Before we talk about specific networking tips I want to address a critical aspect of networking that is often overlooked. Sometimes we are so eager to network that we don’t stop to consider whether or not we are investing our energy in the right places.
Many networking groups will allow you to try before you buy, and others will offer a pay per session charge. So ask around the people you know in business already – where do they go? What do they do? Or check out the trade journals or search on the internet to find groups in your area. And before making a huge investment, make sure that it is the right networking group for you and that it will give you the right returns.
Are the clients happy at this time? If you start reading reviews on any product or service, you might find yourself taking a walk down memory lane. Do reviews about satellite broadband service from ten years ago have any bearing on you at this point in time? You’ll get an idea about a company by reading reviews from any era, but remember how much the situation can change in a few years. Make sure the reviews you trust are from the previous year or two at the earliest.
When I first started attending business networking events I used to feel exactly the same when it came to presenting my sixty seconds (or elevator pitch as some call it). The vast majority of my business is gained through networking so it’s an essential part of my daily routine. Fortunately I’ve managed to overcome my fear of presenting with these two great business windows networking tips and tricks.
Join professional associations and groups that are connected to what you software defined networking want to do or to fields you’d like to explore and be active The more people get comfortable with you the more you let them see you doing something well the more likely they are to reach out on your behalf or even hire you! Whether you are a volunteer or doing paid work, people are watching you and deciding how helpful they want to be. If you are always late, putting in minimal effort, gossiping, or missing commitments, how likely do you think people are to recommend you for anything?
What’s Your Bottom Line? It may seem obvious to say you should know what you want when you start the negotiation. You may know what you want in the broad sense, but you need to know what you are prepared to walk away with—and without. What is the bare minimum you are willing to take to reach an agreement? What points are absolute untouchable points for you? Think all of these through to come up with your bottom line. Are there points you cannot budge on under any circumstances?
What are the general limitations of the service? Any time you start using internet service, you have to be aware what the limitations are going to be. No provider is going to deliver all the bandwidth you want, all the time. To be happy about your service, get to know what the general limitations are, so you don’t end up being disappointed later. Some issues will simply never be able to be overcome, no matter the provider.