Oh, the Places We'll Network!

If you are determined to crack the networking code and build priceless business relationships it is important to research the various networking options and commit to a networking strategy. Get out and about and reach out. Be proactive. Open relationships everywhere. On Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. On Golden Pond and even on the Bridge on the River Kwai. (Sorry, I got carried away and my movie references got a tad silly.) Anyway, you get the point.

To make connecting easier and more focused, look for groups and events where networking is encouraged. People expect to exchange cards and meet new people at these types of gatherings, so go expecting to make some contacts. It is best not to consider joining any business organizations unless you are committed to being an active member for at least one year. This stuff takes time.

Too many people go to business networking events with the wrong focus and try to force their service down your throat. If you are not on the top of your game, you will end up stoically listening to a bunch of pitches instead of getting the person to have a real conversation. Also, it is possible to spend a bunch of dinero on joining networking groups, so consider your affiliations carefully. Call and ask if you can attend as a visitor. Most allow at least one free visit.

Again, you can network everywhere and anywhere. Heck, start your own networking group. There are plenty of places that offer networking possibilities. What follows is by no means a complete list, but these suggestions can lead to some great opportunities (for more suggestions and specific tips relating to this list, check out pages 67 thru 72 of Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships).

Eleven Proven Places to Network:

1. Organizations to Which You Already Belong

(Homeowner's Association, office parties, Sunday School Class, PTA, etc.)

2. Professional Trade Associations

3. State and National Trade Shows, Conventions,

and Conferences

4. Trade Organizations of Your Best Customers

If the fine people who already use your services belong to these organizations, would it not be safe to assume that other members might want to use your services as well?

See if you can present a breakout session or seminar on something related to your work.

5. Chamber of Commerce

6. Golf/ Sports

7. Spiritual Organizations

I am NOT suggesting that you join a church or synagogue only for the business opportunities. But let’s face it – many solid business relationships are forged in the pews and folding chairs of spiritual organizations. Go for the right reasons and let your light shine. Hide it under a bushel? No. You’ve got to let it shine.

8. Workshops, Classes, and Seminars

9. College Associations

10. Referral / Leads Groups

11. Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Elks, Moose(I know there is an animal joke in there somewhere.)

One of the best ways to really get your networking into high gear and gain visibility and develop relationships is to...Volunteer. Be sure to look for volunteer jobs that will provide you opportunities to show off your skills & personality, and meet and interact with new contacts.

Volunteer to:

1. Serve on committees for your professional association. You can help shape the association’s policy, as well as work closely with and learn from other experts.

2. Chair a committee or run for office at your local Chamber of Commerce. Let people experience your leadership, communication, and organizational skills in action.

3. Work the reception desk at the trade organization of your best customer. You will meet people as they sign in.

4. Help direct people to the right rooms at State and National Trade Shows, Conventions, and Conferences (often called being a people mover).

5. Be a greeter at a leads/referral group meeting. The greeter spot is ideal for the self-diagnosed shy,because the title alone forces you to connect. Plus, as a greeter there is an automatic assumption that you are “in the know” and others will naturally come to you for info and help.

6. Join the board of your favorite charity. You will likely connect with key industry leaders and gain a reputation as a leader yourself.

Crack the Networking CODE.

Be Progress (TM).

Recognized as a ‘Sales-and-networking guru’ by the Dallas Business Journal, Dean Lindsay is the founder of The Progress Agents LLC (http://www.ProgressAgents.com) – a seminar company dedicated to empowering progress in sales, service, and workplace performance.

Dean's best selling book Cracking the Networking CODE: 4 Steps to Priceless Business Relationships has been endorsed by a who's who of business leaders and performance experts including Ken Blanchard - author of The One Minute Manager, Brian Tracy and Frank Bracken, the President and COO of Haggar Clothing Co.

Jay Conrad Levinson - the author of Guerrilla Marketing, thought so much of Cracking the Networking CODE that he wrote the book's foreword.

A cum laude graduate of the University of North Texas, Dean presently serves on the Executive Advisory Board for UNT’s Department of Marketing and Logistics. The Dallas Business Journal selected Mr. Lindsay as one of D-FW's Rising Stars Under Forty in The Business World Today in their yearly Forty Under 40 list.

More info at: http://www.ProgressAgents.com or 1-877-479-5323

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