Do you know what the most powerful marketing tool is? Word of mouth.
When you get to know people through networking, you can get the word out about your business, which leads to new customers.
Most people in the sales profession are familiar with the concept of an elevator pitch – a series of short sentences about yourself and your company. But how do you make your elevator pitch memorable?
Here are 5 tips to make your networking experience more effective:
1. Attend networking events and conferences.
Join business organizations and professional associations. Attend local and national networking events and meet other members of your industry.
2. Make connections and learn about industry trends and innovations.
Don’t be afraid to talk to other people and offer advice. Make sure to share what you need before asking for a favor. Don’t expect others to do it for free, but it won’t hurt to ask. Remember to be honest and genuine about what you need, and people will be glad to help.
3. Use social networks to network with other business owners.
You can amplify your network and gain new customers and referrals from others in your network.
4. Share your knowledge.
Sharing ideas and knowledge with others makes the networking process more efficient and productive. If you’re looking for networking opportunities, share your knowledge today! It’s easy to become involved in a knowledge-sharing network and begin making connections that will benefit you in the future.
5. Listen more.
Often knowledge is gained by listening rather than talking. The best way to do this is to ask relevant questions and listen to the answers with genuine interest and attention. You will come away with a good connection and increased knowledge. Win-win for all!
6. Follow up.
Don’t forget to follow up after networking events. Following up with your new contacts is crucial to growing your business. Simply collecting business cards doesn’t grow your business. Instead, follow up and get to know your new contacts more effectively.
If you have connected with someone at a networking event, you should consider following up with them after the event. It is good to wait at least 24 hours after the event to plan your follow-up strategy. This will allow you to keep the details of the conversations fresh in your mind.
