Networking – are you clear about your message?
What will you say?
Whatever your reason for networking, whether you’re a lawyer looking to make connections for business or referrals, a business owner raising your company profile or a sole trader wanting more customers, it’s essential to be clear about what your will say to others at a networking event.
You’ve made the effort to turn up….
Assuming you understand the importance of networking and getting out there to make connections – congratulations by the way, you’re over the first hurdle of actually turning up – take a moment to think about what you’re going to tell people.
Why are you there?
Good questions. And one that many forget to ask themselves. It’s worth working out what impression you would like to make. What do you want people to know about you and your company? What would you like them to go away and tell others? It’s essential to be clear about this, as if you’re not, it’s highly likely they are not going to be. So when they go off and talk to their network, they’re not going to be promoting you as they didn’t really get what you are looking for.
It’s not difficult.
Just answer the following:
- What do you want? The answer to this, although tempting, is not “lots of business” – it’s too vague. Be specific. Do you want to meet a certain type of business or referrer? Tell them.
- What can you say that they will remember about you? So when they do meet the business or referrer you’re looking for, they’ll remember something about you.
- What can you do to help them? It’s a two way thing – and people will appreciate your asking them. Make sure you’re clear about what they’re looking for. Oh, and listen to their answer.
If you feel there is some common ground, it’s worth arranging a follow up meeting so you can get to understand a little more about their business, and they yours.
If you’re looking to find more customers, grow your client portfolio or business, networking is invaluable for profile raising and extremely useful for research. Being clear about what you’re looking for makes is so much easier and much more successful.
