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Your Chamber offers dozens of opportunities to meet new people and share information about yourself and your business. Here are some tips from Entrepreneur.com to try at one of our upcoming functions.
1. Resist the urge to arrive late. As a first attendee, you'll notice that it's calmer and quieter – and people won't have settled into groups yet. It's easier to find other people who don't have conversation partners yet.
2. Ask easy questions. Don't wait around the edges of the room, waiting for someone to approach you. To get the conversation started, simply walk up to a person or a group, and say, "May I join you" or "What brings you to this event?"
3. Ditch the sales pitch. Remember, networking is all about relationship building. Keep your exchange fun, light and informal – you don't need to do the hard sell within minutes of meeting a person.
4. Share your passion. Win people over with your enthusiasm for your product or service. Leave a lasting impression by telling a story about why you were inspired to create your company.
5. Smile. It's a simple – but often overlooked – rule of engagement. By smiling, you'll put your nervous self at ease, and you'll also come across as warm and inviting to others.
6. Don't hijack the conversation. Some people who dislike networking may overcompensate by commandeering the discussion. The most successful networkers (think of those you've met) are good at making other people feel special.
7. Remember to follow-up. It's often said that networking is where the conversation begins, not ends. Get in touch within 48 hours of the event to show you're interested and available, and reference something you discussed, so your contact remembers you.
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