In order to maintain your contact list and keep you in the forefront of their minds, touch base with your network and be a constant reminder to them of how important and helpful a contact you are.

1. Top Ten Tips
for Business Networking

2. Networking…
… the perfect opportunity to showcase yourself in a
public forum without the pressure of selling.
It needn’t be a daunting prospect if you have the
specific tools, skills and knowhow to succeed.
Make connections and develop your professional
outlook by following our 10 easy networking tips.

3. 1. Keep Your Contacts
Fresh
 In order to maintain your contact list and keep you in
the forefront of their minds, touch base with your
network and be a constant reminder to them of how
important and helpful a contact you are.
 Mailing them a week before seeing them at event after
months of silence won’t do.

4. 2. Be Prepared
 Always carry business cards with you – you never know
whom you might meet, how you could help them, or
how they could help you.
 If you don’t have any corporate cards, a personally
produced card looks a lot better than no card at all.
 Make sure your cards are accessible – rummaging
through your bag or pockets doesn’t look very
professional.

5. 3. Select Your Events
Carefully
 It is important that before you attend any event you
check that it is appropriate for your networking goals.
 If you are looking for a certain sector to network with,
it is vital that you target your networking efforts.

6. 4. Check The List
 Networking should be strategic; the delegate list is
your bible.
 Before you arrive, request the delegate list.
 If it is unavailable pick one up as soon as you arrive and
study who it is you want to talk to.

7. 5. It’s Easy to be
Interesting
 When you enter a room remember that most people
are in the same position as you and will be receptive to
any conversation.
 Be confident and be the questioner - people like you to
be interested and that makes you interesting to them.
 Win people over with the sincerity of your interest and
your enthusiasm for their topic of conversation.

8. 6. Attention and
Retention
 Once you’ve engaged with new contacts, it is vital to
take in what they’re saying and use it to develop your
networking experience.
 Introduce your new contacts to other contacts with
real details – this will make you a worthwhile and
memorable new contact.
 Don’t forget your new contact’s name whilst
introducing them to someone else.

9. 7. Give Don’t Take
 Networking is all about mutual benefits.
 Don’t go in on a selling offensive; go with the mentality
that you can help others and that is why you are there.
 People will be more positive in receiving you with this
attitude.

10. 8. Mingle
 Try to see as many people as possible whilst spreading
your business card far and wide.
 But remember new contacts may have their sights set
on certain other delegates so try not to monopolise
people’s time.

11. 9. Follow Up
 Post-networking is almost as important as making the
contact in the first place.
 Remember to follow up with an email at the very least.
 To make these new contacts into contacts for life, give
them a telephone call or even drop a handwritten
note. Emails can get lost in the inbox following an
influx of spam.

12. 10. Social Networking
vs. Traditional?
 Social and traditional networking shouldn’t be at war.
 Use your online presence to support and reinforce
your networking position.
 Activity on LinkedIn can be very beneficial for research
and keeping up to date with contacts both old and
new.

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