ARTICLE
Join us on Wednesday, August 23rd at the Seaside Lagoon from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for a chance to network with over 11 area chambers. Take pleasure in networking with members from all the South Bay Chambers at the beach while celebrating the end of summer. You’ll have a prime opportunity to promote your business to a captive audience and sample food from local restaurants while enjoying the best of what the South Bay has to offer. This mixer can draw 250-300 people to a member business or organization, don’t miss out on the opportunities. 19 Networking Tips You Can Bank On! If you have all the work you can handle, your idea of networking might be showing up late to leaving early. But, for the rest of us, networking requires a bigger investment of time and energy and a wider circle of contacts. Effective networking requires taking advantage of opportunities to meet people, showing up and getting involved. Remember, your purpose in networking is not to meet everyone in the room, but to connect with two or three people. You are building friendships that may or may not result in professional advancement. When you arrive at a networking event, avoid gravitating to people you know. Stop selling and start listening! When you meet someone for the first time, use it as an opportunity to get to know them. Don’t try to sell them anything. Rather, begin to establish a relationship. Keep your business cards in the breast pocket of your coat, a shirt pocket, or in an outside pocket of your purse so they are easy to access and in good condition. When giving a person your card, personalize it by hand writing your cell number on it. This will cause the recipient to feel that they are receiving something special. When receiving a card from someone, take a moment to write yourself a note on it such as where you met. If you do this while you’re still talking to the person, it will help convey your sense of personal connection. During the course of a conversation, use the other person’s first name two or three times. People always like to hear their own name and it will help you to remember it when the discussion is over. Rather than telling a new contact all about yourself, spend your time asking them questions. It’s amazing how much you’ll learn! Connect with the person you’re talking to by tilting your head as you listen to them. It is an effective body language technique which communicates that you’re paying attention to what they’re saying. When a person is talking to you, be sure to look directly at them. Giving a person full attention with your eyes will encourage them to share more.
Join us on Wednesday, August 23rd at the Seaside Lagoon from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for a chance to network with over 11 area chambers. Take pleasure in networking with members from all the South Bay Chambers at the beach while celebrating the end of summer.
You’ll have a prime opportunity to promote your business to a captive audience and sample food from local restaurants while enjoying the best of what the South Bay has to offer.
This mixer can draw 250-300 people to a member business or organization, don’t miss out on the opportunities.
19 Networking Tips You Can Bank On!
If you have all the work you can handle, your idea of networking might be showing up late to leaving early. But, for the rest of us, networking requires a bigger investment of time and energy and a wider circle of contacts. Effective networking requires taking advantage of opportunities to meet people, showing up and getting involved. Remember, your purpose in networking is not to meet everyone in the room, but to connect with two or three people. You are building friendships that may or may not result in professional advancement.
10. The best location to network is by a high-traffic area such as a main door, the bar, or near the food.
11. Never approach someone if they are walking towards the restroom or if they have a phone in their hand. Wait until they have returned to the networking area or put their phone away.
12. After the person has shared something with you, ask them another question about what they just said. This shows that you’re paying attention and that you care about what they’re telling you.
13. Always keep one hand free to allow yourself to shake hands with people. This means that you shouldn’t eat and drink at the same time. Remember, you’re there to network, not eat a full-course meal.
14. As a way of demonstrating your networking skills, introduce each new person you meet to at least one other person.
15. Never try to barge into a group of 4 or more people. Come along side of the group, but do not attempt to enter into the discussion until you’ve made eye contact with everyone and a minimum of two other people in the group have said something.
16. Do not approach two people who are talking, as you may be interrupting an important discussion.
17. Initiate conversation with someone who is standing by themselves. They’ll be happy to have someone to talk to them and, as a result, will many times open up with valuable information.
18. When you meet someone for the first time, you have 48 hours to follow up with them before they will completely forget about meeting you.
19. A networking event is not a time to see how many business cards you can acquire. Rather, it is a time to develop a few relationships that have potential.