1. Follow up with the people you meet. This is the lifeblood of networking. If you promise to get back to someone, make sure you do. If you use email to follow-up, do not under any circumstances spam everyone you met at the event. Customise each message based on the conversation you had and notes you've made on the back of business cards.
2. Have your networking tools with you at all times. All successful business people have the ‘tools of the trade'. For notable networkers, these include an informative name badge, plenty of business cards, brochures about their business, and a pocket-sized business-card file that holds the cards of the professionals they meet.
3. To get the most out of a networking event, set yourself a goal for the number of contacts you want to make, or the number of business cards you want to collect. Don't leave the event until you've met your goal.
4. Act like a host, not a guest. There's nothing to stop you from being far more active when you're with a large group of people. Volunteer to be a visitor host at the networking event you go to.
5. Listen, and ask the five ‘W' questions: who, what, where, when and why. Show genuine interest in the other person's business and look out for opportunities to help them. They will value the time they spend with you.
6. Offer a lead or referral whenever possible. If you can't give people a bona fide referral, offer other information that could be of interest to them.
7. Describe your product or service in 60 seconds. After you've learned what the other person does, you'll get an opportunity to tell them what you do. Be specific but brief.
8. Exchange business cards with the people you meet. Ask the person you've just met for two of their cards - one to pass on to someone else and one to keep for yourself. This sets the stage for networking to happen.
9. Spend ten minutes or less with each person you meet and don't linger with friends and associates. Stay focused on making as many contacts as you can. Don't try to close business deals while you're networking; it's impractical.
10. Write comments on the backs of the business cards you collect. This helps you remember more about the person when you follow up the next day.
