Networking is an important way to build relationships that can foster your professional, personal, and sales success. It is a way to collect resources while acting as a resource for others.
Most networking events or business mixers are not the appropriate time to close a business deal; the real benefit of these events is to make contacts and build personal relationships that can help you later down the road.
Pump up your networking strategies by building relationships that work, starting with these five tips. Think about these when you are walking into your next chamber of commerce function or home builders association meeting. Master these strategies, and you’ll sell more homes.
- Be interested in other people. People love to talk about themselves. They are constantly asking themselves, “What do I get from this?” or “What is in this conversation for me?” When you attend a networking event, be interested in what other people do, say, and think about. Look for areas of commonality, and you should have no trouble striking up a conversation.
- Create a vibe. Build rapport and gain trust when meeting new people; ask questions and listen at least four times as long as you speak. It is amazing what people will tell you if you just ask with a little genuine interest. On the flip side, when someone asks about your line of work, bring something interesting to the conversation even if it’s just a 10-second anecdote about the latest custom home you are building.
- Have a goal. Visualize how many people you would like to exchange contact information with at each event you attend. If you set your goal to meet two or three solid contacts, you will likely obtain it.
- Give away something of value. Leave your new contacts with something to remember you by: a business card or short brochure about your company, but nothing too overwhelming. When asked about the custom building business, provide a short description of what you do and especially of the value it brings to your clients. Make it easy for your new acquaintances to remember your name and how to contact you.
- Have a follow-up plan. Collecting business cards alone doesn’t make you a successful networker. Send an e-mail, make a phone call, or better yet, make an appointment to meet again soon.
So the next time you encounter a potential networking situation, put your best foot forward and start asking questions. Remember Dale Carnegie’s famous adage: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can by trying to get other people interested in you.”
