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Get Your Networking Working With Confident Conversations

Taking the time to prepare BEFORE networking face-to-face or online leads to confident conversations and meaningful connections.

If you’ve ever stressed about talking to strangers at networking events or have found yourself paused in front of your computer screen wondering how to start a conversation within a social network there are simple things you can do.

BEFORE you go to a live networking event or, login to your favourite social network, develop an inventory of open-ended questions and interesting discussion topics that you can leverage to get conversation started with the people you meet.

The key to networking with ease and confidence is to use “open-ended” questions which require more than a one word answer to get the conversation rolling – naturally.

Prepare Opening “Conversation Starter” Questions:

• Do you find these meetings helpful to your business?
• I’m new here. What can you tell me about this group?
• Hi! I don’t think we’ve met yet…I’m Gina Bell, and you are?
• What brought you to this meeting?
• That’s a great pin (suit, scarf, purse…etc), where did you get it?

If you’d like to continue the conversation to get to know them a bit better you can ask them:

• Where are you from?
• How do you keep yourself busy when you aren’t working?
• Where do you work?
• What is it that you do?
• How will I know if I meet someone that could use your product/service?

Notice that these “get to know you” questions focus on the person you are speaking with rather than the organization, or event itself.

According to Susan RoAne, Author of What Do I Say Next? “Small talk is what we do to build to big talk. It is what cements relationships and success.”

Where can you find “Small Talk” Topic Ideas?

• Current Affairs
• Best Selling Books
• Movies
• Business News
• Industry Trends

Consider your personal interests and areas of expertise to come up with additional topic ideas. Start and develop a journal of interesting topic ideas for future reference.

Good Resources for “Small Talk” Topic Ideas are News (Local, National & International, Paper, TV, Internet, Radio), Magazines, Books, Movies, etc…

Why worry about small talk? Small talk in conversation allows you to find common ground, something in common to spark a connection…this is the catalyst for confident conversations, rapport and the beginnings of developing a win-win business relationship.

Small talk leads to discovering fascinating facts about the people you meet. These facts are the key to becoming a valuable asset in their network and building social equity with them. Based on these findings you can follow up in a memorable way (they’ll be very impressed that you remembered the conversation); make strategic introductions for them, send them information, resources and referrals that will help them and more.

When you become a valuable asset in the network of others, your social equity grows and this always has a positive reflection on financial capital to. What goes around comes around.

TIPS:

1) Listen. Really listen to people and remember the fascinating facts. Write them on the back of business cards, enter them into your contact database notes.
2) Use the information you discover to be a connector and someone of value to THEM. This is true networking.

3) Allow the conversation to unfold organically. (i.e. Don’t grill them with question after question! Get in on the conversation too but again, try to listen more than you talk).

Happy Networking!

Media Releases…Defining Your Audience

Having a story printed about you and your business is the best form of FREE advertising there is. Why you ask? Because it’s believable.

A news story in a local or national publication can give more details about your business in a way that allows your expertise to shine. People skim through the advertisement sections but are more apt to read informative articles.

Think about the last time you opened your newspaper and saw a story about a local business. Perhaps you read about a trendy new restaurant or martini bar that piqued your interest. Or maybe a neighbourhood book store was bringing in a famous author to promote her new book. Did the story grab your attention? Were you enticed to take action and check it out? Chances are if this topic was of interest to you, it did. And that brings us to finding the right market for your story.

Sending a media release to every editor of every newspaper and magazine will get you no where quickly. You will soon make a name for yourself – and not a good one at that. You already know (or you should know) how to find your ideal customer – your target market. It’s the same process to find your ideal publicity vehicle.

The first step in figuring out who to send your well-written media release to is to look at your own target market.

• What newspapers and magazines do they read?
• What television shows are they watching?
• What radio stations are they listening to?

Next, research the editors, journalists, freelance writers, and producers inside those publications and programs that work on stories relating to your industry. But always keep in mind that it is their job to publish their newspaper or magazine or to air their television or radio program. They entice people to subscribe, watch or listen, and encourage advertisers to pay money for ads. Their job is not to promote you.

Editors have their audience’s interests top of mind. To be effective, consider the journalist’s perspective. An editor will be reading your media release to see if it is of interest to his or her defined audience.

It does take time to create a targeted media list but the effort is worth it. Names are usually posted on Web sites and newspaper mastheads. It may take an enquiring phone call to see the best source for your story. As you grow your list of targeted contacts, you are developing a reference guide not just for sending your media releases, but also for article writing that can help to boost your business exposure.

Keep in mind that publicity is not about you – it’s about giving editors what they need to create a strong story. In other words, you’re making their job easier by giving them exactly what they need to create a compelling piece…and getting free publicity for your business as a bonus.

Networking Masters International Welcomes Tom Gosche, Personal B.R.A.N.D. Expert to the Resident Experts Team

We are thrilled to welcome Tom Gosche, Personal Brand Expert to our team of Resident Experts here at Networking Masters International.

Tom works with small businesses to create their Business Plans. His Business Strategy Training SessionsTM is a system of creating and implementing effective business building strategies. He does this as a personalized consultation and as a speaker to many entrepreneurs sales professionals.

When you see Tom in action, you learn quickly that he possesses the knowledge, skill and expertise while being caring and humorous.

As a native of the Chicagoland area, Tom lives in Schaumburg, Illinois where he helps coach youth sports. In his spare time he hikes, bikes and camps with his wife Mary and three sons, Tommy, Eddy, and Sammy.

We invite you to learn more about Tom through his site at www.thebizstrategist.com.

Tom will be speaking at this year’s 3rd annual Networking Masters Telesummit where you can listen in for FREE… All you need to do is enter your name/email in the box at the top right of this page. You’ll get access to more than 18 expert calls and replays!

Click here to learn more about this year’s event and the many fantastic experts ready to help you get your networking working!

Entering and Exiting Conversations…Gracefully

Although entering a room is uncomfortable, nothing is more daunting than entering a room full of people… already in groups. They say that ‘breaking up is hard to do’ but “breaking in” is more difficult. Being able to do so enhances our business and careers. How we gracefully join a work in progress concerns many people who find it awkward. To make it easier, here are strategies for breaking and entering and exiting.

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Breaking In

There are several ways to do that. One way is the lesson learned from shy people: arrive within fifteen minutes of the appointed hour. That way the room is not full of already formed groups. When we do see many groups in any room, find the group with three or more people who look and sound like they are having a good time. Stand in the periphery and when acknowledged step in and respond. BONUS TIP: When you see someone in your group’s periphery, step back. In doing so, you will have included the excluded and that is memorable.

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Gracious Exits

Parting is such sweet sorrow but we must exit and move on.

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Exit One

After an interesting conversation, interrupt yourself, indicate the conversation was pleasant, interesting, and informative and offer a phrase or sentence that summarizes the conversation. Offering a hand for a handshake, signals “the end”. One colleague smiles and says, “I could monopolize your time but you must want to meet others.” It works for her.

Ask for a card if appropriate and offer one of yours. Then walk a quarter of the room over to another individual or group so your conversation partner won’t think you just turned your back.

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Exit Two

After a conversation that is belabored, still be polite because doing otherwise could cause a problem down the road. Offer your hand for the handshake and in a most upbeat voice, “I hope you enjoy the rest of the meeting, party, game, and conference.” And still walk a quarter of the room away from the person. Chance is an interesting game because we never know who will reappear in the rooms of our life and be the key contact.

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Exit Three

Another way to exit is a ‘bring-along”. Instead of excusing yourself, offer to introduce your new contact to others. An introduction spoken with respect, interest and energy is infectious.

Helping others increase their contact base is kind, smart and memorable! It’s a way to develop your business, your reputation and your bottom-line.

Whether it’s a conference, a meeting or an event, Susan RoAne helps people increase their communication, interactions, comfort and confidence in every room.

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