5 Tips to Prepare for a Networking EventSome people get a little nervous when heading out to a networking event and I think it's because they may not feel prepared or know what to prepare for. 1 - Set time aside to follow up after the event. The magic really is in the follow-up. 2 - Take some time to prepare how you answer the question "what do you do?". I'm not talking about having an overly "canned" answer but an answer in a conversational way that is clear, concise and to the point. Then, stop. Do not throw up on the person who asked. If they are interested in hearing more, they will ask. 3 - Prepare a few conversation starters other than talking about the weather or asking people what they do. Be curious about those you are talking to. 4 - Bring business cards. This one is obvious but I have an opinion about pushing business cards onto people. Don't do it! My rule of thumb is I typically hand out my card only when asked or when it makes sense to ask them if they would like one. 5 - Show up with a smile on your face and an attitude to be open and be of service. If you're going with the intentinon of meeting some great people and seeing where things go from there instead of needing to get business at the event, your experience will be much more fun! Thanks for watching! If you would like my FREE gift "The Networking Challenge" your guide to successful networking, please drop me an email sharimitteco@gmail.com. Cheers! Shari p.s. I would love to hear from you! How do you prepare for networking events? Please post in the comments below.
0 Comments
Creating winning relationships is both professionally and personally rewarding. What I mean by win-win-win is that you bring something to the table that supports another professional in your community, they bring something that is also supportive, and the win extends to clients or other professionals. Check out this video on how we did this just last week with my friend Lisa Keith, her photography expertise and my community of women in business.. I would love to hear from you! How have you created win-win-win relationships? Cheers to Your Success! ~Shari I get asked about how to start conversations at networking events all the time. Remember to keep it simple. All you are trying to do is get the conversation started and then, be very curious about the person across from you during the conversation. Keep a few questions in your pocket ready to go such as:
I like each of these simple questions because they have proven to lead to some interesting stories during the conversation which is a really great way to get to know someone quickly. Which is all you're really trying to do is build rapport and get a feel for whether or not you want to move the relationship forward or not. Thanks for watching! I would love to hear your favorite conversation starters! Please leave them in the comment section below. Cheers to Your Success! ~Shari Many business owners underestimate the power of building relationships and community to develop a strong business. I am here to tell you that if you do not consider this an important component to your business infrastructure, you will only get so far. This isn't a new concept. Many large businesses have "community outreach specialists" because they know the power of lowering the corporate wall and developing relationships with their community. One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs making is going out and meeting lots of new people and planting those seeds but not going back to water them. So, look at your relationships. Do you have a large percentage of acquaintances? Or, have you developed relationships beyond that? Thanks for watching! Please leave a comment below, what is the state of your community? Cheers! ~Shari I see it all the time... People pinging and ponging from networking event to networking event to no avail because they do not have a solid keep in touch strategy. Although they are doing a great job getting in front of new people and starting relationships, they aren't developing their relationships to the next level which is where the magic happens. Here's the deal. If you don't have a way to keep in touch and develop your business relationships, you are letting money slip through your fingers. Even with relationship marketing, it takes 5-13 "touches" before someone will buy from you or refer others to you. So, if you don't have a way to stay connected, you are missing the boat. There are many ways to stay connected to the people you meet such as: blog/ newsletters, coffee meetings, phone calls, cards, and sending articles or other things you think they would enjoy. The key is to be consistent and build the "know, like, and trust" factor. Thanks for watching! Do you need assistance planning your keep in touch strategy? I'm here to help! Visit https://sharimitteco.youcanbook.me for your FREE discovery session and let's get you started right. Cheers! ~Shari How would you feel if you received an email from an multi-level supplement company that said "welcome and thank you for joining as a customer" and you had not signed up for this nor did you know the representative who signed you up for this company? This is something that happened the other night and myself along with a small group of women who are a part of one of my networking communities were put into a companies customer list with a "gift" of a $25 off the first product purchased. Not only did none of them appreciate this so called "gift", but some of them were quite angry and felt violated when they were added to something as of this without giving their permission. So, how could this person had done things differently and gotten a positive response? I recommend reaching out to an individual first and show some curiosity about what they do and the organization they found them through and what made them reach out to begin with. Then, ask if they have an interest in hearing more about your product or service instead of assuming that they would be a good fit. You never know that until the conversation has started. This is a simple case of trying to "jump into bed" too soon in business. Thanks for watching! I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Cheers! ~Shari I asked for your help as I was putting together my "Network to Success Bootcamp" and the response was amazing.
I got a lot of great questions about networking and networking well. In this video, I'm answering your top questions about networking: What is the biggest mistake I can make networking? How do I know I'm meeting the right people at events? How do I get over crippling introversion and get myself out there more? Thanks for watching! I would love to hear from you about your networking experiences. Cheers! ~Shari Do you flounder around attending networking event after networking event with little or very random results?
In this video, I share with you 5 things you must do if you want to be successful with networking. I've found that after over 12+ years of networking successfully that it is such a great tool that can be both professionally rewarding as well as personally rewarding when done well and all of the components are working well together. First, you must establish and clearly articulate what sets you apart from others in your field. Second, you need to choose networking opportunities that support your business, the goals you have for your business as well as your personality type. I have found that although there is overlap, some events are better for introverts and some events are better suited for extroverts so, it's important to find places that work best for you. Third, you need a follow-up system that attracts and intrigues people that build the relationship and doesn't push people away from you. Forth, you need to know when and how often to make offers and sell to your community. I've found that when you are clear in your messaging, who you serve and the problems you solve for them, your ideal clients simply raise their hand and jump on board when they are ready for you. Lastly, you need a keep in touch strategy that grows your know, like, and trust factor in a genuine way. No B.S. period! People know when you aren't being genuine so, don't even waste your time. Thanks for watching! I would love to hear from you - Leave a comment how you've had success or struggle with networking. Cheers! ~Shari I've been getting many really great questions about networking and how to network well. Someone asked, "how do I know I'm meeting the right people in the room?". This is a great question because it's really important to pre-qualify who you spend your time developing relationships with. First, trust your instincts! Take a moment to get a feel for who you resonate with. Are you attracted to their energy, the way they show up, and their general presence? While you're talking to them, do you have a sense that you want to continue the relationship? Do you work with similar clients? Do you see possible ways to work together either as referrals or collaborate? If you aren't feeling a great vibe and like you don't see value or opportunity in growing this relationship, it's OK to graciously move on and mingle with others. Remember, it isn't about how many people you talk to but that you have a few really good conversations with a few people you get a good vibe from and resonate with.e Thanks for watching! I would love to hear from you. Do you have a system for pre-qualifying who you talk to? Cheers! ~Shari |
Hi there! I'm Shari and am thrilled you stopped by! I love developing community, growing my business and helping health and wellness professionals do the same.Archives
January 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed
© 2019 All Rights Reserved