“Help! My Networking’s Not Working!” they cried…

Plagued by misconceptions, fear and procrastination… business professionals around the globe are wondering how to get their networking… working.

Now, there’s no need to fret or fear… The Networking Masters are here and… we’ve got back up!

“Smart Networking” to the Rescue!

If you’re not sure how to leverage networking in a way that works for you, this brand new book “Smart Networking” by Liz Lynch is a must-read.

And, today, you can enjoy a sneak peek into Liz’s insights and advice through a special interview that narrows in on some key questions to help you… get your networking working!

Gina: Liz, In your opinion, what is the biggest benefit of networking and why?

Liz: While networking can help people gain enormous tangible benefits in landing a new job or getting new clients, etc. I’ve really come to feel through my own experience that the biggest benefit of all is something more intangible. It’s knowing that you have a support system there for you when you need it, for whatever you want to do, whatever goal you set for yourself. Knowing that you can accomplish anything, in my opinion, is absolutely priceless.

Gina: What are some of the reasons why networking might not be working for someone and how can they flip the results?

Liz: One reason is expecting instant results. You wouldn’t plant grape seeds and expect vintage-quality wine in one week, but some people think that if they don’t meet someone at an event who can hire them or give them business right away, it’s been a waste of time.

A related reason for failure is being too focused on one’s own needs. People are willing to help you because they know like and trust you, but also because they know that you’re willing to help them. To be successful with networking, you have to see it as a two-way street, and give the relationship time to develop.

Gina: Networking is a concept that seems to be largely misunderstood. In your opinion, what is the biggest myth or misconception surrounding networking today and how can networking professionals move past it?

Liz: One of the biggest myths is that you don’t need to network unless you need something, which then leads to the approach of networking ONLY when you need something. This thinking gets in the way of effective networking because you’re too focused on your own needs.

If you take a broader view of networking so that when you meet people you aren’t asking “What can they do for me?” but rather “What can they do?” you begin to see how much value every single person has to offer. People become more interesting to you, you see how you’re able to connect them with others in your network, and networking becomes so much more fun. And believe me, when I started, I didn’t like networking at all. So this mental shift has been critical for my own networking and business success.

Gina: For some people, the thought of networking with “strangers” is very scary, what advice do you have to help alleviate networking jitters?

Liz: I faced the exact same thing when I started my business! The first networking event I attended I lasted 5 minutes! It was very overwhelming. So I changed my strategy to reconnect with people I already knew but hadn’t seen in a while, like former coworkers, bosses, school mates. In fact, almost all of my clients my first two years in business came from those dozen or so meetings. Once I began to see success from those networking efforts, I was able to meet strangers with a great deal more confidence.

One trick I had was to arrive at events early. It was less intimidating to talk to a few other early birds than to arrive when 200 people were already engrossed in conversation.

Gina: Combining face to face and online networking is proving to be a highly effective combination… why do you think this is?

Liz: Smart networkers do indeed combine both. I think face-to-face is still very important for making an impact, and in particular, for connecting with high-level people who normally have gatekeepers screening their calls and emails. What makes online networking so valuable is the diversity and sheer numbers of people you can reach without leaving your home. For example, Gina, you and I would never have met since you live in Canada and I live in New York, but through online networking we connected and are now helping each other. And if we ever do meet in person (which I hope will happen) we’ll have had such a big head start in building our relationship that we can talk about doing bigger things together.

Gina: Liz, thank you so much for sharing your valuable advice and insights! I would love to see a face-to-face meeting in our near future too!

Everyone stay tuned… we’ll bring Liz back soon for a more in-depth audio interview.  If you’d like to be notified when this happens, simply click the big orange subscribe now button to your right… It’s free and you’ll benefit from some other valuable bonuses too.

To learn more about Liz Lynch and her new book “Smart Networking” go to the Smart Networking Blog now.

ABOUT LIZ LYNCH: Liz is the author to “SMART NETWORKING”. Packed with powerful strategies tested by years of experience, as well as real-life stories from the field, Smart Networking describes how to integrate face-to-face techniques with a strong online presence. You’ll get low-cost marketing tools that are designed to expand your professional circle exponentially. Lynch will also help you to:

* Identify the gaps in your network and develop a plan to fill them.
* Tap into existing contacts and master the art of the ask.
* Increase visibility through speaking, e-zine publishing, and blogs.
* Expand your reach with social networking tools.
* Develop a winning mindset to guide all your networking activities.

Liz Lynch is also author to 102 Secrets to Smarter Networking and founder of the Center for Networking Excellence. This company develops products, programs, and seminars that help entrepreneurs and professionals get clients, build their businesses, and accelerate their careers through networking.  http://blog.networkingexcellence.com