20 Ways to Win at Networking

Make Friends Not A Sales Pitch!

Want to win at networking?

Far too many people are failing to build win-win relationships via their networking efforts frankly because they are not networking properly.

Networking on-line and in person have one thing in common, and that is your objective should be to make new business friendships, not try to make an immediate pitch to earn a quick sale. I’m not opposed to sales professionals sharing what they do or even trying to help people by offering their products/services. There is a time and place for a sales presentation. 

I contend that time is never upon meeting a stranger in a networking setting. 

Here are 10 tips to help you improve your in-person networking game moving forward:

1)   Ask questions about them. 

2)   Ask more questions than you make statements

3)   Listen at least twice as long in a conversation as you speak.

4)   Smile. 

5)   Do not stand in a circle or close yourself off to others who might walk up to try and join in the conversation.

6)   Do not shove your card on someone. If they don’t ask for it, they don’t want it yet.

7)   Do not sit on the bar stool or at the table during a networking event unless everyone else is because you’re eating a meal or listening to a speech/presentation.

8)   Keep your phone in your pocket on silent mode. You can answer phone/emails/texts after the event is over.

9)   Wear the name tag. You’re not too cool to wear it, you’re there to make new connections who want to know your name.

10) It’s not a race to meet as many as you can. You want quality relationships in the future, make the person in front of you feel like they’re the most important person in the room.

Here are 10 Tips to help your online networking game moving forward:

1)   Always be polite and professional. You’re on public display.

2)   Be active, don’t post and disappear for days. Come daily, engage in comments often. Be seen as those on the top of the mind are the ones who’ll get the most attention.

3)   Don’t argue with trolls. Delete their comments when you can, block them always and go about your day. Arguing with a troll is like spitting against the wind, not worth it ever.

4)   Support others and they’ll support you. Like, comment and share other people’s posts.

5)   Social media is a place to be social, so be nice to new people.

6)   Find champions who will mentor and support you.

7)   The more you help others, the more help you will receive. Be generous, as often as possible.

8)   Avoid using vulgarity and profanity

9)   Tag your friends and colleagues in posts lifting them up and highlighting their accomplishments.

10) Join groups of likeminded professionals like #SPN and #ProjectHelpYouGrow to help you form more win-win relationships and that give you other benefits like personal SEO boosts.

Want to join #SPN? Find us in group pages here on LinkedIn and on Facebook and of course visit and create a free profile on ServiceProfessionalsNetwork.com

#ProjectHelpYouGrow has a group on LinkedIn and Facebook too. The website, ProjectHelpYouGrow.com was designed as a free to use website for all who need help finding a job, advertising a job or finding a candidate to fill a job opening anywhere around the world. The group page on LinkedIn is dedicated to helping people build their network and learn how to get better engagement on their posts.

Thank you for reading my blog article. I hope it was helpful! Follow me for more helpful tips and techniques with future posts. #LetsGrowTogether