For some reason, people have lost their patience and are acting quite desperate when it comes to raising capital in 2011. I feel that the current stock market and Bernie Madoff ARE the culprit behind this. With a DOW over 12000 (for no real reason), it is fooling society into thinking bank lending, investments, and real estate are stable again.
Get Involved. Community Networking will get you involved in your community and that can mean a great deal to you personally and professionally. I care deeply about clean water and preserving Maine’s environment. I get involved in projects that support my desire for these initiatives. Through this I have networked with hundreds of Maine residents and have gained several business referrals. Keep in mind that my business is a Business-to-Business model and your business is a Business-to-Consumer model, so all of your connections are potential customers!
The majority at the event work very hard to be interesting but they go about it in the wrong way. They use the land-grab approach – give a business card to everyone and spill their guts about themselves.
Take these why is networking important for your professional career success to plan ahead for your networking experiences. Plan what you are going to say and like an experienced speaker, practice but don’t memorize so that it still sounds natural and spontaneous (this is part of good delivery).
In my own business I came to the realization that working harder was often counter-productive causing more stress in my body, less time with friends and family and just left me feeling tired and frustrated. Sometimes I’d see slight gains yet they were not enough to justify the long hours I worked. If I were to break down the time spent I was working for less than $20 per hour! I began to experiment. First I cut out activities that were not producing the results I desired. I cut way back on networking groups I was involved in. I joined and formed Mastermind groups instead with like-minded people wanting similar results. I looked at my Internet presence and SEO results and realized I needed help and began working with experts in the field. Working harder was not my answer.
Be generous. Give business cards out to everyone, including family and friends. Don’t let vanity stop you from giving out your last business card or giving 2 at a time to each person. I have met many people who have totally missed the purpose of a business card. I once asked a person for a second business card, so I could refer his services. His response was “I only have a few cards left and I need them”, as he looked again at his name on the card. Hoarding your business cards only makes your wallet feel full, not your bank account.
Get very focused on connecting with the network you have. That’s right. You have a network already. Everyone you know is a potentially valuable contact. Examples: your friends’ parents, your parents’ friends, your professors and advisors, former employers, neighbors, church members. Remember, your networking contacts don’t have to be people who are in the field you want to be in. We all know a lot of people- and not all of them do what we do or work where we work. Start with the people who know you best, those who will go the extra mile for you, who think highly of you and would likely pick up the phone on your behalf to connect you with their best contacts.
I think the biggest way to network online is via social media sites. The likes of facebook and LinkedIn are huge and ooze potential for all businesses and people to connect with each other. If you are not a member of any social software defined networking site for personal or business purposes then i highly recommend it. For personal reasons its a brilliant way to stay in touch with friends and family. For business you can reach a global market all for free. You build up a list of followers or likes and communicate with them. I recommend daily communications and not to be robotic. Its best to show personality as it keeps your network interested and know you are human.
Step 7, Be honest with yourself. After Madoff’s ponzi scheme, trust is gone. Tell the truth to yourself and to your friends, and you will raise your required capital.
These two tips have revolutionised my performance and success rate at business networking events, practice them and I hope that they work for you too.