How to Survive and Win at Networking Events

Networking. I know what you’re thinking. Another two hours of standing around, nursing a warm beer, exchanging fake pleasantries with people you don’t care to meet while you could be back at the office getting some real work done. Yup, I know how you feel.

Networking. You know you gotta do it but most of the time you’d prefer a root canal. Hey man, make it easy on yourself and do these two important things from now on:

1. Scout the attendee list ahead of time. Most events now have a web presence where you can see who is attending and who is not. Is this particular event what you’d call a target-market-rich environment? If yes, then make it a priority and show up 100%. If you see that a lot of folks in your target market aren’t attending then blow it off, put it out of your mind, move on and get some work done. (Or hit the golf course, preferable with someone in your target market).
2. If you are attending the event, then whether or not you have a specific person you’d like to meet (a very good plan by the way), make sure you set a goal such as meeting and talking to two people that could be clients or JV partners. Assuming it’s a typical 1-2 hour event, make your goal number fairly low like two or three, because you want quality connections. Then when you’ve hit your goal, if you can’t stand it anymore, then leave, you’re done.
   Seventeen business cards from people that have no relevance to your business and will go in the trash when you get home is like watching a bad home movie of you tossing money in the crapper. (You should’ve gone golfing!)

So chin up Buttercup. With these 2 things in mind, you’ll never be bored at a networking event again. Um, well maybe.

Here’s what I’d like you to do next:

1) Take a second to retweet and like (facebook) this post, the ‘share’ buttons are just below and I would really appreciate it.

2) Leave your comments about good strategies you’ve used to survive and win at networking events.

Cheers.

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