get
services? You will not approach people the"lost in translation." When I return home and
same way, and you want to be sure to send thewant to look at their website to learn more
right message and use your time wisely.3/about them, I notice that they don't have a
Never leave home without your businesswebsite. If you don't have a website now, put
cards.Wherever you go-to a networking event,this task high on your to-do list. In the
to the dentist, to the movies, to a party,meantime,  at  least  create  a  brochure.
always bring business cards with you. You
never know where you will meet an interestingPersonally, I don't like brochures. I
new contact, and you don't want to miss therealized that a brochure wasn't the best
opportunity to exchange cards. Writing yourmedium for my business. I use postcards
telephone number or email address on a pieceinstead. Postcards are relatively small, more
of paper or a napkin, doesn't look veryeye catching than a brochure and easier for
professional.Always carry a pen, or somepeople to read quickly. Postcards send your
people will prefer a PDA, to take notes onmessage immediately.I increased by 20% the
the back of the cards you receive-somethingnumber of members as soon as I started using
you would like to remember about the person,postcards. It is an intro to learn more and
something they said, and something youto invite people to visit my website.I don't
promise to send them.Use your business cardlike to receive brochures either, because
as a marketing tool to help you stand outthey take up too much room, and I don't know
from  the  crowd.what to do with the paper once I get home. I
already have hundreds of business cards in my
Don't put only your name and address, butorganizer;  that  is  enough.
add your logo. I know it may sound obvious
but many professionals don't have a logo atBut this is my personal opinion. For some
least on their card. Add your websiteindustries brochures work very well.11/
address, so people can check it later toProject the right image, make the right
learn more about your business. Add yourimpression, and create the right impact.What
tagline which explains your business in onemakes you unique? Every person I have ever
line; if you don't have a tagline or slogan,met is different from all the other people I
it is time to think about it.Let's say youknow. Everyone is unique in one way or
are a coach or a financial advisor, no doubt,another. This carries over into the business
you have a lot of competition. What makes youyou create. When you display your
unique and special? When people see yourindividualism- your best traits- you will
card, they will probably say, "Oh, anotherstand out from the crowd. When you are
one!" but if you mentioned your specialtiesproactive, you will meet many new people, and
on your card, it will make a differenceyou will ensure that others remember who you
immediately.Take my business card as anare.12/ In the 24 to 48 hours after an
example. Very often, when people receive it,event, send a 'thank you' note or email to
even before they read it, they say "Niceyour new contacts.Thank them for their time
card". First, because of the quality of theand reintroduce yourself in a few lines. They
paper, very thick, glossy, you can see that Iprobably met many people during the event and
didn't print the card myself with my printer.your business card cannot say everything
It is very colorful and matches my website.about you, especially if you had a meaningful
The card mentions "Seminars, Workshops &conversation with the person. So, it's
Networking" which explains exactly what I do,worthwhile to reinforce your introduction and
and my tagline "Build Your Business While Youreestablish that connection.Give them the
Build Friendships" which is the purpose oflink to your website, so they can learn more
the networking meetings that I organize toabout you and your business. Tell them about
help people build relationships to grow theiryour newsletter if you have one, and invite
business through networking.You can also usethem to subscribe. That will be the best way
the back of your card, to provide moreto stay in touch on a regular basis, so they
details about your business.Use bullet pointswill always know what you are up to.
to emphasize the purpose of your productsHopefully, they will forward your publication
and services. Show how you can be a problemto others and this will expand your network
solver to others, to make sure that they willfurther.13/ Follow-up, follow-up,
call you the next day.A business card is afollow-up.Schedule follow-up meetings with
"space ad". When you pay for an ad in apeople you had a good connection with, or if
newspaper you pay a lot of money so you tryyou think that you can help each other. Put
to use all the space, to get the mostan organization and a follow-up system in
benefit. Do the same with your business card;place; don't become overwhelmed with all your
use the most space available.4/ Have anbusiness cards, be organized; put your cards
effective 15 to 30 second elevator pitch.Wein a binder, for example a business card file
talked about this earlier in the book, butor portfolio. Or, use a database system like
this is one of the keys to successfulACT(R) or Microsoft(R) Outlook (R).Send
networking. Remember to introduce yourself,follow-up emails; contact your new contacts
and tell them the old adage "What's in it foron a regular basis; again sending your
me" or more accurately, "what's in it fornewsletter is often the ideal way to stay in
them." Learn how to "sell" yourself beforetouch. Develop your A, B, C lists to know how
you sell your services and products. Peopleoften you should contact people and reconnect
want to learn about you - what you're about,with them. Follow up as soon as possible,
what you can do before they make a purchasewhen someone gives you a referral. Your
or consider referring you to one of theircontact took the time to give you a referral,
valuable contacts.When you tell others aboutso don't spoil it; contact the referral
your business, be passionate, energized andsource to thank them and then let them know
energetic. Personalize your story so thathow your interaction went. If the association
your new contacts can picture themselves asworks well, they will be glad to be part of
part of your story. This will help themthe success and more than happy to give you
become a part of your mission.Then once theymore contacts in the future. Volunteer to
know you and trust you, they will either buygive them contacts in return.14/ Look at the
your services or if they don't need what youbig picture - Create partnerships.Instead of
offer; they will [hopefully] refer you tolooking for a potential client, and working
someone else. They will actually do thewith people one at a time, look for other
selling for you. If they trust you, thisprofessionals with whom you can create
trust will appear in the message they send topartnerships.Look for others to cross-promote
others.When a friend tells you how much theyyour business. Entrepreneurs who have
loved a book, a restaurant or a product, theybusinesses that complement yours, but who are
put such passion in their message that mostnot competitors. Someone who has the same or
of the time, you will buy the book or thesimilar target market as you. So if you
product because you want to have the samecross-promote each other, instead of having
feeling. Do you personally know the author ofaccess to one potential prospect at a time,
the book? No, but you buy it anyway. So youryou will have access to their entire mailing
friend did the selling, not the author. Dolist, 100s or 1000s of people, who are your
you see what I mean?Clearly introduceexact target.Organize events together:
yourself, in 15 to 30 seconds, so people willseminars, workshops, teleclasses. You will
understand exactly what you do; that willget more exposure in less time.15/ Do it
help you attract your target market and youagain and again.You will see how networking
will not lose potential clients.Don't havewill expand your contacts and will definitely
only one elevator pitch but 3 or 4, to behelp you grow your business.(c) 2006 Biba F.
able to adapt your message depending of yourPédronBiba F. Pédron, marketing
audience.5/ DO NOT SELL.I said it before, butconsultant, is the founder of Biba4Network,
I will repeat the point again; DO NOT SELL.that specializes in Networking for small
Networking events are not places to sell. Dobusiness owners in the greater New York Area;
not give a sales pitch. Just introduceand Focus on Career, that helps solo
yourself, who you are, what you do, how youentrepreneurs start and grow their
can help people. You attend these meetingsbusinesses.
and gatherings to get contacts and build
relationships, not to sell. That is the ONEBiba is the author of "Start Your Dream
AND ONLY purpose of a networking meeting. TheBusiness Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start
buying will come later on.6/ Meet people,and Grow Your Own Business".



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