After a networking event there will be those who have been forgotten as the meeting came to a close, those remembered for a while and then those who are never forgotten ? which one are you?
Try this yourself; look at the pile of business cards on your desk and try to remember the person. The people you can place easiest will be the ones who made the greatest impression on you.
Be memorable and people talk about you, you are kept in mind. Meeting up with you to explore business synergy is more compelling. There is a genuine desire to help you. Business opportunities happen quicker. Quite simply being memorable will increase your ability to achieve great results from your networking! A little caveat here ? you can become memorable for the wrong reasons too? which will damage your reputation.
There are a number of ways to become memorable when you meet people in a networking meeting. Here are my top pointers:-
Personal Brand
You are your business and in the world of business it is important to dress to stand out from the crowd. Men should look sharp; suits well pressed, shirts ironed and shoes clean. Wearing a bright tie or some fun cuff links helps you stand out and adds a little personal pizazz! The same for ladies but we can have a little more fun with bright colours, belts, bags, heels and unusual jewelry. It is amazing how many networkers arrive looking like they?ve gone through the hedge backwards. It says sloppy, untidy, unprofessional and gives off a ?not bothered? aura.
Business Brand
Any material you use should also make an good impression and be memorable too. It is worth investing in an eye catching design for your logo. Brand should convey everything about your company and should be well thought through. Always use good quality materials for everything you produce. It is likely that the only item someone will walk away from an event with is your business card?it speaks volumes. Using a Hotmail email address on a vista print business cards does not create a professional, credible image.
Attentiveness
When in conversation give your full attention. Listen and ask questions. Be fully engaged. Avoid getting distracted by others around you or new people entering the room. When you are ready to move on bring the conversation to a close politely. If there are only two of you talking ask if you can introduce them to someone else before moving on. Many networkers chat with one ear on the conversation or are constantly looking around or at their watches. Giving someone your undivided attention will be refreshing and you will be remembered.
Genuine Interest
Let the other person talk. Ask them relevant questions. Open questions elicit more information. Explore the answers so that you get a better understanding of what someone does. At this stage you may need to sacrifice talking about yourself and your business in order to show the deeper level of interest in them. Do not worry about this as again it will help build rapport and make you memorable. If you make a great impression now as someone who was genuinely interested following up for future meetings will not be an issue.
Relationship Building
If you want to be remembered positively do not over face or bombard others with too much too soon. How many ?fly by night networkers? have trust a card in your hand and told you all the things they can do for you without drawing breath.
Networking is about relationships and like all relationships, building them takes time and energy; getting to know and like each other is a good place to start. When you first meet new contacts in a networking environment there will be an element of small talk. This stage is about rapport and lays the first building blocks in a business relationship. It is about getting on, NOT pedaling your wares.
Memorable Presentations
In my experience this is one area where many struggle. It is easy to try to include too much information as you probably have lots you want to say. Too much information dilutes and confuses your message. A one minute introduction is an opportunity to whet the appetite of your audience. The acid test of your presentation is whether it is memorable and leads to a positive action.
Be positive; introduce yourself by name, highlight a client story as this allows the audience to resonate with what you do, have a call to action so they know what you want and a memorable finish (preferably one that makes them smile). Golden rule here is simply ? Less is MORE!
Avoid the shadows
If you sit back and do not get involved in conversations or hug the walls and do not engage with other you will not be noticed let alone remembered! Many people are nervous in the early days of networking. Planning and preparation can help. Start out with groups that offer a relaxed informal atmosphere so that you can develop your networking skills and grow your self-confidence.
Follow up
Always follow up so as to stay on a person?s radar. Even when you make a truly memorable impression over time the memory of you and your business will fall away if you do not keep in touch. Equally if you have offered to do something then you must do it. Failing to do guarantees credibility is replaced by a lack of trust.
We?d like to hear how you ensure that you stand out from the crowd during networking meetings. What is it that makes you different and memorable?
Happy Networking? enjoy getting yourself noticed!
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I'm a serious networker and business woman but I love cars, follow Grand Prix and I desperately want to be a Top Gear presenter!! This blog is all about networking and if you're looking to raise your game and make new quality connections that will bring you genuine new business opportunities, then Opendoorz is what you've been looking for. Opendoorz challenges the tired format established by many networking groups. Its success is founded on the quality and calibre of the membership, the experience and passion of its directors and the unique blend of meeting content. Come and meet us!
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