Improving Your Networking Skills
Bear with me for a moment while I tell you a story of clever networking.
One day an old colleague of mine was sitting in his office admiring the beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour. The sky was blue and the sparkling water was dotted with sailboats and yachts. Moored in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel was a massive white yacht that clearly belonged to someone who led a very fancy existence. He decided he’d like to meet that person, so he a had a bottle of wine sent down to the boat with a note that went something like this:
Welcome to Sydney!
I looked out my window this morning and saw your boat. I wanted to thank you for improving my view. If you need anything while you’re here, please give me a call.
Enclosed is some fancy wine to help you be more fancy on your fancy boat.
Impressed, the boat owner called my colleague and invited him for dinner, and just like that, my colleague had a new business relationship.
While the specifics of the story may not apply to a photography business, the spirit of effort and creativity is relevant to anyone trying to develop their network.
Here are a few easy ways to improve your networking skills:
Always carry business cards. This one might seem obvious, but I’ve met a surprising number of people who don’t carry cards. Short of writing their number on my arm with a Sharpie, they’re forgotten by the next day. There are plenty of business card companies online. MOO does good quality, affordable cards, but you can even have cards printed at your local Office Works or Staples. The most basic card is better than nothing.
Set yourself goals. If you’re going to an event, a party or attending a trade show, make a goal to meet a certain number of people, and don’t let yourself leave until you’ve met that goal. Every person you meet is a possible business opportunity. Don’t let loose your inner pushy salesperson, but be aware of the opportunities.
Nurture what you started. The day after you meet someone, follow up with a short email. This reinforces your meeting in their mind, and anyway, it’s good manners. If you think they’re a promising contact, think of an excuse to take them to coffee. If that’s too forward, email them a link to a news article, or a flyer for a music festival you think they might like. If you remember someone’s interests and make them feel special, they’ll remember you and your business.
Be brave and creative. If you want to meet someone, do something unique that will catch their attention. What do you have to lose? The price of a bottle of wine?
You’re going to come across all kinds of people in your day-to-day. Maybe you’ll exchange details with a gregarious woman who has five friends getting married next year, or a seasoned magazine editor with an enormous network of their own. You never know who you’ll meet, and the more people aware of you and your business, the more potential customers you have.
Pilar Mitchell, Word Source-ress
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When she’s not writing her blog, Cult of Clothes, Pili is a corporate advisor working with businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to stock-exchange-listed companies. She is fascinated by the evolution of small businesses and loves to combine her passion for writing with the opportunity to help entrepreneurs grow and learn. |
