Trade Shows & Events

Business Networking Tips & Ideas by John Collins
www.meetingsandmixers.com

LISTEN!
The best conversationalists are not those that talk a lot, they are the ones who know how to listen! When you meet someone new at a meeting, pay attention! Don't interrupt to tell them about your business before they are through. The chances are better that they will listen to you if you have listened to them. Even if they are not a prospect for your service or product, you never know who they may happen to know that could need you.

DON'T PREJUDGE
Just because the person you just met is in a field that is usually incompatible with yours it doesn't mean that they don't have a friend that needs your services. Be polite. Listen. You may miss out on a good opportunity if you don't.

GET OUTTA THEIR FACE!
It's happened to all of us and we all hate it, so don't do it. A stranger approaches us and asks us probing and very personal questions about our income or finances or health, you name it. It makes us very uncomfortable. So don't you be the one doing it! Back off and build a relationship first. Then you may earn the right to ask questions of a more personal nature. Or not. (This is a pet peeve--I don't want to discuss my financial past, present or future with someone I just met at a mixer.)

LUNCH TIME NETWORKING
Make your lunch time pay! Instead of chowing down on a burger in your car or at your desk, you can visit our site and on most days find a good choice of networking events to attend. Grab a pocket full of business cards and make your lunch hour a profitable time of day. The food is usually better, too.

GET TO KNOW YOUR COMPETITORS
It has happened more than once that forming an alliance with a competitor will generate additional business. Perhaps you are in the same field, but with a different specialty. For any number of reasons you may find it advantageous to pass or receive clients back and forth. And it also helps to understand how they work and how they attract business.

FOCUS YOUR FOCUS
You will get far more out of networking meetings if you focus on a few groups rather than attend lots of meetings hosted by different organizations. The key to success is being the one that comes to mind when someone in your field is needed. Become known by zeroing in on a group or a couple of groups that you like. Go to all of their functions.

TAILOR YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Many networkers become easily discouraged when they don't have a backlog of business after attending a meeting or two. It is indeed a very rare occurrence for you to have people flocking around you trying to hand you money just because you showed up. It takes time for you to get known and for people to gain confidence in you.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
I don't mean dye your hair green, but create or emphasize something about yourself that will make you memorable. It could be a slogan or a manner of dress or a unique handout; it really doesn't matter what, so long as you are the person that is thought of when someone in your field is needed.

APPEARANCES DO COUNT
Inspire confidence by dressing and looking like a professional in your field. 'nuff said.