This is International Networking Week 02/06/12

What are you doing for International Networking Week? 2012 marks the 6th annual celebration of International Networking Week which is now recognized by many countries across the globe, with thousands of events being held during the celebratory Week. One of the main goals of the Week is to help businesspeople everywhere build their networking skills and expand the opportunities within their reach and, in the video, my Business Networking and Sex co-authors and I offer some very valuable pointers on where to focus your...

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If You Don’t Have One, People Could Be Avoiding You . . . 11/10/11

Have you ever been to a networking event and purposely avoided someone you really wanted to talk to because you were embarrassed you couldn’t remember their name? Well, if you’re not wearing a name badge at networking events, other people could be avoiding you for this very reason! In this short video, my friend Kevin Barber and I explain why name badges are an extremely important tool for effective networking and why you should always be sure to wear a name badge at networking events. Do you have an ex...

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One Simple Rule for a Winning Approach to Networking 09/29/11

In this video, Networking expert Charlie Lawson talks with me about the Networking Disconnect which commonly hinders the success of many who attend networking events and mixers. Charlie explains that the Disconnect can be avoided all together by following one simple rule that will get your networking approach and intent geared in the right direction. I’ll give you a hint–it involves big fish and coffee. After watching the video, come back and comment about your experience(s) with the Networking Disconne...

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Generate More Business by Offering Value-added Advice 02/24/11

It’s no secret that we all want to do business with people whom we know and trust. So, how do you build rapport and create trust with new contacts at networking events? By offering value-added advice–solid, helpful information provided out of a genuine concern for another person. Let’s say you’re a real estate agent talking with someone at a networking event who, although not ready to buy a home today, is heading in that direction. You could say something like this: Well, I know you̵...

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What’s Your Excuse for Not Following Up? 02/03/11

What’s your excuse for not following up with new contacts after networking events? It doesn’t really matter what your answer is because I’m here to tell you that the correct answer to the above question from this point on is: There is no excuse for not following up, so I don’t have one. We all know that networking without follow up can equal a big waste of time. However, many networkers still find every excuse under the sun not to follow up and the most common reasons they use are either t...

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Sorting Out Who’s Who 01/31/11

So, let’s say you’ve just returned from a networking event where you met a lot of new people and now you have a pocketful of business cards that you’re not sure what to do with. What’s your first order of business? Your first order of business is to sort out who’s who. You need to separate the people you think might become new clients or referral partners right now from the ones who might be valuable contacts sometime in the future but not right away. Let’s call the first gro...

Global Entrepreneurship Week 11/15/10

More than 1,300 U.S. organizations in all 50 states -– including top universities, nonprofit organizations, successful entrepreneurs, government agencies and corporate sponsors -– are collaborating to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2010, Nov. 15 to 21. Globally, there are expected to be more than 20,000 partners. The week will bring together aspiring and inspiring entrepreneurs in more than 100 countries around the world, helping them embrace originality, imagination and ingenuity through local, nat...

The Networking Disconnect 09/16/10

I was at a big networking event with more than 500 people in the UK this summer, and the person who spoke before me asked the audience: “How many of you came here hoping to do some business–maybe make a sale?” More than half the people in the audience raised their hands. He then asked, “How many of you are here hoping to buy something?” No one raised a hand–not one single person! This is the networking disconnect. If you are going to networking events hoping to sell somethi...

Farming for Referrals 08/05/10

If I could impart one piece of wisdom regarding networking and getting more referrals, it would be this: Networking is about farming for new contacts, not hunting them. It’s a point that needs to be made, because most business professionals go about networking the way our cave-dwelling ancestors went about hunting food–aggressively and carrying a big stick. You’ll see them at any gathering of businesspeople. They’re so busy looking for the next big sale or trying to meet the “right̶...

Get Your Act Together 06/28/10

Let’s face it: As a businessperson, you’ve got a lot going on. There are people to see, places to go and a whole lot of stuff to do. Can you do all this, and look and act presentable at all times, too? Quite frankly, getting and keeping your act together can be a little overwhelming for even the sanest of people, so here are some tips: 1. Look the part before going to a networking event. You’d be surprised how many people fall short in the fundamental area of appearance. If it’s a cha...

What Are the First Words Out of Your Mouth? 06/24/10

When someone asks you what you do, what are the first words out of your mouth? If the words aren’t ready to roll off your tongue, then read on . . . When someone asks you what you do, make sure you’re ready with a response that is succinct but memorable. The attention span of the average adult is only 20 seconds; a long, drawn-out answer to the question isn’t going to work. Focus on creating a unique selling proposition (USP)–a mini commercial that you can readily use while networking. I t...

Clueless When It Comes To Conversing?–Four Tips 06/07/10

Networking is about building relationships and one of the main ways to build relationships with people is to have effective, productive conversations. However, that can seem like a daunting task for some people who are at a total loss when it comes to the art of conversing. If you shy away from going to networking events because you’re consumed by the fear of not knowing what to say, pay attention to these four conversation tips from my good friend Susan RoAne (a.k.a.: The Mingling Maven®): A...

Three Essential Questions 04/12/10

How can a time-strapped businessperson figure out which networking events she should attend and which she should let go by the wayside? The answer: Develop a networking strategy. Here are three easy–but definitely essential–questions you need to answer in order to create a plan that will work for you. Who Are My Best Prospects? It’s important to know that each target market will have a strategy that requires you to network in different places. If you’re not sure who your target market is...