| If you're networking with strangers,
| |
| | you're going to network with strangers,
|
| you're wasting your time. A consultant
| |
| | go with the goal of making 2-3 lunch or
|
| friend of mine recently complained, "I'm
| |
| | coffee dates with people you find
|
| doing 2-3 networking events a week - and
| |
| | interesting.* Ask every happy customer
|
| I'm worn out." When I asked why she felt
| |
| | you have (they're all happy, right?) for
|
| networking was important, she replied,
| |
| | just one referral of someone who would be
|
| "One of my marketing goals is to do at
| |
| | interested in your type of goods or
|
| least 1 networking event a week." (I
| |
| | services, then call and use their name.
|
| pointed out that she just admitted to
| |
| | ("Hi I'm Fred and Ginger said I should
|
| doing 2-3 a week - and perhaps doing 1 a
| |
| | call you. Isn't Ginger great?") You
|
| week is smart and doing triple that goal
| |
| | already have one thing in common -
|
| is causing some of the fatigue.) But
| |
| | Ginger!* Create a network "hit list" of
|
| there's much more to the great American
| |
| | the exact kind of businesses you want to
|
| business myth of networking.Myth 1: The
| |
| | network with - maybe you sell software
|
| more you network, the more effective your
| |
| | and you want to meet IT managers at
|
| networking activities become.Truth 1:
| |
| | medium-size companies. Make the list and
|
| It's much more important to become
| |
| | put it in your little black book or PDA.
|
| well-known in 1-2 circles than to spread
| |
| | Focus your networking and outreach
|
| your networking activities over many
| |
| | activities on only those people - or
|
| different groups. Depth beats breadth
| |
| | others who can refer you to those
|
| every time.I then asked her how
| |
| | people.* Join non-business groups and
|
| networking was working for her. She said,
| |
| | spend time doing non-business activities:
|
| "I don't think I have gotten a shred of
| |
| | Civic, social, religious, recreational,
|
| business out of it in the last six
| |
| | musical, athletic... the list is endless.
|
| months." Her rationale for doing
| |
| | Establish relationships with people in
|
| networking: "Everybody knows that you
| |
| | your group. Perhaps you're a Moose and a
|
| build a business by networking!" Does
| |
| | realtor. A Moose, as it turns out, wants
|
| this make any sense? Or worse, does it
| |
| | to by a house from another Moose. If so,
|
| sound familiar?See if this networking
| |
| | you have the Moose Market cornered! Are
|
| scenario has happened to you:You meet
| |
| | you into hand-drumming. Guess what? A
|
| someone for 30 seconds. They mumble
| |
| | hand-drummer will want to do business
|
| something about real estate as you are
| |
| | with another hand-drummer. Get it?* If
|
| tuning them out. They ask you what you
| |
| | you do go to a "mixer" go with a targeted
|
| do, and you say you are in insurance.
| |
| | goal in mind. For example, your goal
|
| After 10 seconds of staring blankly at
| |
| | might be "to meet three people on my
|
| each other, you both head to the celery
| |
| | target list and get their card so I can
|
| sticks for lack of anything better to
| |
| | follow up for breakfast, lunch, coffee or
|
| do.Myth 2: The cocktails and miniature
| |
| | badminton." A traditional "networking
|
| wiener circuit is the way to network to
| |
| | event" now becomes simply the first phase
|
| successTruth 2: Networking with strangers
| |
| | of your targeted plan for global
|
| to build business is about as effective
| |
| | domination, and not an end in
|
| as going to a bar to get married. In the
| |
| | itself.Here's a final thought to shake up
|
| words of Dr. Phil, "It simply ain't gonna
| |
| | your networking mindset: Network with
|
| happen that way."Here's why you're not
| |
| | people who already know you, like you, or
|
| going to meet your business soul mate at
| |
| | have done business with you.Myth 3:
|
| a networking event:1) You aren't going
| |
| | Networking is all about getting more
|
| to do business with someone after meeting
| |
| | people to know what you do.Truth 3:
|
| them for a few minutes and getting handed
| |
| | Networking is all about getting people
|
| a poorly printed card.2) Businesses are
| |
| | that already know you to share
|
| built on relationships and not "30-second
| |
| | opportunities where you can be helpful to
|
| commercials," no matter how effective and
| |
| | each other.Make 2-3 phone calls a day to
|
| intriguing.3) Most of us have major
| |
| | connect with people from past jobs,
|
| trouble in explaining what we do, much
| |
| | former clients, or influential people who
|
| less getting past that explanation and
| |
| | have expressed interest in you in the
|
| listening for what prospects need.4)
| |
| | past.We all have a "fan base" that we
|
| Networking with strangers is not targeted
| |
| | grossly underutilize.Think about tapping
|
| or specific and in fact is completely
| |
| | into friends, colleagues, mentors, and
|
| random. For some people, networking is
| |
| | family to mine the connections you
|
| exactly as effective as cold calling,
| |
| | already have at your fingertips.So get
|
| which is the least effective marketing
| |
| | out there and network - but make it worth
|
| tool there is.So am I saying that
| |
| | your investment of time and energy by
|
| networking is a waste of time? Absolutely
| |
| | networking smart. As your mother always
|
| not. What I'm saying is you need to start
| |
| | said, "Don't network with
|
| networking smarter.Here are a few
| |
| | strangers."Marketing and innovation
|
| thoughts to jog your noggin:* Network by
| |
| | expert David Newman has written 8 books
|
| having coffee or lunch with people one on
| |
| | and has been quoted in dozens of national
|
| one. Get to know them and their business.
| |
| | media outlets. David is also a
|
| They may become a prospect, alliance
| |
| | sought-after speaker and seminar leader.
|
| partner, or referral source. But aim
| |
| | Visit for more free articles and
|
| first and foremost to make them a friend.
| |
| | resources.
|
| The rest will follow naturally.* If
| |
| |
|
