This blog is written especially for entrepreneurs and small business owners and anyone who needs to meet a lot of people and build relationships in order to promote and increase their business.
I built my marketing consulting business through extensive networking and here are My 13 Networking Secrets to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck and Time….
1. Research Events
Make sure to research the networking events you want to attend before you attend them so you don’t waste your time at events or meetings that may not have your target market readily available at them. To find local events in your area, first find all of your area chambers of commerce, there might be many of them and any specialty associations or organizations that would pertain to your business or target market. Then locate all of your area large venues, meeting rooms, convention centers, concert halls and anywhere an event could be held ‘ more than likely they will have a website with an events calendar. Finally, read and go online to look up events in your local newspaper on their business calendar or in the main section, inside business publications and social magazines (plus watch TV and listen to radio shows who will promote events ‘ these usually get promoted really close to the event however to plan).
2. Be Prepared
Now that you know where to network, make sure you are prepared for the event. Order yourself a name badge that you can wear to all events and even out running errands ‘ you never know where you’ll meet a potential client! It is important of course to also make sure to use your logo, company colors and a good, descriptive title under your name on your badge for branding as well as it adds credibility and professionalism.
3. Keep Materials On Hand
Make sure to always keep any of your sales flyers, brochures and business cards in your car at all times, keeping them current and never running out; you never know when you will be able to display or hand them out at an event or meeting.
4. Your Commercial
Practice your 10 sec, 30 sec and 60 sec commercials because most events and meetings will ask for different lengths of commercials if you get a chance to stand up and tell who you are and what you do. The 10 sec commercial is for casual one-on-one conversation or a quick introduction typically and the 30 or 60 second ones are for stand up opportunities. Stick to your name, your business name, and a one sentence description about what you do and/or a question to make people think. Then make sure you mention your website and some sort of call to action.
5. Timing
Always arrive at meetings and events a few minutes early and be prepared to stay late and meet those people you don’t know yet, meet and get to know EVERYONE! Also, you should attend a function for the networking purposes (that’s why it’s important to research which events), not for a specific speaker (unless you are going purely for self-improvement); if the speaker turns out to be good then that’s a bonus! It’s tempting to hang out with the same people however you want to continually look out for those you don’t know and go up and introduce yourself to them.
I will share more networking tips in my next blog posting later this week!
© Copyright 2010 K. Sawa Marketing International Inc.
Other Posts You Might Like:
- 13 Networking Secrets, part 2
- How to Create a Memorable Leave Behind or Handout for Your Networking
- 10 Holiday Specific Networking Do’s and Don’ts
- Thursday, August 21 – Katrina is the Featured Speaker at the eWomenNetwork Accelerated Networking Luncheon in Stockton
- "How to Become a Good Networker (Even If You Don’t Like Networking!)" by Katrina Sawa
