Many people associate networking with being pushy and overbearing. The truth is, networking is a two-way street and below on this page, you can see some small business networking events and tips that will help your marketing strategy.
#1. Smile and stay positive.
But remember, always mix in other facial expressions because a lot of smiling hurts and may give you wrinkles. What’s more important is that too much smiling is off-putting and creepy.
#2. Social Media is the new business card
Business cards are outdated, and this is why having an active social presence is crucial when it comes to small business networking events. Once you get comfortable with your social media presence, you will see that this indeed is the better alternative compared to the old-school business cards.
#3. Why would you want to meet you?
Answering this question is crucial. You should be able to highlight the importance of providing value to other professionals with whom you are mingling. It’s in human psychology to be interested in what you can gain from others, and being a source of insight will definitely help you make the right connections.
#4. Introverts can be great at networking!
If you are a confident person and this comes naturally to you, you are probably reading this out of curiosity rather than actually seeking advice. Well, here’s something for all you introverts out there, just show people that you are open-minded and listen to everyone you speak to. Whenever you get the chance to help someone, offer that help. If this seems too much out of your comfort zone, going to open stage talks surely helps.
#5. Don’t overdo it.
Don’t just fill your calendar with all the small business networking events you can find. Especially if you are based in a big city. It’s important to be selective and make sure you are not wasting your time for the sake of networking because you read in an article that it’s beneficial to you.
