Most business cards have space somewhere to write notes; don’t hesitate to make a few about the person you’re speaking with and what you are discussing. Update your database of contacts with this noted information next morning. It’s amazing how this habit can pay off, in a small world! It has the further advantage of signaling your interest in what people have to say.

 

When you’re introduced to someone, say that person’s name out loud at least once during the conversation – ideally at once. If you don’t catch the name at first, don’t hesitate to ask for a repeat: it is a sign you are listening and interested. Networking events always have a high ambient noise level, so there’s no shame in being hard of hearing. Saying a person’s name, particularly if it is unusual, helps you remember it. 

 

Get into the habit of writing down any notes you have made about networking contacts before you start work the next morning. This will help you capture details while they are still fresh in your mind. If you lack a vital detail, call the person’s place of business and ask for help. It always helps to note where you met a networking contact, which might help jog their memory if you meet again some time later.

 

At events where interested parties bring their partners, pay appropriate attention to the partner. Learn his or her name and address your conversation to both people if the partner is focused on you. People are impressed if you pay attention to their partner and many partners can strongly influence business matters even if they are not directly involved.

 

While some people still prefer to maintain a business card file, there’s no doubt a computer database is more flexible. GOLDNetwork uses customer relationship management software called Maximiser which is very versatile, but an Excel spreadsheet can do the job. As well as being easy to sort and search, a computer database can be corrected easily and offers more room for notes, allowing you to maintain a history of your dealings with contacts. This history gains value as you build it.

 

Too often we hear about computer breakdowns which destroy contact databases that have been years in the making. If you hold your contact database on the hard drive of a stand-alone computer, such as a notebook or laptop, back it up regularly or download a copy to your office network server for safekeeping.

 

Unless there is an immediate and direct reason to do business with a networking contact, don’t. Many authorities recommend taking your time. Get to know contacts before making a business proposition. Seek a social situation where you can meet contacts again to develop a stronger bond. Many people who instinctively recoil from a stranger’s proposition are more receptive to someone more familiar. Hard-nosed deal hunting can backfire and make people reluctant to deal with you when they are not in the market for what you offer. Also, longer acquaintance reveals more about potential clients’ needs.

 

The more your networking contacts know about your business, the more likely they are to recommend you to others. Rather than pitching directly to your networking partners, make sure they understand what your business does and can do. A prime function of effective networking is to keep your network up to date on how your capabilities have changed.

 

 

As dedicated networking platform, Gold Network gives members plenty of opportunity to catching up with people they have met before. This benefits members in two ways: it gives more opportunity to remember names and faces, and a better chance to become comfortable speaking to fellow members. You don’t have to ‘capture’ a networking contact immediately; on the contrary, you should make a point of catching up with people you have already met. Express an interest in what they are doing – showing interest can work in your favour.

 

Meeting new people, a lot of new people, can be tiring. It takes some mental effort to weigh up new people and assess how their business relates to yours. Assessing too quickly – and looking like you can’t wait to break away – will likely annoy the person you are talking to. Even if he or she is not a direct business prospect, you are unlikely to win an indirect source of business.

Take the time to weigh up opportunities. Most commentators advise us to relax, converse, attempt to have fun without taking ourselves too seriously.

 

Don’t bother inventing clever ways to introduce yourself: simply say hello and offer your name, and a handshake. Make a point of taking it slow and listening to the other person’s name. Venues are often noisy. When joining a group do your best to listen to all the names. If you’re new to networking and nervous this can be difficult! Curb your natural impulse to get a question or statement ready to open the conversation: you may miss the other person’s introduction. Calling your interlocutor ‘you’ for 10 minutes can be embarrassing – and more so if you suddenly have to introduce your partner to a newcomer.

 

Asking questions is easy – people go to network functions to discuss what they do. Don’t hesitate to delve. Ask about their business, where it is, what it does, who works there, what the big challenge is right now: share war stories. Or perhaps share something you learnt from another person if it becomes relevant.

 

Some entrepreneurs think they are the only person in their organization who needs to network. Not so. Getting staff out into circulation lifts business profile and highlights your firm’s abilities to the world. It is surprising how the business ‘team’ can get stronger networking results than an individual. Trusting staff to represent your business also gives the principal a much-needed break!

 

After you have met a new networking partner, read in-business and search the archive to learn about them. Updating your knowledge after you catch up with a networking contact is a good habit to get into.

 

A great benefit of regular networking it that it trains you to remember detail and think on your feet. After a function, when you are updating your database, try to recall details of your conversations. This will help you learn to stay alert and retain important information your networking partners share with you. All commentators preach the art of listening, even if the subject is unrelated to your immediate business. You can never be certain where the next useful fact or idea will come from. 

 

Shy people and inexperienced networkers too often apologize for their lack of deft people skills. If they bang on too long about it they can erode networking partners’ sympathy. A simple explanation that you are ‘new to networking’ is sufficient – your partner will make allowances. You are a business person first and a networker second; an experienced networker will want to get past your apprehension to see what you and your company can do.

Networking advisors agree you should not be afraid to be enthusiastic and affirm your beliefs. Strong beliefs make you memorable and (as long as they are not socially offensive) people are attracted to positive notions – to certainty.