1. Set goals when attending networking meetings. Are you attending to learn? Make contacts? Or strictly making business connections.
2. Volunteer. This provides you with greater visibility and you give back to groups that help you. Act as a resource for others to enhance your role.
3. Clearly articulate your needs. Some people cannot answer a simple question like “How can I help you”?
4. Ask open-ended questions. In networking group conversations ask questions like who, what, where, how rather than questions that can be answered yes or no. This suggests you are interested in what people have to say.
5. Follow-up. If you receive referrals follow-up quickly. The way you respond is a reflection on the person providing the referral.
6. Call new contacts. If you meet someone of interest make a follow-up call to indicate your pleasure in meeting the person and try to set a date to exchange further ideas.
Networking can be a core tactic for both independent professionals and small business owners. Customers are more easily attained this way than through more costly and time consuming cold calling.
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