Business Networking- The Survival Guide Top Tips

Business Networking- The Survival Guide by Will Kintish

We took out the the Top 22 Tips for Business Networking.. 

  1. Men who are standing V faced forward rather than facing each other are more inviting and open to people coming to chat. If people are facing each other, it tends to mean the conversation is more of a closed one, not as inviting
     
  2. Always put your name badge on your right lapel, not your left. When you wear it on the right and shake hands, your right shoulder is thrust forward, so when you first shake hands with someone they see it. If you wear it on the left it is out of sight and people have to strain across to see your name badge.
     
  3. Always shake hands firmly whilst making eye contact and smile to make it a comfortable introduction.
  1. Consider what you have in common with others during a conversation, this is an ice breaker
     
  2. Leave every encounter hoping they think of you as someone they’d like to meet again
  1. Most people go to a networking event and spend time with people they know, find new people to talk to to build relationships and network on a wider scale
     
  2. People want to know what you can do for them so pick out factors which could help them or be a useful tool for them to know
  1. We learn nothing when we talk only when we listen
     
  2. You can’t do big business without small talk- it may feel uncomfortable at first but its vitally important- you are building a solid foundation for your business relationships
  1. Asking intelligent and searching business questions will mean you may sometimes spot a potential business opportunity for your services and products
     
  2. People buy people before they buy the product or service
  1. Talk about present, past and future: e.g. always start with what do you do, then ask how they got into it, then how they see themselves developing this always keeps conversations flowing
     
  2. If you spot a business opportunity, swap business cards and ask them if it is ok for you to contact them in the future
     
  3. Business is rarely done at the event, you are there to explore and discover more
     
  4. The follow-up is all about pace and intervals of contact
  1. Don’t put those business cards you collected in the drawer, here’s what to do: put calls in the diary, record all contact numbers, send an email saying how you enjoyed meeting the person, and if you promised a further chat confirm it. Secure the card information
     
  2. Avoid committing a networking crime by making sure you follow up
  1. Invite people to connect on LinkedIn
     
  2. Always look for opportunities to support someone
  1. Be reliable, do what you say you’re going to do and do it when you say you’re going to do it
     
  2. Networking: getting to know people, getting them to like you (and you them), getting them to trust you (and you them)
  1. Look out for an ‘ahaa’ moment- The fundamental reason we go to business-related events is to spot the ‘ahaa’ moment, that moment when we hook on to a new piece of information, which we believe could be beneficial to the development of business