Global Marketing Plus

Yesterday we began our list of tips you can use to improve your results of networking. Here are more networking tips building on yesterdays list:

6. Carry a large stack of business cards at all times.  Even when I run to the store to buy sprinkler parts for my lawn, I carry business cards in case I run into someone who may need my services.  There have been times when I forgot my cards and I needed them!  Remember that some networking meetings have you pass your cards around the table for everyone to take one.  If you go to a meeting with 60 people, and you only have 40 cards (which may seemed like a lot when you left the office) some potential clients will not get one of your cards!

7. Make sure you get a business card from every one at the meeting.  This allows you to follow up by calling them later.  The primary reason to give out your business card is to get their card in return.  Never leave it up to those you want to talk with further to contact you!  You must take the intitive yourself.  So many times someone who was excited about my services at the meeting and said they would call me in the morning forgot!  I had to call them. 

Why get a card from everyone, even if some may not need my services?  You must remember that 80% of the business I get from networking meetings does not come from the people I meet using my services, it come from people they know that are referred to me!  I even get business  from my “competition”!

8. Make notes on the card you collectabout when and where you met the person and anything special about them and what you want to discuss in the future.  Don’t rely on your memory.  Chances are two weeks after getting the card, you’ll have no idea who gave it to you or why you kept it.  So many times I get home and have several cards from new people I met and can’t remember anything about them and who was who.

9. Make name tags work. If name tags are furnished, don’t just put your first name on the tag.  Print clearly your name, and the name of your company.  Wear your name on your right side so people can easily see it when they shake hands with you.  You may want to have a professional name tag made and wear you all the time.  Even outside of meetings, you don’t know who may see your name tag and ask you about it.

10. Talk to one person at a time.  Don’t rush madly from person to person.  If you are too much of a go-getter, you will turn people off.  Over the long run, you will do far better talking sincerely with a few people.

11. Don’t spend too much time with one person.  I am not contradicting myself from number 10.  If there are other people you could meet and greet at the meeting, talk with each person long enough to exchange information, then move on.  You should arrange a one-on-one (discussed later) and spend extended time getting to know each other later.

12. Wrap up conversations graciously.  When you conversation winds down of its own accord or you can see that the need to talk will get much more involved than is proper for this type of meeting, feel free to move on.  There are several ways to conclude the conversations, such as: “I’ve enjoyed meeting you”, “I’ll look forward to seeing you in future meetings”, or “let’s get together during the week”.  Those lines will also work well to excuse yourself from a  conversation with someone who is talking on endlessly.  In that case, you could also say “Excuse me, I see someone I need to speak with.  It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”  However, if you use that statement, be sure to go talk immediately with someone else.  I might look bad if they notice you just go off and stand alone!

13. Stay at least 15 minutes after the event.  Don’t rush off too quickly.  there may be someone who wants more information from you or wants to set up a one-on-one meeting.  Exchange cards with others you want more information from and wrap up any unfinished conversations from earlier.  Take a moment to say good-bye to anyone you met for the first time or haven’t seen for a long time.

Tomorrow I will go over tips for what to do after the networking meetings that can improve your results. 

Until then, have a profitable day!