Business networking groups vary in size and function. Many professionals swear by these groups in which they meet other colleagues on a weekly basis and exchange business leads. This is nothing new, of course but it has proven to be an effective means to an end. If the members are motivated enough, they will become each other’s sales team.
11- Under Promise and Over Deliver- Adrenaline can get the best of some while software defined networking. They over promise in the moment, then under deliver when back at the office. Make it general practice to under promise, committing only to what you know you can easily do, then over deliver in follow through.
Remember that everyone you meet has the potential to lead you to your target. Most people are only three to six degrees removed from the person with whom they need to connect.
Too much group time. Spending too much time in group activities such as forums or social networking groups can consume your time unnecessarily. It is true you can learn what people are looking for and are wanting by participating in forums and social networking groups. The problem is you get drawn in and before you know it the whole day is gone. It gives you a sense of learning and working but in reality it is not time well spent if taken to the extreme. Make sure you limit your time in forums or social networking groups just to the amount of time needed to retrieve information you are looking for.
This just cannot be true. Okay we have all been scammed or have failed somewhere along the way through life. This causes one to build a wall or have a huge defense mechanism that is constantly scanning for scams. We just do not want to be ripped off again. By having this mentality, it tends to hold you back from believing what you read which actually can be true.
Be on TIME. Perception is everything. If you want people to use your services or give you referrals it’s key to make a good first impression. Being tardy can give others the impression that you are not prepared or that you’re an amateur in the industry.
Think about a time when you needed to make a new connection, say, to a reliable auto mechanic. You may have started out by scanning the yellow pages only to realize that there’s no way to know who’s honest and competent. What do you do then? You do what everyone does: they turn to friends, family and acquaintances for a personal recommendation. If the first person you ask can’t offer you a good referral, he or she may know someone who can, and if not, you move on to the next person on your list, and the next. Pretty soon you make the connection you were looking for…even without your set of official networking tips books!
Start by using your real name on your profile, upload a real photo of you and fill out your bio. Your bio is about you and not your business. Your website link will take care of that.
Now that you’re ready to start networking, you’ll want to do it effectively. In order to do that you need to be able to carry on a conversation with the people you meet. Ok, I can tell you’re cringing again… Not to worry. The key to keeping a conversation going is to ask lots of questions. Following are questions you can ask when you first meet someone at a networking event. Keep asking questions and the conversation will flow naturally.
Raising capital is an art form, and don’t believe what you see on TV. Not everyone is going to be a millionaire, and is almost an impossible feat. Remember this though, according to the Metro Wealth Index, the Los Angeles numbers for MILLIONAIRES FOR 2009 were up 13.3 percent from 2008, but that was not enough to make up for the 17.8-percent drop in millionaires in the previous year during the heart of the financial crisis. Never loose focus and you will achieve your goal, and remember, the best investment is in yourself.