Business Networking

Business Networking

What is your goal when you attend a business networking event? Are you there just to collect business cards or do you have an effective strategy that will help build a relationship?

Name yourself.

The people you meet at business events want to know who you are. Use both your first and last name. Speak slowly and clearly. If you have ever listened to a phone message more than once just to catch the name of the person who has left you a message, you understand the importance of this key...

Business Networking

The number one problem is a perception issue; most people who attend networking events expect results immediately. They attend networking events with the only purpose of making a sale right a way. When a sale doesn't happen and they come home empty handed (save the hundreds of business cards in their pockets) they are disappointed.

Networking is about consistency; results doesn't happen overnight. You need to build relationship before your contacts even consider working with you or sending...

Business Networking

Social media has created an Internet phenomenon and has taken online networking to a dynamic level. Do you ever wonder why social media is so successful? It's viral and it spreads quickly - just like word-of-mouth spreads quickly in offline networking.

When you meet people for the first time, take a few lessons from the social media gurus and apply their secret tactics to your offline networking strategy.

Secret #1- Social means both talking and listening. Listening is just as important...

Business Networking

Sales are frequently developed through the relationships we have created with other people. Networking functions provide the opportunity to expand our contact list, particularly when we create and nurture quality relationships. It is not enough to visit a networking group, talk to dozens of people and gather as many business cards possible. However, every networking function has tremendous potential for new business leads. Here are five strategies to make networking profitable:

1. Choose the...

Business Networking

Every new business goes through phases, some representing expansion (hopefully, often) and some contraction and as these phases unfold your business can fluctuate in size and require different resources. Sometimes, the business will get to a certain plateau and seem to stick, almost spinning its wheels despite your efforts. At this point in time you will want to consider all your options and may feel that a business partner could really help to un-glue the potential and allow you to make...