101 tips on networking. How to make valuable connections with people

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Alex Babushkin. 101 tips on networking. How to make valuable connections with people

I. STRATEGIC NETWORKING

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Organize your contacts

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Make a list of people you want to meet

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Get to know networking hubs

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Ask friends to introduce you to people from their circle

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Meet VIPs through their circle

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Look for novel ways to promote your ideas

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Cultivate “budding” connections

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Write to your former classmates

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Take note of weak connections

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Build relationships for the future

II. WHAT TO DO BEFORE AN EVENT

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Make it a rule to attend at least one event per week

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Think about things to talk about

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Prepare a few questions to develop conversations

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Prepare a mini-presentation about yourself

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Make a personalized name tag

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Follow the dress code

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Contact whoever you want to meet the day before

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Use «+1” if you can

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Arrive at the event before it starts

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Join the group behind the event in social networks

III. WHAT TO DO DURING AN EVENT

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Go about on your own

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Sit in the first row

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When asking a question, don’t forget to introduce yourself

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Post your photo on social network sites with the event hashtag#

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Use the event’s mobile app

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Place a business card on the Connecting Wall

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Meet people at the photo wall

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Wear your name tag at the chest level

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Use three approaches to starting a conversation

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Talk with the speaker before he or she gives their talk

IV. AFTER THE EVENT

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If there is an opportunity to stay, be the last one out

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Go to the after-party

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Research your new acquaintances

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Seek out common ground

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Write to people you missed talking to at the event

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Review the posts of the other attendees via the hashtags for the event

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Tag yourself in the pictures posted in the event’s page of photos

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Write a positive review

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Send people photos featuring them

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Send a nice message within 24 hours after meeting someone

V. HOW TO MAKE AND CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS ONLINE

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Keep your online presence up-to-date, including your profiles

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Don’t send rote invites to friends

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After the salutation, get straight to the point

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Add each new contact to several social networks at once

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Be active on the Internet

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Use likes, comments, reposts

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Send links to useful content

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Give a call instead of responding to something by email or via the social network

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Follow the rules for online communications, as well

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Move the conversation offline

VI. HOW TO MAKE AND CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS ONLINE

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Find reasons to connect

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Strengthen ties in an informal setting

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Bring together people you know and people you don’t know

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When you meet someone, hand out small tokens and gifts

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Never eat alone!

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Don’t show up empty-handed

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Congratulate people on significant dates

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Introduce people to each other

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Remind people about yourself

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Always talk to interesting strangers

VII. BUSINESS CARDS – THE BEST NETWORKING TOOL

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Always carry your business cards with you

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Store your business cards in different places

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If you forgot your business cards – find a substitute

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Store the business card in your phone

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Order the next batch of cards in advance

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Keep one hand free

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Take a look when someone gives you their card

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Jot down info on the business card

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Make sure you can easily access the business cards when you need them

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Don’t hand out your last card

VIII. SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATIONS

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Smile

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Remember names

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Compliment people

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Keep an eye on the clock

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Be honest

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Don’t just ask “How are you?”

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Build the conversation in the form of a dialogue

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Don’t irritate people

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Create an association with yourself

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Stand out with eye-catching accessories

IX. HOW TO REALLY MAKE THE MOST OUT OF CONTACTS

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Think about what might be useful

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Don’t be afraid to ask

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Keep your promises

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Don’t try to help everyone at once

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Don’t let your professional accomplishments limit you

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Find someone who can recommend you

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Don’t try to sell yourself at the first meeting

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Recommend proven friends

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Introduce people to each other

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Talk about who you want to meet or what problem you want solved

X. DON’T REST ON YOUR LAURELS

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Keep on building your network

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Study networking

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Make networking a habit

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Take stock. Set new goals

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Look for new channels of communication

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Always offer to help

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Master new horizons

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Develop your ability to negotiate and to speak in public

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Put yourself out there

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Promote your expertise

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Love networking

About the Author

Отрывок из книги

Remembering everyone is no easy matter. As a rule, each of us remembers dozens of people, including close friends we see often, or else acquaintances that we’ve talked to recently. If you keep a database of your contacts, you’ll be able to zero in on just who you need a lot faster. Don’t bother with hard-copy spreadsheets. Use Excel, Google Docs, or CRM software. For each person you enter into your database, add keywords you can use for searches later on. Keywords can include: specialty, position, company name, field of activity, city of residence, and so on. Enter new contacts in your database right after you make them. Make sure to update your info on the contact and what each contact has to offer so that it is always relevant.

Set a goal. This is your reference point for networking. Identify three to five people who can help you reach this goal. Expand your network of contacts, starting with getting to know these people.

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Be equally respectful toward who you talk with, regardless of status or position. Don’t just brush someone aside, even if you don’t think he or she is of immediate use to you. You never know – he or she may someday be a successful entrepreneur, and even your boss. All contacts are useful connections.

If you’ve lost contact with your classmates, then most likely you don’t know how successful they are and what they’re up to. Since you lost touch with them, many of your friends from the past have established themselves socially, changed their city of residence, moved into a position of stature in their occupation, or opened their own business. Reconnect with people you used to study with, served with, former colleagues, or your old classmates. Find out what they’re into now, where they work, where they live. Tell them about yourself and your projects. You just might come up with some new opportunities to reach your goals.

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