| 1. The Federal Bureau of Labor did a study a few | | | | without a pen and paper. Sounds dumb, right? It |
| years back indicating that 70% of all new business | | | | isn't. It's genius. Nobody keeps napkins with |
| comes from some form of networking. I think it's | | | | scribblings on them.32. Every week, introduce two |
| higher.2. So, no matter where you go - the Mall, | | | | people you know who need to know each |
| church, out to dinner, the gym - you better have | | | | other.33. Wear your nametag above your |
| at least five business cards with you.3. And be | | | | breastbone and make sure it's visible from 10 |
| able to give an UNFORGETTABLE personal | | | | feet away. Nobody cares what side of your chest |
| introduction in 10 seconds, 30 seconds and 6o | | | | it's on. Just make it big. And if you don't like |
| seconds.4. When someone on the phone says, | | | | wearing nametags, then you probably don't like |
| "May I ask who's calling?" get excited. Say | | | | people knowing who you are, either.34. Oh, and |
| something unique that makes that person say, | | | | it's not who you know - it's who knows you. |
| "Um, okay...please hold." Be unexpected. Be cool. | | | | (Thanks again, Jeffrey Gitomer.)35. And people will |
| Be memorable.5. Get Google alerts on yourself, | | | | like you the minute they figure out how much |
| your company, your area of expertise and your | | | | they ARE like you.36. Fear not to entertain |
| competition. If you don't know what a Google | | | | strangers for by so doing some may have |
| alert is, just Google it.6. Networking isn't selling, | | | | entertained angels unaware. (Hebrews, 13:2)37. If |
| marketing or cold calling. It's the development and | | | | you don't have get it. It's ten bucks.38. Find local |
| maintenance of mutually valuable relationships. | | | | professionals with whom you share common |
| Don't mix those things up.7. The most important | | | | interests, customers, ideas and products. |
| four letters in the word NETWORKING are | | | | Introduce yourself to them, get together, share |
| W-O-R-K, because that's exactly what it takes.8. | | | | ideas and find ways to help each other.39. Form a |
| If you give your business card to somebody and | | | | mastermind group. No more than four people. |
| they don't reply, "Hey, cool card!" get a new card. | | | | Meet regularly to set goals, keep each other |
| (Thank you, Jeffrey Gitomer.)9. When attending | | | | accountable and brainstorm.40. Also, set your own |
| networking events, come early. Check out the | | | | networking goals each month for:o Events to |
| nametags. See if you know anybody, or find | | | | attend |
| people you'd like to meet.10. Sit in the back so | | | | o People to meet |
| you can scan the room for specific people you'd | | | | o Emails to write |
| like to connect with.11. Email articles of interest, | | | | o Calls to make |
| links or other cool stuff OF VALUE (not spam) to | | | | o Articles/physical mail to send41. Go onto |
| people you've met.12. Publish a newsletter or | | | | Google and type in "articles on networking." Read |
| ezine. Interview people from your network and | | | | on!42. Speaking of Google, Google yourself |
| feature them as experts. They will take | | | | regularly. Find out what people are saying about |
| ownership of their inclusion and spread that | | | | you. If you don't show up, you're in trouble.43. If |
| publication to everyone they know.13. Spend an | | | | you think you don't need to network, you right. |
| hour a week reading and commenting on other | | | | You don't need to network: you MUST |
| people's blogs. If you don't know what a blog is, | | | | network!44. And stop calling it networking. Ignore |
| you're in trouble.14. When you read an article you | | | | the title of this post. I only used that word in the |
| like, email the author. Tell him what you liked | | | | title because my client made me. Networking - as |
| about it and introduce yourself. He'll usually write | | | | a word - is tired and old and cliché and it |
| back.15. Have an awesome email signature that | | | | makes people think you're throwing around a |
| gives people a reason to click over to your | | | | bunch of cards trying to sell, sell, sell. No. All you're |
| website. Just be careful not to have TOO much | | | | doing is making friends. Not schmoozing, mingling |
| information included.16. Get involved with social | | | | or any of those stupid catch phrases. You're |
| networking sites like LinkdIn, MySpace and | | | | making friends. That's it. Friends. Make them |
| Squidoo.17. Remember that networking doesn't | | | | every day.45. If you think you suck at |
| have to be in person. The Internet is a great | | | | networking, don't worry. You're not alone. But also |
| place to connect with people just like you! It's | | | | remember that anyone can develop their |
| called Internetworking. (Yep, I made that word | | | | networking skills. That's right, skills. Because it's not |
| up.)18. Make your own words up. It's really fun.19. | | | | something you're born with or just plain "good at." |
| Have business lunches at least once a week.20. | | | | Anyone can do it effectively. You simply need:o |
| Attend local events once a month.21. Figure out | | | | To develop attitude of approachability |
| where your target market hangs out (online and | | | | o To read books on the subject |
| offline). Then hang out there.22. Or, create your | | | | o To practice46. So, when strangers ask, "How |
| own regular "business hangout," like a copy or | | | | are you?" don't say fine. You're not fine. Nobody's |
| coffee shop where you can regularly be found | | | | fine. Give a real answer that's memorable and |
| working, networking, reading or connecting with | | | | magnetic. I suggest, "Business is kicking ass!" or |
| other professionals.23. Talk to everybody. Don't | | | | "Everything is beautiful!"47. Come to every |
| sell them; don't probe them, just make friends. | | | | networking event with three great questions |
| Make friends with everybody. Because people buy | | | | ready to go. Be sure they begin with, "What's the |
| people first.24. Take volunteer positions with | | | | one thing?" "What's your favorite?" and "What |
| organizations that are relevant to your industry. | | | | was the best part about?"48. When someone |
| Be a visible leader to whom others can come for | | | | asks where you're from, don't just say "Austin." |
| help.25. Every time you meet someone, write the | | | | Use the H.O.T technique: "Oh, I'm from Austin, |
| letters HICH on their business card: how I can | | | | home of the best college football team in the |
| help. Then think of five ways to do so.26. Go to | | | | country." Get creative. Get unique. Watch what |
| Borders and spend one day a month reading | | | | happens.49. Put your person before your |
| books on networking, interpersonal communication | | | | profession. Your personality before your position. |
| and marketing. I highly recommend The Power of | | | | Your individual before your industry.50. Don't be |
| Approachability and How to be That Guy. (I hear | | | | different - be unique. Don't be friendly - be |
| the author is super cool.)27. Publish articles or a | | | | approachable. And don't be memorable - be |
| blog or both based around your expertise. Use | | | | unforgettable.51. Think about the last five |
| titles such as "Top Ten Ways," "Essential | | | | "luckiest" business contacts you encountered. |
| Elements" and "Success Secrets," that grab the | | | | Figure out what you did right, realize that there IS |
| reader's attention. Publish them on and Be funny, | | | | NO SUCH THING AS LUCK, then repeat as often |
| but don't tell jokes.29. Discover the CPI, or | | | | as possible.© 2006 All Rights Reserved.Scott |
| Common Point of Interest with everyone you | | | | Ginsberg, aka "The Nametag Guy," is the author |
| meet.30. Carry blank business cards with you in | | | | of three books and a professional speaker who |
| case someone forgot theirs. They'll thank you for | | | | helps people maximize approachability, become |
| saving their butt!31. Never leave the house | | | | unforgettable and make a name for themselves. |