Networking & Growth Kamran on 16 Nov 2007 02:23 pm
Importance of Getting Out of the Office and Networking
We live in the Age of the Internet. Everything’s on line. And now, some web sites even offer easy professional networking at the click of a mouse.
Such online platforms do indeed facilitate easy linking and reaching out to people that you might not reach otherwise.
But there is also the question of “conversion” and that dreaded “R word” – Results. I have a feeling all that online networking and endless streams of e-mailing does not add up to much if you are not actually out there, shaking hands with a good smile on your face and ready to put your best foot forward with that 15-second “elevator pitch.”
When people meet face to face there emerges a different kind of synergy that is missing from online contacts. People that we meet personally, talk to, shake hands with, chat about topics of mutual interest and even share a good laugh or two with are easier to remember.
Make it a habit to participate in at least one business event a week. Become a member of your chamber or local business organization, if you already aren’t. Attend their workshops and socials. Volunteer to organize and facilitate things if you have the time. What goes around always comes around, every time.
Additional tips: always have plenty business cards handy. After meeting someone for the first time, immediately follow it up with a short e-mail, expressing your pleasure in meeting him/her and very briefly reminding what you do or sell. The next time you see that person you’ll have established yet another bridge to a better future.