A major part of owning a business or owning your role in a company is knowing how to communicate well and get to know people in and around your business. Collecting new contacts is essential to the growth of your business. This brings us to networking, a key element to the success of your company. Beyond collecting business cards, networking is the pathway to building new customer relationships. You will make the greatest connection when you have something to offer and they have something to give.
Here are a few key strategies to promotional networking success!
Take notice. Take notice of the contacts you already have and think about how you want your business to grow. This will give you an idea of the kinds of people you want to meet and how you will promote to them.
Show up. A major step to making connections is showing up. Find events where you know you will meet people and make the right connections. There are several ways to find networking events. Look them up on social media, check with your local chamber of commerce or ask a colleague.
Be prepared. Be prepared with the questions you will ask people you meet when networking. What do you need to know about them? What do they need to know about you? Where do you provide value?
Leave an impression. What will make you stand out at a networking event? Not only can you exchange business cards but wouldn’t it be a great idea to do something different? Maybe you can give out business card letter openers, a business card power clip, a business card magnet or any type of promotional gift.
Follow-up. Don’t forget to follow-up with the connections you have just made. This can be immediately after the event or down the line but the key is to stay connected!
Have you been to any networking events lately? What is your key to promotional networking success? How do you leave an impression on people you meet?
Great tips! I really like the part where you say “be prepared” before going to the networking event. It helps when determining the focus on what you want to share with others. I don’t really go to these events, I haven’t found a group that I want to be involved in yet. Thanks for sharing.
Sabrina- When you write a blog you are networking. I used an event as an example. When you see people you know and you discuss your business you are networking. The biggest challenge is following up on a lead
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Agree with you that networking is crucial for growing your buisiness, Arleen. And the suggestions you make are good. Considering the business you are in, following up with all people you meet is a must. A lot of them could, after all, be turned into clients of yours.
Have personally networked extensively all over the world. But when you are in a niche it’s different. Naturally you attend events where you are likely to meet the people you would like to meet. But unfortunately the majority you meet are of no relevance to what you are doing at all.
When I was working with international relations I used to go to events, mainly in London, but also all over the world, where ministers I wanted to meet were going to be. Being a well dressed woman in a crowd of men in suits, was another way of “making an impression”, and they always wanted to talk to me and we arranged to have a meeting at a later stage.
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Catarina- After reading your articles and your bio I would say you have done a great job over the years networking or you would not be as successful as you are.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Great post, Arleen. I admit that not following up is a mistake I often make. What I did to make my business cards stand out (and be more memorable) is to make them postcard sized. I got them via Vista Print and have rec’d many positive comments about them.
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Doreen- Networking is important but the following up makes your effort see the rewards. With you get the positive comments do you follow up? Your business card is is your the start of your networking as you made it stand out by being post card size.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Good advice about making the most of networking events. I’ve never thought about being prepared before in thinking ahead of time what questions to ask. This is a timely post for me. Thanks.
Donna- When you are prepared you show more confidence. Everyone wants to follow someone who is successful and shows that confidence.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
I have attended several networking events and I gained much by listening and sharing with others. It is highly beneficial surrounding yourself with likeminded people. I agree that in order to get the very best from an event, one needs to prepare in advance. I bring my business cards, notepad and diary.
Phoenicia- Being prepared is key no matter where you are networking, but following up is where most of us fall short.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
It took me a while to understand it, but classic networking events aren’t the best options for me. I do well in just normal, non-business related social events for women. When I would go to networking groups specifically for women, I would meet just tons of women who do what I do. Depending on your type of business, you sometimes have to think a little outside the box.
Erica- Always think outside of the box. We all in some form are networking within our blogs. I have had many bloggers buy promotional products from me. I have also used many of the bloggers to help with my needs.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Just a thought:
I’ve found that suggesting or accepting coffee dates (and they may initially be with people who may not seem the most “business-wise useful”) can end up providing mutual benefit. The meeting needn’t be long and the purpose is to get to know each other a little better. “Business” per se may or may not come up. I accepted a coffee date with a woman in a networking group I attend. I wanted to say no to meeting her as professionally it seemed we had little in common. Due to discovering personal qualities of hers that I liked while meeting for coffee, I ended up choosing her as my new financial advisor. She gained a client, and I gained an advisor I could work well with. We both won.
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Ramona- Yes it is important to be prepared for an event but an event doesn’t have to be a large crowd in an arena. Interacting with the coffee group is the event and networking can be anywhere
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Arleen, I agree that networking is extremely important. When I became ED of our local Charity branch it was basically a ‘hole in the wall’ outfit with a bad reputation. I joined all the Community groups with the kind of people I wanted to connect with, I went to every business in my district introducing myself and leaving information about our charity, I made friends with the Press and was often in the newspaper or on TV, etc. All of that resulted in increased donor funding which we desperately needed. Great post.
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Lenie- Sounds like you did a great job of networking. It was work but paid off. Thank you for sharing your experience
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Be prepared is the best networking advice. I remember every time before we went to our industry convention, the first thing we would do would be to put together or plan if attack…find out who is going to be in attendance, who we must meet with, schedule meetings if possible and prepare for those and , prepare for impromptu meetings. Shows you are in top of things and knowledgeable.
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Susan- There are always opportunities to network, you just have to ready as you said so it shows you are on top of things and are knowledgeable.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
I’ll add one other key strategy. Listen!
Ken- You are so right. We want to hear ourselves that we forget to listen.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Great tips. In my former career(s) I spent a lot of time at networking events and I agree with your advice, especially your points about being prepared and following up. The only thing I would add is not to immediately follow up with a pitch. This may seem like a no-brainer to most of your readers, but I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened to me and has become something of a hot button.
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Marquita- I totally agree that followup should be a hard sells pitch. Following up should be building that relationship.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
I only started to enjoy networking events when I finally approached them with a plan and a goal–who did I want to connect with and why? What could I offer to whom? Or was I going to enjoy meeting people for the sheer fun of it? It sure takes the pressure off and makes it all a more relaxing time to start with a strategy!
Rosemary- The bottom line is you have a plan.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
Great tips on networking.
We often look at the person who is successful, without seeing the others who helped him there.
Networking is probably the most important thing you can do in any field. It is the others talents, and experience that you lack when you first enter any endeavor. Having a group of people to assist you is invaluable
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William- It is important to remember we need each other. It comes down to communication skills and not being afraid. Being prepared is a valuable tool
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success
I’ve been making more of an effort to up my marketing and networking in my local community. My accountant is wonderfully helpful and connected. She’s been great at giving me leads.
Jeri- That is wonderful that you have started networking. One lead then another lead and then you get your name out.
Arleen recently posted…Key Strategies to Promotional Networking Success