Now that the sun is beginning to shine and we are all excited to venture out and meet new friends, I wanted to remind you of a few tips which I hope will come in handy as you set out for that next networking breakfast or lunch.
That is another key right there, know your product. You can be selling or working with the greatest product in the world but if you can’t tell a person about it software defined networking intelligently you just killed that product and any hope that you had from making a sale.
Have business cards and/or marketing material on hand. If you’re at a networking meeting, the ultimate goal is to connect with people. Most people aren’t going to remember your name or your company website. Always be in a position to hand out business cards or marketing material. Your material should stand out in a way that encourages the recipient to want to go on your website or call you to learn more.
Get yourself a business card, or “career card.” You’re a professional with some skills, education and a bit of experience, right? So what if no one has hired you to put all of that awesomeness to work yet? You still need to come across professionally to all that you meet. Without it, how do you anticipate giving out your contact info? On the back of what is networking a bank deposit slip? Shoving one of your resumes into their suit pocket? Maybe even add a phrase about what you do or want to do.
There are various types of networking groups from informal coffee shop get-togethers to formal breakfast meetings. The first thing you need to do is find the right networking events for you.
Are all the satellite broadband providers in California and Texas offering the same goods more or less? After you do some research on the subject, you might not be convinced that one provider is all that different from another. If you see a standard bar being met by more than one provider, it might be time to investigate the other issues. Check on how much time it would take for the providers to get your connection going from first contact, or whose rebates add up to better prices in the end.
The negotiating that goes on at the proverbial bargaining table can become incredibly one sided if one party has done his homework and the other has not. Use these tips to ensure you (and the other guy) walk away from the negotiating table victorious. Always strive for win/win as the ultimate goal.