April 22nd, 2010 
Maria Helm 
One factor in business success is networking – meeting people and building relationships. For some, it is a skill that may take effort. Here are some tips to help you connect:
1. Set a goal to increase your list of important business connections. Once you’ve compiled your list, reach out to each of them.
2. Share something personal and seek a common interest. When it’s not just about numbers and the bottom line, clients will be able to personally identify with you. Rooting for the same sports team or volunteering at the same charity makes you relevant.
3. Scrap the memorized pitch in favor of more natural conversation.
4. Resist the urge to be a one-upper. It ruins communication.
5. An open-ended question is better than one requiring only a yes or no answer.
6. Know your audience. Once you know what a person wants, is interested in and responds to, you’ll be better equipped to deliver that.
7. Be energetic and passionate about what you do. People will notice.
8. It’s not always about you. Learn to ask, “What’s in it for them?”
If want to add more tips to this list, feel free to chime in and leave a comment.
“It’s all about people. It’s about networking and being nice to people and not burning any bridges.” ~ Mike Davidson
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Nice list, thanks. One more thing in that spirit is to let people finish their thought; don’t interrupt them.
Maria, I really liked what you said about scraping the pitch in favor of natural conversation. Someone once told me that if you want to take the “work” out of networking, all you need to do is focus on the other person and helping them get what they need to succeed. In the process, you build a relationship, as opposed to only achieving a 1 time favor.
Thanks for stopping by, Jos, and for your insight. Often when networking, we try so hard to “sell” ourselves and our products and we forget that its true purpose is to get to know people and how you can help and build value to them and their business.