5 Great Tips for Better Networking

Networking is one of the most important things a business professional can do. The more people you know the better, especially in your field of work. It is guaranteed to help you find new job opportunities faster.

Here are a couple tips that may help you get better results when you do it.

1. Go. The biggest step is actually going to the event. It may be on a Saturday when you would rather be at the beach but just think of it as a work commitment. That way you will not overlook it and not show up.

2. Technology is your friend. Find out who is hosting the event and why. They may have a Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter account that you can follow. If the event you're going to has electronic registration, they most likely will have a list of the people attending. Take a minute to glance over it and see if you recognize any familiar names.

3. Listen. A good way to get a conversation going with someone you don't know is to listen to the person you are speaking to as it will naturally lead you into having something else to ask them. When you are interested in what people are saying they will notice and appreciate your interest.

4. Have your business card. I know I just said that everyone has technology and LinkedIn but for a professional event your still want to have your card on hand so you don't come off ill-prepared or seem unemployed.

5. Follow-up promptly on any new opportunities. If you happen to meet someone that can lead you to a new client or business venture, you should always try to send them a message by email or LinkedIn within 24 hours. It will set you apart from others and they will see that you are really interested.

Hope you find this list helpful. Don't forget to visit our website at www.datavo.com

5 Great Tips for Networking

Networking is key to survival. It will help you find a job faster, find quality recruits for your business and stay up to date with business trends and changes sooner. But, networking is not always fun and most people would rather stay home and clean their gutters than attend a professional networking event.

Here are a few tips that we came up with here at Datavo to help make the event less stressful.

1. Go. If you go, you  will never gain anything. If you put it on your schedule, make the effort and get to the event. Think of it as a work commitment (which, it actually is.)

2. Be Informed. Take a second to research who is throwing the event and why. This will give you some insight on what you might expect at the event and leave less chance for surprises.

3. Make Sure You Have Business Cards. Most people these days are on LinkedIn. Some people feel that  this can supersede the paper tradition of the business card. Except, that’s not the truth. At a professional event, you always want to take business cards. Otherwise, it could look like you are unemployed or ill-prepared.

4. Listen More Than You Talk. The more you listen to someone the more you become interested in what they are saying and it should lead you to more questions about the subject. People appreciate when you pay attention to them when they are speaking.

5. Follow-Up Swiftly with Potential Possibilities. If you meet someone that you think may be a lead to a potential job or client or just hit it off with someone you want as part of your professional network don't just chalk it up to chance. Send them a note through LinkedIn, Facebook or email. It will set you apart from the crowd.

If you have any tips, feel free to leave them in the comments.