tial growth right now is facebook. a
mere 5 years old, Facebook currently
Five Most Common Mistakes Made
has 180 million users and is growing at
a pace of approximately 1 million users
at Business Mixers
per week. to put it into perspective, if
Facebook were a country, it would be
story Jon Colson
the 6th largest in the world based on
population. When my 59 year old moth-
if you’re going to do your networking “old school” style, here are five common mistakes
er communicates with me regularly on
that you should avoid at mixers, and their solutions.
Facebook, you know it has leapt from
Passing as many cards as possible is NOT the answer.
the land of geeks and bleeding-heart
most of us have heard the three-foot rule. anyone who comes within reach should get a
teens to mainstream.
business card. i call this marathon networking. they slip a card into your hand, introduce
While twitter is like being in a busy
themselves, and then ask what you do. While you are answering, they are looking over your
coffee shop trying to hear your friend
shoulder for their next victim…i mean contact.
over many different conversations go-
set a realistic number of people you want to meet and truly connect with. spend three to
ing on at once, Facebook takes a more
ten minutes with each person. setting an appointment for coffee to learn more is an effective
segmented approach to online conver-
way to move on.
sation. First of all, your home page is a
news feed that shows only the changes 2. This mixer is NOT all about you.
that have been made to the profiles of if everyone at a mixer goes with the idea of expanding their business, then who is there
those in your network. Second of all, to help others? if you want to be an effective networker, the answer is YoU. if you truly
you can join groups, become a fan of want to shock someone and make them remember who you are, do not talk about yourself
your favorite business or artist, and any more than necessary. Spend five to ten minutes talking about them, their business, their
even play interactive games with those needs, and how you can help them. they will ask questions, but you give quick answers and
in your network. it can be both a time turn the conversation right back to them. offer to follow up and thank them for their time.
waster as well as a valuable business you will be remembered though they know little about you.
tool. in fact, most people will tell you it
3. Do not wait for people to come to you.
has even become one giant high school
there are many people who stand back and wait for networking to happen. networking
reunion for them.
does happen, but not with them. if you are one of the ones who are standing in a corner wait-
twitter and facebook serve as that
ing for someone to come to you, look to another corner. there is someone standing there. go
unique intersection between your so-
introduce yourself to them. they will be thankful that you did.
cial and professional lives. they can be
valuable business tools or simply a way
4. When someone hands you a business card, do NOT just shove it in your pocket.
to stay in touch with family and friends. Most of us grab a card, perhaps glance at it then it disappears into our pocket. there are
linkedin, however, is all business. in many ways to use that card to your benefit. here are a few:
its simplest form, linkedin is an inter- look at the card, if there is something remarkable about it, make the remark. People have
active resume and rolodex. in practice, put time and energy into creating their card; they will appreciate you noticing.
however, it is the online version of the
hold the card during the conversation and look from the person to their name several
business cocktail party, without the
times. many people feel that they are poor at remembering names. this is a great technique
constraints of time or space. you can
to help.
make introductions, provide a recom-
Write something special about the meeting on the back of the card. this can be an accom-
mendation for those you have worked
plishment, a comment, a joke they told, or any other unique thing about that meeting.
with in the past, and even ask for help
from your network on a pressing ques-
5. When you leave the mixer, you are NOT done networking.
tion you may have. if you are a profes-
nothing is more important than how and when you follow up. let no more than two days
sional, own a business, or work in a
pass before mailing a personal note. You can take the time to hand write the note, or you can
field you would consider a “career” you
use an online service. i use a combination of personal notes and sendout cards. the best
should be on linkedin.
system is the one you will use faithfully. For a huge impact, this is where you reference what
While the networks may come and
you have written on their business card. in your personal note, include “i loved that joke
go (MySpace is on the decline, for in-
about…” or “i hope your daughter is feeling better.” You are now a rock star in their mind.
stance) one thing is true. Social media
the next follow up is a call within a week. there are two things to do during this call. First,
has brought the world together. no
tell them how much you enjoyed meeting them. then set an appointment to meet with them
longer are we limited by time or space,
and learn more about their business.
but we can stay in constant contact
you have made the meeting and follow up all about them. When is it about you? it becomes
with those that matter most to us. if
about you when they make it about you. Because you have spent your time and energy focus-
you haven’t yet made the plunge, there
ing on them and listening to their needs, they will make it about you. if they do not, after all
is no better time to jump on the social
of your effort, you have eliminated what would have been a headache.
media bandwagon. there is plenty of
company.
o
Jon Colson is the author of the book If Your Product Sells Itself, Shut UP!
For information email
CE@TheColsonTeam.com or call 208-703-7879.
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www.eaglemagazine.com
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