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Networking Tips
Its important to spend some
preparation time prior to attending your first speed networking
event. Below are a few tips to help you get the most from
attending.
1. Establish your networking
goals in advance
Its crucial to know exactly what
you want to achieve from every speed networking event you
attend. It helps to write down your goals in advance to enable
you to focus on what you wish to achieve.
2. Plan your 'elevator pitch'
An 'elevator pitch' is an American
expression for a short statement used to describe yourself, your
business and your goals in just a couple of minutes - no longer
in fact that the time it takes to take a ride in a lift. Its a
great idea to plan this in advance. You don't need to quote
this exactly to every person you meet at the event but It does
help to get your message across effectively first time.
3. Bring product samples or
brochures if you have
them
If you have some samples of your
product or sales literature its always nice to bring them along
to distribute during the event. This can help to make you stand
out in the crowd and get remembered. After all if you make an
impression at the event its more likely that people will refer
you their contacts after the event.
4. Write a one-page profile
about your business or networking goals to distribute on the
night
Its a great idea to write
up a profile page to describe your networking goals.
This can be distributed everyone you meet at the event
(up to 30 copies). We recommend including a least the following
information:
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Your contact details
and website if applicable.
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Business description
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A brief background and
history of your business
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Your target clients &
networking goals for your business.
5. Help others and get
leads yourself!
What goes around really
does come around when it comes to speed networking. If
after the event you find you have a contact that could
potentially help one of the people you met at the event
you please pass it on! Without wishing to sound too new
age and hippy you really do get what you give when it
comes to speed networking events!
Past attendees are often
surprised that months after an event that someone
they met at our event has passed them a beneficial contact.
6. Make time to speak
to people after the event
To get the maximum benefit
from our speed networking events its always better if
you are able to spend some time chatting after the
organised section of the evening has ended.
This is the time to chat
at length with the people you had common ground with and
really make the most of your evening.
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