Benefits of Networking: Networking is about connecting and sharing, listening and forming trust.

  • Raising awareness about you
  • Sharing ideas and solving problems
  • Building strong relationships and rapport
  • Developing partnerships, leads and referrals
  • Becoming more influential in your Industry
  • Increasing efficiency and productivity

The KEY Steps

  • Determine your goal
  • Decide who to talk to and know your audience
  • Figure out what the person knows/WIIFM
  • Practice the opening speech & request (ASK) for a meeting
  • Prepare to handle doubters
  • Follow-up: Send a Thank You, nurture connections and keep track of contacts

Building Your Network: Good networkers are always on the look out for opportunities to meet and interact with people

  • The more people you meet, the better your chances of finding the information you need or the connections you want
  • Even if the person you meet can’t help you, they may know someone who can

The Elevator pitch: As you work to create your pitch ask yourself:

  • What problem do I solve?
  • Who is my market?
  • Who is my competition?
  • What is my service, product, company and/or cause?
  • What is my competitive advantage?
  • Why should they care?
  • How do I make money?
  • Who Supports me?
  • Who is my customer?

There is no point in building up your network if you are not going to use it!

  • Introduce people and connect them
  • Ask for what you need and what you want

        Maintenance

  • Follow through
  • Re-Establishing contact
  • Contact management: Linked-In, Facebook, Outlook etc.

And Finally

  • Be prepared to deliver, anytime and anywhere
  • Have your elevator speech ready
  • Start with contacts that are safe to build confidence
  • Make it part of your life and your work to build relationships
  • Use thought, sensitivity & preparation to become successful in networking
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