Want to hone your networking skills? Explore the process of networking along with common myths.

1. Networking Sandy Blanquera Social Boomerang

2. Agenda What is Networking? Multiple Ways to Connect Your Networking Score 10 Networking Myths Requirements for Networking Assessing Your Own Network It’s a Process

3. What is networking? Interacting socially for the purpose of getting connections or personal advancement. Creating a group of interconnected people Creating and maintaining a directory or database of people

4. What is social networking? Generating content for the purpose of connecting with others or being social. Building communities of people who share similar interests or activities, or who want to explore similar interests or activities. Can network in person, or virtually.

5. Ways to connect via networking

7. Phone call

8. Meet in person

9. Talk to individual at a networking event

10. Connect to the individual on a social site.One-to-one

12. Conference call

13. Meet in person

14. Group conversation at networking event

15. Connecting to a group on a social site.One-to-many

17. Webinar

18. Speaker

19. Speaking to the crowd on twitter

20. Comment to a communityOne-to-All

21. 10 Networking Myths ~ Adapted from Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon

22. Everyone who needs to know about your work already does. Does that include future bosses and clients? I shouldn’t have to network;my work speaks for itself

23. There is no such thing as fast food networking I networked last week and it didn’t work

24. You never outgrow the need to network You never know when you will need a new job, a new client or a new contact Junior people need networking, not me

25. It shouldn’t be about arm twisting or selling… It should be about building relationships Networking = Manipulation

26. Are you moving away from conversations that are not meaningful? Are you infusing interesting discussion points? Networking is just schmoozing, boring and uncomfortable

27. It’s best to network before, during and after a job search and hire. I don’t need to network I don’t need a job

28. Hard to believe you haven’t experienced some magic from networking. People provide access to vital information, news, resources, activity. A single conversation could change your life. Networking has never done a thing for my career

29. Nearly 95% of people throw business cards in the trash within 24 hours. It’s like throwing money away. Networking is just about handing out a business card

30. Only 10% of the population naturally engages in conversation. The rest of us can use a method or process to make it successful. I don’t have the gift of gabso I won’t be good at networking

31. 85% of people who network have no goal, strategy or idea of what they want to achieve. Goals are key to success. Networking is a waste of time

32. Losing out on job possibilities Losing out on meeting people who could impact your life Losing out on business or a sale It becomes a challenge, if not impossible to become an expert You won’t build a brand What are the implications if you don’t network?

33. The Answer is…always “networking”.

34. How job seekers find jobs… networking! Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)

35. Being strategic Being prepared Understanding your skills and developing them Physically meeting people Understanding and using resources Achieving results Follow-through A system for storing/retrieving networking data Networking requires…

36. Being Strategic

37. Being Strategic Determine what your networking goal is Get a job Meet people in a particular industry or field Meet people at a particular company Decide how many people you need to meet and how often Write your goals down and measure your performance against goals Re-evaluate

38. Being Strategic Examples for setting networking goals: 1-2 x per month attend professional organizations 1-2 x per week go to group events 1-2 x meet people in a certain job or position Daily or 1 x per week put contacts in your address book 1-2 x per week get referrals of who to connect to If seeking a job, your networking goals should be more aggressive

39. Being Prepared

40. Being Prepared Assess your strengths and weaknesses Create a stellar resume Have business cards made Create an elevator pitch Find a way for people to remember your name Update social networking profiles

41. Skills

42. Skills - Understand & Develop Understanding networking etiquette Know how to open a conversation Practice your elevator pitch Talk less than 50% of the time Have a catchy way people remember your name Don’t force a relationship – ask for their card

43. Skills – Understand & Develop Understand your own comfort zone and work it out Be open-minded Practice stories Get comfortable saying what you want or need from people Make it important to care about people’s names Can politely move on from people

44. Skills – Understand & Develop Target contacts - review meetup sites for list of who is coming Review contact info before meeting people Determine how to enhance or repair existing relationships too Ask the question, “how can I help you?”

45. Meeting People

46. Meeting People You can’t network unless you pick up the phone to set something up Go to places where people are Get engaged in social networking sites You must physically leave the house for “real networking”! You need constant engagement for “virtual networking””

47. Resources

48. Professional organizations Tech Columbus, JAVA, HRACO, NAWBO Chambers Groups AWIB, TechLife, Big Fish, Positive Connections, referral groups Meetups Social, hobby, interest Friends, Family, other business contacts Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook Resources – Understand & Use

49. Achieving Results

50. Achieving Results You can name 3 pieces of information you have learned after an event You can cite examples of how your networking is paying off You can state how your activities are affecting your career You can describe resources and assistance you gain from networking Your key contacts can vividly talk about you, what you do and how you do it You can meet 12 new people at each event

51. Follow Through

52. Follow Through Add business cards to your database Add them to Linkedin, Facebook, address book Add comments about how you met and any important information Follow-up on promises you made during the conversation Re-connect with people who add value to your networking goals Stay in touch regularly through various channels

53. System for Data

54. System for Data Outlook Other mail systems also have address books – gmail, hotmail Contact management systems Batch cards and do once a week Use information several times a year to send mass updates, emails Review address book regularly to re-connect

55. Elevator Speech 90% of people tell their title or job Tell what you want people to remember about a talent or skill Give a short example showing how you do that well Don’t use your title in speech Think about three things you want people to know about the brand YOU.

56. Assessing your current network

57. Relationship Types Ooops – may never see again or may not fit your goal Acquaintances – people you meet through other contacts, but don’t yet have anything in common Associates – people you share some type of membership with Engagers – people you exchange information and resources with actively Advocates – people who send you opportunities, talk about you, promote you Allies – people who are invested in you, your business, your success. Can provide you feedback, compassion, celeberatewith you * from Make Your Contacts Count

58. Exercise List 5 people Identify which group they fit into Think about how to move them to another relationship type

59. Smile, shake hands confidently and introduce yourself clearly Be more interested than interesting Remember to use people's names Ask for other’s contact details/business cards before offering yours Create your elevator pitch and practice it Ask open questions. Give people a chance to talk about themselves Don't sell yourself or your business. Build the relationship. Create trust Concentrate on adding value to others rather on how they can be valuable to you Offer help and ask for it when needed Be open minded, talk to many, reap the rewards Networking is a Process

60. Summary Understand your networking skills. Understand your current network. Commit to improve your networking skills and network. Set goals. Do the work. Measure performance.

61. Questions?

62. Sandy Blanquera CEO & Founder Social Boomerang 7003 Post Road Suite 418 Dublin, OH 43016 http://socialboomerang.com Contact me