Almost everyone knows that networking is the best marketing technique. However, many people have not fine-tuned their networking skills to the point that they’re consistently getting results.
Currently, I attribute the majority of my success to my membership in a BNI group. BNI is the acronym for Business Network International. It is a worldwide organization formed expressly for helping members refer business to other members.
There are certain steps you can follow, however, to make your networking more beneficial, both for you and for those with whom you’re networking.
First, always arrive at meetings or activities fifteen minutes early. There are a few reasons for doing this.
1) Most of the time, the meeting coordinators are rushing around trying to tie up the last few loose ends. An offer to help is seldom declined.
2) This is the best time for networking. Once the meeting or activity has begun, there is little time for real interaction. Try to exchange business cards with at least 5 people during this 15 minute time frame.
3) If you arrive early, you have a chance to meet more people, because they’re not already fully engaged in a conversation with someone else.
Register for a networking event this week, or look at www.bni.com to find out about chapters in your area.
Julie Mockerman is a Virtual Assistant, interacting with over 35 clients, and working with people in over 40 countries. Full profile at www.guru.com.
