Skip to main content

How Not to Feel Like a Fish Out of Water at Your Next Networking Event

Networking events such as Business After Hours and organizations like BNI and Meetup.com provide great opportunities to meet and mingle with other, like-minded businesspeople outside their place of business in a more relaxed and non-threatening environment.

Unfortunately, some entrepreneurs do not get the most of this great opportunity because they feel awkward or simply don't know what to say or do. Instead of getting excited to start building relationships, they end up heading for a quick exit, the buffet line, the bar, or the restroom. If this describes you, there is a better way.

To make this type of networking event feel comfortable and more enjoyable, you need to have a plan. When you're prepared, you'll feel more in control. Being in control can help relieve the anxiety of being in a new setting and situation.

Your plan should include making new friends, building relationships, giving before asking, and looking for opportunities to grow your business. It's important to attend business networking events. They have a social aspect but are primarily created as places to develop mutually beneficial business relationships.

4 Simple but Powerful Questions to Ask of Every New Contact
  1. "What do you do?"

  2. "How long have you been doing that?"

  3. "What do you like best about what you do?"

  4. "How would I know if someone in my circle of contacts would be a good referral for you?"


The first three questions provide an opportunity for the other person to talk about themselves, which everyone likes doing. They also allow you to start building a bond and relationship by getting to know about the other person and their interests.

The last question is the key. It will make you stand out and also serve notice to the other person that you want to help them grow their business. (Remember: you give before you get.) At the same time, it plants a seed in their mind that this in turn is also what you are there to do.

You now have a simple but very effective network marketing plan.

At your next networking event, remember to ask these four simple questions. Doing so will give you the confidence to feel like you're where you want to be and know exactly what you're doing there.

It's the difference between feeling like a fish out of water and being a fisherman at the best fishing hole in town.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Print Marketing Pieces that will Woo Your Corporate Clients

Some of the most effective ways of communicating value don’t require looking up a website or downloading a mobile device teaser program. In fact, non-digital marketing activities win over corporate clients regularly without ever needing to be plugged in. Here are five of them. 1. Business Cards Yes, those traditional business cards are still winners. Business cards provide critical contact information and enough detail on how to connect with an organization quickly. Whether by email, text, phone, or mail, the info on a business card is powerful. People love business cards because they are easy to transfer, pack, save, and reference. In the corporate world, business cards still resonate. 2. Letterheads and Stationary In a day and age when so much communication happens by email and texting, the traditional letter stands out, even in a mail pile full of folders and generic material. Best used when conveying a personal connection, professional letterhead is loved by co...
3 comments
Read more

Share Your Brand Story to Create Distinct, Authentic Connections

In a noisy marketplace, businesses must work smarter to grab prospects and lock in loyalty. But the desire for relationship is mutual. According to Cheetah Mobile marketing director Josh Ong, customers don’t just want to buy, they want to buy into something: “Millennials are more likely than any other demographic to be brand loyal. But millennials don’t choose which brand to be loyal to at random, instead, they are highly attuned to the story that a brand tells, as well as the values that brand exhibits.” No one can resist a good story! Need proof? Here’s a fun brand story from eyewear retailer Warby Parker : Warby was founded as a rebellious upstart to tackle the problem of expensive eyewear because of a frustrating personal experience. During a backpacking trip, one of Warby’s founders lost his glasses. Since he was a broke grad student, he couldn’t afford to replace them, and he spent the rest of the semester squinting. By circumven...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Prepare Large-Format Projects for Print

When you want to flaunt your finest, large-format printing can make an oversized impact! Large-format printing includes products printed at a length of 18-100 inches with a minimum width of 60 inches. Some of the most popular items include posters, window graphics, yard signs, vehicle wraps, vinyl banners, media backdrops, and more. While large-scale graphics are stunning, these projects require special preparation, so these images remain vibrant and sharp when stretched to larger-than-life proportions. If you plan to go BIG, here are some factors to consider. Communicate from the Start When diving in on a large-scale printing, create a detailed brief and use this to speak to your printer as early as possible. Try to include everything from the size, design, materials, and deadlines. Your printer will work with you to be sure your ideas are achievable, and the timeline is realistic. Set Appropriate Image Specifications As you connect with a printer, be sure your images ...
Post a Comment
Read more