Hello {FirstName},

So many times when I ask business owners where and how they network ( notice I didn't ask 'if they network') I am floored by how often I hear the response "I don't network "... or this one: "I know I should, but..."
Or how about the one I heard just this week: "networking doesn't do anything for me" or "no one in my industry networks" oh- and so if you were a lemming, you'd jump off the cliff just because?...

Ok I understand that the mere word "N Word" networking seems to evoke fear into many folks, so they avoid it like the plague. So it may not be your cup of tea to enter a room full of strangers.

40%, according to statistics, of adults have social anxiety, and up to 75% of adults experience anxiety at a party of strangers.

Let's talk about the kinds of networking any person in business can do, no matter what your products or services are.

Firstly, you can go to a variety of networking groups and meet people. If you have a friend in business, invite them to come along. This way the two of you can do what I call, tandem networking. Don't you find it almost fun to tell others about your friends' business, but it's so hard to toot your horn about your own? Well, two heads are better than one- so try it! They can promote you and visa versa.

Or, you can network online, where you can also meet people. That hardly sounds scary, now does it?

Today, business profiles for Facebook and LinkedIn are 2 places you can be seen and begin to network. Many people have set up blogs, like me, on their website. These are all places you have a presence and can interchange information with other people.

The key to great networking is find out what the other person is looking for, and help them find that. Be curious, and ask questions that are open ended ... as in, "so tell me how long you have been in business?.." or " what are you looking for in a customer?" Neither of those questions can be answered yes or no. It sparks a conversation. Always be on the lookout for something you both have in common, and build on that. Now you are going to be remembered, not for the hard sell 'to' someone, but rather you'll be remembered as someone who asked interesting questions and cared to help. In the end, it's like Jim Rohn says.

Be the one to help others find what they want first, and in doing so, you'll end up with what you want anyway.

If you feel uncomfortable at the start of the event, find a person who looks more uneasy than you. Engage them in conversation first, and you'll feel less likely to stay silent on the sidelines.

I want to share a valuable tip with you; when you are out and about networking, be sure to have a professionally made name tag. And this is what I want you to remember: wear it on your right lapel. Why? We are a society that reads left to right. So when you wear your name on your right side, it makes it so much easier for the person you are with to read your name. Everyone likes to remember a name- make it easy, ok?

Tip number two: keep extra business cards in the glove box of your car- and never leave home with out them!

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