If you could have a love-hate relationship with networking occasions, you’re not alone! You would possibly get nervous or awkward earlier than an occasion or really feel like there’s probably not some extent.
The reality is, from cocktail events to large conventions, networking occasions are an effective way to fulfill new prospects or referral companions. However they will solely assist your corporation when you go in with a plan. By following these six steps, you’ll make simpler (and worthwhile) connections at your subsequent networking occasion:
- Block your schedule earlier than and after the occasion.
- Meet 3 high quality individuals.
- Ship an electronic mail instantly following the occasion.
- Join with them on LinkedIn inside 24 hours.
- Name them inside 48 hours.
- Do what you say you’ll do!
Let’s dive in.
1. Block Your Schedule Earlier than And After The Occasion
You need to deal with a networking occasion like another gross sales assembly. You need sufficient time and vitality to provide the occasion your complete presence.
This implies you need to schedule ample time earlier than the occasion, so that you’re not coming in scorching from a earlier assembly. Blocking time earlier than the occasion permits you to be calm, ready, and clear-headed. You need sufficient time to seize your nametag, meet some individuals, and discover a seat—all with out being rushed.
It’s simply as necessary to block off time after the occasion. That is when the magic occurs! If you rush out of an occasion to your subsequent assembly, you miss out on true networking. All through an occasion, individuals naturally get extra snug and loosen up—after an occasion, they’re extra open to creating new connections.
Morning periods result in impromptu lunches. Night occasions result in dinner or drinks with individuals you simply met. That prospect you’ve wished to fulfill occurs to be free for some espresso. Maintain your schedule clear for these events!
2. Meet 3 High quality Folks
At each networking occasion you attend, plan on assembly three high quality individuals.
You’ll be able to collect (or hand out) as many enterprise playing cards as you need. However I enter an occasion aspiring to get enterprise playing cards from three high quality individuals who I need to arrange conferences with later.
Meaning I’m wanting on the attendee record and discovering out who will probably be coming. I’m arriving early and looking out on the desk of nametags to establish who I’d need to goal after they are available—or who I ought to attempt to sit by.
Earlier than an occasion, I put three enterprise playing cards in my pocket. My objective is to exchange every of my playing cards with a enterprise card from a top quality contact. This fashion, I can make certain I’m on observe to achieve my objective.
3. Ship An E mail Instantly Following The Occasion
When you’ve met high quality individuals, how do you make sure you don’t neglect about them?
Ship an electronic mail to anyone you meet—instantly following the occasion. I attempt to all the time ship an electronic mail earlier than they do. A immediate outreach electronic mail communicates a lot greater than what’s within the physique of the message!
For recommendations on writing the proper follow-up electronic mail, click on right here!
4. Join With Them On LinkedIn Inside 24 Hours
After emailing, the subsequent step is connecting on LinkedIn inside 24 hours of assembly them. In case you are knowledgeable, you want a LinkedIn profile. You’re lacking out on an enormous networking software when you don’t have one.
Learn my article on creating a robust LinkedIn profile when you need assistance!
5. Name Them Inside 48 Hours
Sure, telephone calls nonetheless work! A reside follow-up dialog is the easiest way to find out if the particular person you’ve met is a top quality prospect. If they’re, you have to be effectively in your option to reserving an appointment.
6. Do What You Say You’ll Do!
At all times, all the time, all the time do what you say you’ll do. Did you say you’d ship them an article or an electronic mail? Did you say you’d name and arrange an appointment? Do it—and do it inside the time you stated you’ll.
Failure to observe up is capturing your self within the foot—however I see salespeople do it on a regular basis. That’s why staying true to your phrase is considered one of the 5 methods salespeople can stand above the group.
Bonus Networking Tip: Enterprise Card Backup
Folks all the time ask what to do when you run out of enterprise playing cards (or neglect them!) throughout a networking occasion. Proper now, take a minute and create a contact for your self in your telephone. This ought to be separate out of your default contact card, which has all kinds of non-public info you won’t need to share. Your shareable contact card ought to include solely your skilled image and all of the enterprise contact info you’d like to incorporate.
This fashion, when somebody asks in your card, you may ask for his or her quantity and textual content knowledgeable, digital contact card out of your telephone. They’ll have all of your data—and also you’ll have already got their cellphone quantity!
I hope your subsequent networking occasion is a blast—and also you stroll away with some high quality conversations!
Till subsequent time—go promote some stuff!