Developing relationships with powerful entities in your niche can catapult your business from small-fry to mainstream. In the world of business, who you know is just as important as the awesome products or services you’re peddling. Therefore, if big success is your ultimate goal, it is essential for you to step out and put yourself in positions to introduce and to be introduced.
The perfect example of business networking is the relationships developed on the TV show, Shark Tank. Hopeful entrepreneurs find the courage to ask for help, the shark creates a win-win partnership (money/contacts in exchange for equity) and then the sharks introduce the entrepreneurs heavy-hitters in their field.
Now, not everyone is lucky enough to land a deal with a shark, instead, you will have to create the opportunities to network. The internet has made this task somewhat easy. You can create business profiles on local business forms and on sites like LinkedIn and facebook. And you can find networking groups to join on places like craigslist and meetup.com. Once you found appropriate networking events to attend you will have to prepare to impress.
5 Tips for Successfully Networking at a Business Event:
- Be confident: People are not going to feel confident about you or your business if you are not exuding confidence in yourself. First of all, you need to dress nicely without overdoing it. Business-casual in fresh colors is appropriate for most networking events. Also, wear minimal makeup and stay away from overpowering colognes or perfumes. You should take notes if there are any speakers at the event and ask intelligent questions. Do not just stand in one spot – casually work the room, introduce yourself to everyone and be genuinely interested in what they have to say.
- Be honest: Authenticity is important when it comes to networking and establishing relationships because honesty develops trust and confidence. Do not try to impress with lies and exaggerations about your background, brand or products.
- Sell without selling: Networking is less about selling your products/services and more about creating relationships based on mutual interests so that you can sell more products. So, you want to sell your brand without selling. Give casual information about your business, show non-desperate interest, ask questions and exchange contact information.
- Give out useful branded items: While many people give out business cards at networking events, they often get thrown out or lost in a pile of other business cards given out that day. Instead, you can make a greater impression by giving out useful promotional items. For example, a branded USB in credit card size is the perfect item to give out because flash drives are accessories that everyone uses. Your contact information would be printed on it so that keeps your information at hand and it is small enough to fit in a purse or wallet.
- Follow up with contacts: Send personalized follow up emails to the people you connected with at the event asking them if they would like to further the relationship by cross promoting, developing ideas or testing out products or services.
Networking can be one of the most influential methods of marketing your business. Being prepared and confident can jumpstart relationships that can result in positive outcomes for you and your business.
