Networking Magic

Some of us love networking and some of us hate it. But it will be a huge factor in growing your business if you learn to do it well. Everyone you know or even just come across in your daily life is in your network. You never know who will be the contact that gives you a referral or has the perfect piece of information you need just at the right time.

Because I am an introvert, meeting new people does not always come easy to me. It's not that I don't know how, it's more that my first thought is not to call someone or go out to meet folks. My natural way is to look to or be with myself. But I know and I have proven to myself repeatedly that my business grows faster with the help of others.

Going to network meetings can be fun. It's all in how you look at them. Psych yourself up to make new friends, not to get business. Meet folks, ask questions, offer help.

When it comes your time to give one of those 10 minute introductions to your business, it really helps if you can make it memorable. I know of one person who showed up for hers in her pajamas since she worked out of her home. Another wore a crown and a pageant sash and dubbed herself "queen of the mortgage loan". The only ideas here were to have fun with it and to be remembered. You know that both of these folks were talked about for months after their speech and were remembered by all. The guy who stood up and give a fast, boring summary of what he does, was not remembered an hour later. And the ideas do not have to be as outrageous as these. It could be as simple as handing out a gimme gift, offering a cool computer projected presentation with music, making it very humorous, or anything else that gives you the edge. Maybe it's wearing a clown nose or harry potter glasses and somehow tying that into your talk. Maybe it's wearing all red because "red" is in the title of your business or having an unusual handout, maybe an origami folded fact sheet about your business. Whatever it is, it's going to make this part of networking more fun and have more lasting effects.

I'd love to hear what other techniques you've experienced at networking meetings.

All blog content is copyrighted, all rights reserved, Mary Anne Fields and Life Unfolds, 2006