A networking event is not a business card dumpster. In other words, you should not go to a networking event with the intention of dumping as many business cards as possible. The quality of a contact is far more important than the quantity. You do not want to shovel your business cards away or waste your time talking to somebody that has no chance of yielding any possible results for you.
Networking events can be dangerous. You would be surprised how many people go to these events thinking that passing out business cards constitutes effective networking. How is this different from passing out your business cards in front of a grocery store? The point is, you do not need to go to a networking event if all you want to do is pass out business cards. Networking events are your time to shine! Show who you are and what you and your company are all about.
Some guidelines should be followed in order to guarantee a successful networking event. First, DO NOT BE SHY! You are not going to these events to huddle in a corner and to hope somebody talks to you. This is not a sixth grade dance! Do not hide in the shadows! Do not wait for people to come to you. You have to be aggressive, but not pushy. Introduce yourself, strike up a conversation, and get the ball rolling.
Make sure you keep your meetings short. Although you are looking for quality, you can only do that by talking to as many people as possible. Remember, you are going into these events blind. Usually, you only have a general idea about the type of people that are going to be at these events. This means that you do not know their motivation level, their goals, their skills, or their business. As such, you need to meet many in order to benefit from the few. Keep your conversations short, sweet, and on point.
What should you talk about at these events? Logic tells you that you should pitch your business and tell everybody you meet everything about you and your business. I caution you not to do this. In these situations, you should use the restaurant metaphor. Think about it like this; when going out to eat, most people have an appetizer before they dive into the main course. Think about that in networking situations. Networking events are the time to give “potentials” a small taste of your business. Your goal at these events is to build curiosity, wonder, imagination, and excitement. By doing this, you will see a large increase in your follow-ups.
You need to bring a little hardware to these events. Bring business cards, a writing utensil, and a small notebook or notepad. Talk to people before forcing your card onto them. Do not waste a perfectly good business card on somebody you feel will yield no results.
Lastly, but most importantly, be polite, approachable, and yourself. You could have a great product, but if people do not like you, they will not work with you. Make introductions easy, make the conversation interesting, and most importantly, be polite. Your reputation travels fast at these events. Be the life of the event and make sure people remember you!
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