"Networking" has taken on somewhat of a different meaning with the introduction and prevalence of online "social networking". However, at it's core, networking was, is, and always will be about creating and developing personal relationships. When this integral piece of the puzzle is lost, networking transforms into nothing more significant than creating an ever-growing list of contacts. Having a large address book is meaningless if the names and numbers don't mean something more than characters in a database.

The most important rule of networking, I believe, should be sincere interaction.

If you meet someone who'd you'd like to form a personal or professional relationship with, reach out to them and be up-front about your communication. If your intent is to sell a product that you believe could be of use to them, start with that. Help them to get excited about the possibilities of a partnership rather than attempting to bait and switch.

Also, communication of any kind is important. A contact who doesn't remember you is worthless in your contact list. Remember, it's important to have relationships before you "need" them. Have a genuine interest in people, and you'll find that your network has power!

There's a fortune in the follow-up. But be up-front, be sincere, and care about the person first.

posted June 26, 2008

Dos and Don'ts:

For job seekers: Don't ask for a job -- ask for advice from those in the industry in which you work or want to work.

Follow-up when you say you will. Even if you have nothing specific on which to follow-up, it's a courtesy to send a short note saying that it was nice to meet the person.

Actually network! Go to events, meetings, learning sessions. Using LinkedIn is great, but it's even better to meet people in person.

When you go to events, bring plenty of business cards and a pen and paper. Being unprepared is not only frustrating to you, it makes a bad impression. If not currently working, have business cards made.

Don't dismiss those who don't work in your field. In addition to the benefit of making new friends, they may have valuable contacts to whom they may introduce you.

Thank people for their help and offer to reciprocate.

posted June 30, 2008

Sure, all of these points are good, but I find people really enjoy when I:

Accidently have my shirt open to show a Superman Logo shirt underneath and say, "oops! I guess the secret's out."

Ask in a trembling voice, "you wouldn't happen to have any anti-depressants with you?"

Keep looking around nervously and ask if the person has seen any KGB agents around.

Wear tin foil on my shoes and tell people that they keep me safe from government mind experiments.

Tell people how great it is to finally be left out of my box for a couple of hours.

Ask if my fly is open and comment that it should be because I'm urinating.

Repeat "you have business?" over and over in broken english with an unidentifiable accent until the person walks away.

Do nothing but quote lines from "Caddyshack."

Make a raspberry noise every time I take a step.

Listen intently to someone tell me what they do and then shake like I have a chill while hugging myself and say "I'm going to need to take a long shower after hearing that!"

Tell people I work for a certain government agency and my official title is "cleaner."

Say I'm an undertaker and then look the person up and down and comment how they would fit in a "number 6."

Send thank you notes and end with a statement that I may be pregnant and believe they are the father (whether it's a man or woman).

For some reason, people tend to remember me.

posted June 30, 2008

The biggest no-no in networking is trying to sell your products or services before you develop a working relationship with the other person. I have found many people attend networking events thinking that they'll find new clients. The reality is nobody is carrying your clients around in their pocket looking for you. You must be willing to thnk first of getting to know the people you met and find out what they need first!

There's a great book called Make Your Contacts Count which is chock full of practical tips. I highly recommend it! You can find it at the websites below.

Links:

• http://www.contactscount.com/
• http://www.howtobusinessnetwork.com/

posted June 26, 2008

The worst think I can think of is selling your product/service before you build a relationship. Unless it is bread, get to know me and my needs before slamming your sales pitch into me.

Be sincere - nothing great will happen instantly - even a home run takes time for the batter to run the bases before it counts!

posted June 26, 2008

1. Intrusion, interruption and violating personal space.
2. Ignoring basic manners, etiquette and culture aspects.
3. Aggressive in talk, email, phone and in meeting or follow-up.
4. Name dropping: e.g. I am meeting Bill Gates next week or I know the CEO from his school days or I can fix your meeting with Madonna when she visits our town.
5. Talking business before developing rapport or interest is shown by other person(s).
6. Spreading too fast and too thin.
7. Disrespect to age, gender and status of a person.

posted June 27, 2008

There are already some great answers, but I'll add my thoughts...
It turns me off when I meet someone at a netwroking event and they corner you and start their sales pitch complete with brochures, cards, magazines or whatever. When I started true "networking" I turned off my share of people by talking too much about my service if they showed interest. I am learning that it takes time to build relationships and partnerships. Once someone trusts you and knows you better, they will be interested in learning what you do and become a good referring partner, if not a client. Sometimes I was disappointed that I didn't leave an event with enough contacts or appointments, but now I appreciate quality connections and value the people that become networking business partners.

Links:

• http://adells.com/networking

posted June 27, 2008

I will keep it simple - handing me your business card before an introduction and handshake!

posted June 27, 2008

One great tip I learned is to avoid joining two people having a discussion. There is a chance that the pair is having an intimate conversation. It’s better to join an existing group of three or more.

posted June 29, 2008

Going into it with the intention of getting something out of it. I know we all network because we hope that these people will be able to help us at some point in the future, but it's a bit crass to network with someone just for waht they can do for you.

I quite often see questions like "How can I network with CEOs in [insert geographical or industry area]?" My first thought is "Why would a CEO want to network with you?" swiftly followed by "I'm not a CEO but if you'd networked with me I might have been able to help you. You've just excluded me and made me want to not help you by saying I'm not good enough." That last one might sound a bit petulant but it's human nature, and (as I recall) was the basis of a theory from Nobel prize winning Economist and mathematician John Nash.

'Head hunting' (trying to network with just people from specific groups for the help they can give you) is rarely a good idea as it causes you to give off a 'psychic stink' that many people can detect. I don't mean literally an ESP type of thing, I mean it comes across in body language, tone of voice and word choice. It is very off putting.

Stephen

posted June 30, 2008

Vanessa, on this networking site, people who don't even say thank-you to those who answer their questions. In the wider networking world, basic lack of courtesy and respect - which I suppose comes to much the same thing. A network is a machine containing a series of connected cogs, and they move much more smoothly with a large dash of generosity of spirit, politeness, and willingness to give as well as take.

Good luck

posted June 30, 2008

- Unnecessary Adding up.
- Abuse.
- Caste discrimination, at times.

posted June 30, 2008

I agree with Robin. Not even a thank you when I answer questions in my book, is a big "No-No". Granted a few of my answers are in response to fun questions, so I don't always expect anything.

However, far more often I'm giving you answers for free, that you would otherwise have to pay a consultant to receive the same quality of information. To me helping people is a major part of networking, but feeling like my effort isn't even worth acknowledgment, won't get you help again.

I think the same goes even stronger in face-to-face networking. I always strive to ask for a business card when someone helps me, and at the very least, I send a thank you note (often times more depending on the effort expended by the person). Even an introduction at an event warrants a thank you.

Pam

posted June 30, 2008

One of the big no-nos is constantly asking without giving. In the recruiting world, you often find that you start developing a group of “friends” who only remember you when either themselves or someone they know need help with either working on the résumé or with finding a job. Of course, those “friends” often also find themselves falling out of the friendship circle rather quickly.

posted June 30, 2008

here are some that seem to be missed..

1. lacking enthusiasm
2. repeating the same mantra.. hi, i am so and so, from blah blah.. and not inducing something interesting.
3. coming across as a serial card gathering machine..

posted June 30, 2008

Hi Vanessa
there is some great input here already. Many people are nervous in a networking session - it can really help to think in terms of "what can I give" rather than "what can I get". The problem with the latter is it leads to selling at the event. The symptoms that, in my opinion, are annoying that result include:

1. Trying to recruit me into a Multi level marketing downline before knowing anything about me
2. Giving out cards without a discussion of why we might want to do that
3. Talking endlessly about yourself/your company without finding out if there is interest or a possible "fit"

posted June 30, 2008

Great Q's Vanessa.... I totally agree with Tim Kassouf answer… Moreover that part that “it's important to have a relationship before you "need" them, and having a genuine interest in the person you’re dealing with”.

On the flip side -- please don’t reach out to me after months/years of not connecting, and ask me how I’ve been, and if you can pass along your resume….

Yes networking is key and used correctly, it’s a powerful allied!

posted June 30, 2008

Sending advertisements for your new business or employer to personal addresses of former coworkers, when you have those addresses only because they were given out within your department in the form of a holiday card list and not because these are personal friends who asked you to send them your new business information. I have seen this done by people who were otherwise very professional, so I realize some people think this is acceptable, but for me it is definitely not. It is not only likely to be a violation of whatever policy a company might have in place regarding confidentiality of personal information, it is to my mind a breach of personal trust. If I thought people would as a matter of course hand my home address over to their new employer, new staff etc. for their mailing list I would not allow my address to be included in the first place.

posted June 30, 2008

Just want to say that I'm very impressed with the interactions on linkedIn.
The quality of the interactions is astounding, knowing we received no training besides life and what our parents told us about good manners..

posted July 1, 2008