Rules of networking

I have been actively networking for over a year now. There are many excellent books on how to network effectively. I will not try to revisit the basics here on this post, but I will share my observations on what I have learned.

There are givers and takers.  Just as in life but only more pronounced in networking groups. Avoid the takers, the people who only want what's in for them. Avoid transactional sales types. I mean the people who are immediately trying to sell you a product.  If they have a product to market that's fine but if their main focus is on sales and not a win-win exchange of leads or referrals avoid them like the plague.

Use your intuition. If your gut reaction is telling you something is just not right with that person, or you feel a sense of unease, be polite but distance yourself from them. "Birds of a feather flock together," you can't afford to damage your reputation by hanging in a tribe with unsavory characters. Better to err on the side of caution than to risk being identified with them.

Keep it professional.  Networking is for business advancement. If you have other intentions go to the appropriate venues for such activities.

Get to know the person one-on-one.  When you ask for a meeting give them possible dates locations, and times. Don't just say, " We need to get together sometime. Always send a reminder of your meeting times and location, people forget. Never try to get anything out of first individual meeting than establishing report. If you get to know trust and like that person continue to move it forward.

Try different events and see which ones are a good fit. They all have unique benefits they offer.

Lastly, keep up with contacts. Follow up immediately with emails or texts. Like them on their social media and connect with them on linked in. Keep a CRM or an Excel spreadsheet of your contacts. When you get a business card right on it where and when you met them. I use a Fisher Space Pen it writes on Glossy cards on if that doesn't work, try little blank labels to write on. I'll write about business cards in a following blog.

So those are some thoughts and tips on networking.