This document provides tips for networking effectively at face-to-face events. It recommends reviewing your contact information, researching the event sponsor, and setting goals for the number and types of connections sought. At the event, it advises making eye contact, asking questions, and exchanging business cards to facilitate following up within 48 hours by email, phone or another meeting. The follow up should continue the conversation and suggest next steps without an immediate sales pitch.
2. ? Connections
? Ideas
? Joint Ventures
? In 2014 CoHereCommunity.com announced
that when polling business professionals, 95%
still believe face to face meetings are
essential to business success.
? 40% of their Prospects were converted via face to
face meetings
? 28% Current business that would be lost without
face-to-face meetings
3. ? Related to your service
? Ex: My field (Marketing, Coaching, Strategy)
? Service based businesses/Coaches
? New Media Events
? Number of Attendees so far
? Tip: Watch it for a bit before either registering or
even attending
? Background/reputation of the sponsor
? Takes a bit of research but it helps your final
decision
? This is especially important if it costs money
4. ? Google the location and look at photos of the
event as well as past events
? YouTube may also be a good source to see if
the acoustics will be pro-networking.
5. ? Review and Revise Your Signature on your
email and phone
? Have a 1 Page PDF You Can Send to Discuss
Your Business. (Email me for an example)
? Have a Pre-Emptive Goal of Connections
? Number
? Type of services
? Need
? Bring Extra Business Cards and a Pen.
? I will explain why in a moment
6. ? Eye Contact
? Start with How are You? Not What do You do?
? Do not look around at the other prospects,
make them seem like the center of the
room.
? Make it a 50/50 Exchange: Hear What they
are Saying and Respond Equally.
? Ask Questions
? What is the top challenge/success you have had
in the past 6 months?
? Why did you go into the business
you are in?
7. ? Discuss meeting again to expand on the
conversation.
? Ask for their card and have yours ready.
? When you Trade Cards Consider Asking
Questions Like:
? When is the best time to reach you?
? Do you rather connect via skype or face to face?
? Do You Mind My Putting You on My
Newsletter List?
8. ? They are out? No problem.
? Take one of yours cross your side out and
have them write some specific information
on the back of the card.
? This Shows:
? You really want to connect
? You are resourceful
? You think well on your feet
? You are not rushing to move on to the
next prospect.
9. ? Take a moment and Write on the Card:
? Words that will remind you of the exchange
? An agenda you think you can help them with
or even a referral you could give.
? Phrases or words that will remind you of them
and/or the conversation.
? Example: Banking Mom Baker
? This can also include:
? Products of yours they liked
? Ideas you came up with together
? Ideas that you thought of after
? Characteristics of the person
? This will help your email and
your memory of them when you are
finally back at home.
10. ? Within 48 Hours.
? When you can give 100 percent of your
attention.
? When your Mind is Clear Enough to Continue
the Conversation Openly and Strategically.
11. ? Use a Subject line other than the generic
Nice to have met you
? Use something from the conversation.
? After the usual “Nice to have met you”
? Use the notes to remind them of an idea you
either discussed or had after the interaction
? Compliment them on either their service, tie or
something that will show you are looking at the
person as a person and not just a prospect.
? Be concise and grammatical; do not go on too
long.
? Suggest reconnecting via their suggested options.
12. ? Send the PDF of your services but tell them
it is to “expand the conversation” on how
you can serve each other..do not sell at the
first message.
? Invite them to choose whether they would
like to follow up per their schedule either
phone or face-to-face if they didn’t already
in the conversation.
? Have an action item that will
assist assurance of a response; even a
question about a comment made in the
conversation will work.
13. ? A Question
? Continues the conversation and keeps them
engaged
? Can be about the discussion, their service even if
they got a great deal out of the event you met at
? A Referral
? Shows you are here to serve others as well as
yourself
? Have you ever considered…
? A suggestion makes them think and almost forces
them to respond…it also may result in a full
blown prospect if it is something you can help
with.
14. ? Full Reminder of what You do..
? If they don’t remember that..it wasn’t meant to
be.
? A discussion about another prospect you met
in the event
? Makes them think you were there for nothing but
sales.
? Sales Pitch.
? Your PDF is to expand their knowledge of you and
is enough to show your service…you overdo it
and you lose them and whomever they could
have helped you with.
15. ? Should you add them to your FB?
? No…that is What Linkedin is for…
? Should I have a free product to give?
? Only if it is not bulky and can become part of
your conversation (ex the PDF)
? Is there ever a too soon to contact?
? No, I personally contact on the train ride
home from the event. But after 48 hours
..lose the card because they probably lost yours.
? Should I drink?
? Nothing hard and limit it to 1 drink and 1
soda/water
16. ? Give them at least three days to respond
before attempting again.
? 2x is the limit..after that, add them to your
newsletter list and give them a month after
the last email before you reconnect.
? When you do offer to do a call in order to
reconnect..the lack of response
may show someone too busy for a
face to face.
? Great use of Skype and Google +