Effective networking is simple but not easy. Many people tend to make the same mistakes. See how to take 150% out of the networking event!
Even if you prepared your networking plan, they know what people they’d like to meet, they know their Elevator Pitch by heart, they handshake like a PRO, they go to a networking event and meet amazing people who can 100% help them, networking is not as effective as it could be. Read on to find out essential steps to effective networking.
This time we will focus on what happens and should happen after a networking event. Remember that without this, the meeting will be just like cooking healthy meals at home and eating fast food anyway.
TIPS for Effective Networking
There are several steps to make your networking more effective, from logging your new contacts to arranging meetups but let’s start with:
1. Taking Notes
As there are different kinds of networking events, you may want to either make notes during the presentations or do it at home but no later than the next day. Otherwise, you’ll forget most of it. Keep in mind, we are all busy with our lives and at the time of the event or straight after, the information is still fresh in your mind so if you wait, you may forget the essential details.
What to write in your notes?
- A brief description of what happened at the event,
- what are 3 of the most important things that you have learnt,
- the type of people you met, including their job roles and sector they work in,
- key topics and what issues were discussed,
- business ideas that may come out of it.
I have a separate networking journal, where I make notes about the event I just attended. This helps me to organise my thoughts, the information I learned, and make specific plans for the future. In short, it helps me to organise my networking!
2. Organise Business Cards
As it happens at most networking events, you might have a pocket full of business cards. Don’t just put them in your desk drawer! You’ll forget about them quicker than you think. One man showed me a drawer full of ‘contacts’ with no value at all!
Business cards are only powerful for up to a week after the event – then they lose their power like Superman when Kryptonite is near.
How to organise collected business cards?
It’s a good idea to pull the contacts, you feel you could do business with, out from the pile first. Then you should categorise them based on the opportunities arising from this particular contact.
- Can you acquire a profitable business from this contact? (a potential long-term client).
- Can you collaborate? (a single project or potential business partner).
- Can they help you develop your business? (from suppliers to distributors, designers to marketers).
- Can they help you to gain business influence? (by providing expertise and industry advice).
- Can they help you with a business problem? (they can share valuable information or direct you to a person who may help you).
Business cards sorted, what’s next?
3. Log your contacts and connect on social media
It’s a good idea to save the contacts in your contacts book or create a spreadsheet to sort them by category. The second option works wonders for me and is my go-to. Without categorising newly met contacts in a spreadsheet under particular categories, I couldn’t manage them effectively. This can make it easy to find them quickly whenever you need them in the future.
As you log each contact, it’s a good idea to connect with them on business-relevant social networking channels, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Interestingly, Facebook has also become a professional networking platform of choice for high-level business people, such as Hewlett Packard CEO. Just a few years back, Facebook was considered a family and friends platform but with 2.27 billion users, it is the biggest social media platform, which will support both your business and personal life.
The line between social and professional networking can be blurry, and knowing when to draw a line is critical to advancing your career. If you’re careful about what you share and use your connections wisely, social media can be an excellent tool to build your career – a win-win!
4. Google your contacts
To get further information about people you just met, you can google them. It is a good idea to check if they are a key figure in the industry or company. You will get valuable information about them and their business.
By googling the contacts, you can learn about their business experience, expertise, reputation, and the latest developments in their company. Research can also give you a good discussion point when you contact them to meet up.
5. Follow up and arrange a meeting
Without a follow-up, networking is not working! Always remember to follow up with your contacts (preferably within 48 hours from the event), while you and your company are still fresh in people’s minds. The quickest way to do it is by making a phone call. However, be prepared for the conversation, open your notes from the event and make sure, you know what you want to say and achieve.
Another way to follow up is by sending an email. It is one of the most effective techniques because you can prepare more and write all you think is important without being interrupted. Emails are also a good way of keeping a record of the conversation. If you are meeting many new people, it is wise to prepare a template email, which you can amend accordingly and send after the meeting.
If you had made good notes, you will be able to follow up and continue your conversation from where you left off or if not, you could simply ask what they thought about the event. For the key contacts you’ve met at the event, you should always aim to set up a meeting. Suggesting a meeting in a coffee shop will indicate your meeting will be informal, relaxed and short.
6. Be patient and positive
Once an email has been sent, don’t expect to have a response right away, or… at all. Be patient and focus on your business in the meantime.
While some people might not get back to you, others will – leading to strong business relationships. With networking, you don’t often know how things will turn out. But doing what you can after an event, to connect with the contacts you’ve made, can bring you profitable work and develop your company for the better.
