Random Acts of Networking: Network All the Time Everywhere

By Karen Susman

Here are 25 ways to network all the time everywhere.

1. Let everyone know what you do. Don't forget your doctors, dentist, lawyer, and plumber. Include your business card in the envelope when you pay your bills.
2. Define what you do with an illustration, story, or example. "For instance, you know that new bridge on Bellaire Avenue? I was part of the team that designed and erected that bridge."
3. Train a huge "sales team." Have everyone you know keep you in mind. Keep in touch and update your "sales team" on a regular basis.
4. Build networking alliances in your department, company, industry, competition, and community. Join forces with related industries.
5. Be likable. People like to work with and refer business to people they like.
6. Ask, "What brings you here?" This is a great opening statement to a conversation. Everyone has an answer.
7. Leverage your networking. Get free publicity, articles, and press releases. Write your own mini-newsletter or write for your target market's newsletter or trade journal.
8. Reduce your accomplishments and accolades into one sentence and include in your email signature. For instance, "Karen Susman was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal."
9. Don't be just a member. Paying your dues isn't enough. Be on a committee. Speak up. Be seen. Be heard. Be visible.
10. Read the newspapers and magazines that your target market reads. You'll converse and connect better with your listeners if you understand their world and challenges.
11. Don't overlook even a casual referral. Follow up with the referrer and referral source.
12. Don't use someone's name as a reference unless he/she has given you permission. Have your referrer call the lead first and announce you'll be calling.
13. Keep in touch with the company you used to work for. Stay on the company newsletter's mailing list.
14. Narrow the world down for your network partner. For instance, "Who in your golf foursome has children about to go to college?" "Whom do you know who is considering retirement?"
15. Have an adventuresome spirit. Have a tourist mentality. Be curious.
16. Give yourself and your services away. Just don't give it all away at once or in one place.
17. Look at every situation as a networking situation and an opportunity to learn.
18. Set a goal when you network. What do you want to accomplish or find out? The goal is not quantity but quality connections.
19. Don't complain, whine, or be pitiful. Don't be a downer.
20. Be a matchmaker. When you meet someone, cruise your mental Rolodex for people they should meet. Then, make that happen.
21. Practice your handshake. Get feedback.
    
22. "Good-mouth" people. Don't gossip or be negative about someone, a company, a city, an industry, a culture, etc. While your networking partner might be polite, he or she will be uncomfortable and you'll be labeled negatively.
23. Make new contacts in new places with people you wouldn't usually choose. Have an open mind.
24. Have a business card even if you are between job opportunities.
25. Smile. That's one of the most powerful things you can do. Be someone, someone else would want to approach, meet, and do business with.

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com www.KarenSusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, November 2007