Networking has always been a big part of business. No matter the industry you work in or how talented you are, if you don't know the right people, you make everything more difficult for yourself. That is why we created Nodily and why it is important to attend networking events. But just being at an event organized by your industry is not enough, you have to make the most of it. Here are a few tips to shine at profesional and networking events.
Listen
We tend to speak more than listen at networking events. We shouldn't, the goal is to establish positive relationships and this is more likely to happen if the people with whon you network get the sense that you're genuinely listening to them. It might help identity more easily who are the right person to meet and what they have to offer as well as what you can offer them.
Don’t Always Talk Business
Don't talk exclusively about your industry. Building a personal relationship with someone is important if you want to build trust. You are more likely to develop a strong relationship if you share and engage with people on a personal level. It is at least as important as talking business.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity
We might sometimes feel that we have to meet as many persons as possible when we attend a networking event. We think this is the way to go if we want our business to trhive. This is a mistake, if you speak with too many people, you will tend to forget about most of your conversations and you will not really connect with anyone. You should focus on quality over quantity if you want to really connect with others.
Follow Up
Meeting someone at a networking event is just the first step in the process of developing a relationship. Once you’ve made the initial connection, you need to follow up with them after the event.
Be sure to include personal and/or specific details in your follow up email. This shows the person you’re contacting that you actually took the time to listen and to get to know them.
Be Flexible
Business owners frequently attend networking events with specific goals in mind. While it’s helpful to have a clear idea about how you want to use your time, it’s also beneficial to be open. There may be advantageous opportunities at networking events that you hadn’t considered. Be flexible, and you could develop unexpected relationships that yield major benefits.
Most importantly, of course, be genuine. You want to present your real self when networking. By following these tips and being true to who you are, you’ll use your time at these events as effectively as possible.
