10 Networking Tips

1. Dress for the occasion. This could mean dressing the way that your customers dress or dressing the way that they expect you to dress. You choose. But first impressions are made in a matter of seconds. And the fun tie that your children bought you for Christmas might not be the best thing to impress a company chairman.
   
2. Take plenty of business cards. If your business does more than one thing, have different cards for different purposes.
   
3. Arrive early. The early bird really does get the worm. It's harder to break in on conversations when you arrive late.
   
4. Find a partner. Go to the meeting with someone who you know well. Work the room between you; introducing each other to new people that you've individually met is a great way of increasing coverage.
   
5. Not sure how to approach? Simply smile, nod your head, walk forwards with hand stretched out and say, "Hello. I just wanted to come over and say hello."
   
6. Ask open questions and listen carefully
   
7. Receive other people's business cards graciously and with two hands. Use the back of cards to make any notes about the person that you've just met.
   
8. Have something fun or different. For instance a card that is business card size but carries some business tips is likely to be much more memorable than just your name and company. Use these in conjunction with your normal cards.
   
9. Ask for people's permission to follow up with them in some way. For instance, say that if they are interested in what you do, then you would happily add them to your database. It would be rude for them to say no. Wouldn't it? Don't feel intimidated. It doesn't matter how big or small your business is. You are dealing with a person. They have the same hopes and fears that you have.
   
10. If you have a trumpet, go out and blow it. No one else is going to promote your business for you. Have total belief. Go for it! Shameless self-promotion is the order of the day. Join networking groups that meet regularly – repetitive exposure increases the possibility of gaining referrals.