Ten Steps to Effective Networking

14 Jun Ten Steps to Effective Networking

1. Know your business, and know it well. If you’re not completely clear on the services you offer or your company’s brand culture, how do you plan to explain those explain those key points to potential clients and business partners? A CEO or business owner should know the ins and outs of their company like the back of their hand. Doing so makes it easier to create successful strategies, hire the right personnel, and find room for improvement. A major oversight could put your reliability and reputation at risk.
2. Be able to describe what you do in a few clear sentences. There’s an old saying that goes, “If you can’t say something in a sentence, don’t say it at all.” If your mission statement is a mile long or you use too much jargon in a pitch, people are more likely to become confused or disinterested. Come out of the gate with a short, catchy statement when introducing your business for the first time. You might even find some new tagline material there.
3. Know what you want and need from networking. You may be tempted to contact a new graphic designer about a website relaunch, when who you really need is a code specialist. Having a clear mission in mind will help you know exactly who to reach out to and how often, allowing you to get the job done more efficiently.
4. Know what you have to offer other people through networking. In any situation, successful partnerships are mutual. Calling on new contacts for favors may get you a quick-fix every now and then, but failing to fulfill your end of the bargain will only damage your credibility and end new relationships before they even start.
5. Be selective. Research where you need to go to meet the people you want to meet and make a point of getting there.
6. Understand how networking works; it’s a relationship that you build over time. Think back to your first real romantic relationship. Was that partnership built overnight, or did it take weeks, months, or even years of continuous communication, awareness, trust and respect? Professional relationships are no different. Sending someone a thank you note is courteous, but it’s not enough for them to want to become your business partner. If you only contact people when you need something, they will probably stop responding on the second or third try. If you’re serious about creating a lasting connection with someone, consider them as a person, not just another contact.
7. Act as an ambassador of goodwill whenever you attend an event or meeting. Meet everyone you possibly can, and involve yourself in conversation. You never know who you might meet and when.
8. Think give, not See point 6.
9. Listen actively to other people. Even seasoned CEOs take pointers sometimes. Whether they’re in your industry or not, there’s a lot to be learned from the experiences of others. Besides, asking timely follow-up questions and staying engaged in the conversation will make you appear professional, attentive, and serious about moving past the small-talk stage.
10. Follow up with contacts promptly by telephone or letter, and be sure to stay in touch – make the encounter about them, not you. Your mother was right. A little message can go a long way, especially if you offer to treat them to coffee next week.