Are you looking to network and meet professionals in your field? If not, you should. It’s one of the most important ways to meet mentors, meet potential clients, and grow with crucial partners. In fact, networking, in many ways, is just like an investment. Here we will explore some networking tips for maximum returns.
The quality of your returns will depend on the quality of your investment. You need to ensure that you’re not just putting your feelers out there and connecting with everyone you can – you must also cultivate connections, follow up, and be strategic about expanding your circle. In this post, we’ll cover some of the basics you should know if you want to network like a pro – and max out your ROI (return on investment).
Be memorable
If you’re at a networking event, chances are that everyone you meet will also meet dozens of people, if not over a hundred. If you want to make an impression that sticks, you’re going to need to stand out from the crowd. Here are the steps you can take to go that extra mile and make the difference:
- Always offer a firm handshake, looking straight into the person’s eye.
- Tell them your full name, and where you work or the name of your startup.
- Everyone there is going to have a business card – make yourself memorable by offering a custom USB drive It’s useful, so they will have a reason to remember you.
- Strike up a conversation with them about their industry. Be sure to ask plenty of questions. Sure, it’s good for them to know stuff about you, but people are always attracted to those who ask questions about them.
- Follow up with contact information. At the very least, you can find them online later, but you should be sure that you have some way to reach out.
Once you’ve made your mark, it’s time to think strategy.
Related: The Benefits of Networking With The Government for Boston Business Owners
Be strategic
Meeting people is always nice, but you want to make sure you’re creating the most high-value connections you can. There are a few ways to ensure you’re running in the right circles, though it’ll probably take some practice and learning to navigate to truly know you’re meeting the right people.
It’s smart to attend events that are relevant to your industry. Is there a professional association of businesses and professionals in your industry that holds regular meetings? If so, make a beeline straight there as soon as you can. Once there, chat around with different people until you find someone that you think might be able to help you advance in your career.
Remember: if you’re the smartest one in the room, you’re in the wrong room
Meeting people who have succeeded where you hope to be someday is essential to learning the paths you should take by learning from their success. If meeting someone at an in-person event isn’t working out, remember there are awesome online networking sites to use too. Once you do meet people, make a plan to meet again with them later or follow up with them further. It’s not just about quantity of connections – it’s also about quality.
