For Entrepreneurs - Top Tips for Networking this Holiday Season

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh what fun it is to have some prospects in my sleigh! Hey!

The Holiday Season is a time that brings people together, so enjoy it. Live, laugh and love during this holiday season. But what does this mean for you the entrepreneur? It simply means you should take advantage of any potential gatherings.

You will find that stores extend their hours over the holidays, why? Because it’s the busiest time of the year for them. And being an entrepreneur there is no exception, if anything this is your time to shine. With countless interactions, social events, celebrations and more – there has never been an easier time to start networking.

Your first conversation is your gateway to meeting more people. It can be intimidating, but with the right approach you can ease your way into. Don’t focus on the fear, for you introverts out there I know how intimidating this can be.

Here’s the key to networking during the holidays – confidence. You have nothing to be afraid of, because you have the key to something incredible; opportunity. You can offer people an opportunity. Whether it be to improve their health, to turn their spending into earning, to shop online and earn cashback, to make some extra money on the side in retailing, or to become an entrepreneur and run their own business – all opportunities. So, don’t go into this with a list of things you want, go into it with a list of things you can offer. The goal here should not be to desperately grow your business, it should be to listen. Simply, listen.

Be genuine and personal. You should not be focusing the same statement to each individual person, as this will come across “salesy”. Each person you approach should lead to a personal conversation that relates to their story.

1. Introduce yourself, and most importantly remember their name – during the conversation use it to address them a few times to develop a relationship.

2. Ask and care about what they do – this breaks the ice and allows them to welcome you into their world.

3. Be able to talk about topics other than work, so find a similar interest – not only is it a great way to keep the conversation going but it allows you to bond over something common.

4. Continue to maintain that confidence and start to think about what solution you may be able to offer them

5. Most importantly – the last 5 minutes of your conversation are what people remember the most, so when you are closing focus on what you want them to remember the most!

I am at a Networking Event, so How Do I Start a Conversation?

So you made an executive decision and decided to start going to business networking events, since that is what everyone is recommending for you to get ahead in your career and in business.  So you check the latest Meetups and Eventbrite listings and start scheduling some dates to get out there and meet some successful professionals and start building up that old Rolodex of contacts.

OK, you got through step one, but now when you get to the event, what do you do next?

I always like to start slow at an event and observe my surroundings, maybe get a drink and look for the extroverts and even if I know anyone, just to break the ice.   The next step when you introduce yourself to the first person you met, what do you ask.   Honestly, everyone dreads that ol' question, "So What Do You Do?".   The recipient may also dread that question, since it may open the door to a long winded answer, you know, the one that can go on and on until you are begging and pleading for your phone to ring or the fire alarm to go off to break free.

I have been networking for quite a few years now and I do not like asking someone simply what they do.   It is like opening the door to, why don't you give me that paper resume in your hand or just talk about your life story for the next three hours.

Here are some questions I like to ask in no particular order.   Hopefully, they can help you engage in more meaningful conversation at your next business networking event.

- What is your biggest professional accomplishment and how did you achieve it?

- Who is your favorite business mentor, whether it is a colleague or a celebrity?

- What is your favorite business book, show or podcast?

- What is your biggest challenge in business?

- Who is your perfect client and who can I introduce you to, that will help your business?

- What is your top marketing and networking strategy?  What social media platform do you use the most to market your business?

- What is your favorite business networking group?  Hint Hint, Mass Professional Networking!

- What other talents do you have?  For example, do you play a musical instrument?

- What is your recommended follow-up strategy after you meet someone at an event and in what setting?  Phone call or over a coffee/ drink?

There are many other questions you can ask to engage in conversation, but chances are is if you pick four or five of the above questions, you are well on your way to a very engaging conversation and the start of a great business relationship.   You are probably wondering how you can remember all of the answers to your question.  What I recommend is to write some key words on the person's business card or take notes on a small pad, so it is easier to follow-up.

So now you know how to look for events and know how to break the ice at an event, so go ahead and start networking.  It is the one and only way to get ahead in this fast paced digital world.

How to Set Yourself Apart in the Social Media World - 5 Quick Tips

In the digital world we are in, the daily drill is always the same.

You head into the homestretch of your long day, and you have some time, so you pull out your smartphone to check your Facebook News Feed, Messenger, Twitter and Instagram.

As you scroll through your newsfeeds and messages, you notice a lot of boring monotonous posts about the same damn thing.

Political Post
Political Post
Post About How Great Life Is
Post About How Miserable Life Is
Political Post
Post About Great Ground Floor Opportunity That Will Make You Rich
Political Post

Makes you want to flush your smartphone down the toilet.

Bu then, you get all anxious that you might be missing the meaningless text or Facebook Post.  Maybe, just maybe, someone would post something that set themselves apart from all the rest.

So How Do You Set Yourself Apart in the Social Media World and not cause a spike of smartphones in our sewer system?   Here are 5 Quick Tips.

1) Identify and Post About Your Passion -  Everyone has a passion whether it is the weather, music, sports, helping others or simply a great hobby.   Post articles about your passion or a challenge you are having learning a new song on your guitar.  Chances are you will get some engagement and people wanting to know more about your passion and why it interests you.

2) Friends First, Business Second - A lot of people use their Social Media Feed to promote their business not thinking there is a human side of social media.    Join my team, buy my product or service, quit your job.  You heard them all.   Use Social Media to make friends and build rapport.  Talk about hobbies (See #1) and then if your friend identifies a need, talk to them about it.

3) Be Yourself - Your Best Self on Social Media -  Keep it positive on social media and don't gloat how great you are.  If you are having a bad day, stay off your newsfeed.   People can care less if your hair looks bad.   People care even more less about the fifteenth selfie of yourself you posted today.   Communicate with your connections and ask questions about their thoughts on a topic you were researching.   It will bring you down to earth and you will be your best self.

4) Manage Your Time on Social Media - Social Media is meant to be social, not spend countless hours looking at posts about politics or some other controversial topic.  Think about leveraging your time on the social platforms that will help you, not waste you.  Subscribe to learning groups and nurture your brain versus stressing it out.  

5) Don't Spam! But Do Create Curiosity -  Network Marketers are notorious for this.   They post about how they are this amazing entrepreneur and if you don't join their cult, I mean team, you are a corporate job loser.   And they continue to post about their opportunity and/or product daily.  This my friends is spam.  The better way is to post something that build curiosity so they your connections ask for more.   An example, is to post a picture of a clean car, or a vacation spot or of yourself with new makeup.   Leave the post open ended, so it leads to engagement.