Category — Networking Articles

Networking is more than shaking hands and passing around business cards. Based on a survey I conducted of more than 2,000 people throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, it’s about building your “social capital.” The highest-rated traits in the survey are the ones related to developing and maintaining good relationships.

For years I’ve been teaching people that this process is more about “farming” than it is about “hunting.” It’s about cultivating relationships with other business professionals. It’s about realizing the capital that comes from building social relationships.  Click to read the full post...

As people realize we like them and respect their opinions, they share information about themselves that can be helpful in analyzing whether they can use our products or services.

So says Canadian businessman Michael J. Hughes, who is known as “THE Networking Guru.” Hughes runs a highly successful Ottawa, Ontario-based consulting business that works with Fortune 500 companies and international associations across North America.

The most interesting thing about Hughes’ business? He built it using networking as his sole marketing vehicle.  Click to read the full post...

We hear the term “do business with those who do business with us” all the time. I think that’s a statement worth considering.

You see, as it relates to networking look at the commonly accepted definition of networking which states: networking is simply developing mutually beneficial relationships with others — be they personally, professionally, or a combination of both.

The idea makes sense if you really give it some thought…  Click to read the full post...

I make no bones about it, I’m a raving fan of writing articles and essays. Particularly when it comes to writing on topics which relate to your given industry, or on things that are of interest to those who also operate in the industry you want to network within (i.e build strong connections).

If you’re thinking about passing on reading this, because you think you’re not a writer, don’t. I’ll dispel the myth that it takes some magical formula to produce worthwhile content below. For now, allow me to explain a bit more on what a positive difference writing articles can have on your networking efforts.  Click to read the full post...

Often one of the hardest things for people who are beginning to embrace professional networking to grasp is that it’s not simply about sharing their product or service, but rather about first building some basic rapport with the person they’ve just met.

The other day I was having a conversation with someone and they said to me point blank, what you say about givers getting, and creating value for others first sounds good… but it’s all a bit to goody two shoes sounding for me. What I want is to get down to the meat and potatoes and see some real business taking place.  Click to read the full post...

I’m going to say something that is far overdue…

Business is not meant to be boring! It’s not about waking up each morning, dreading starting the day — and putting on your fanciest outfit — making sure your shoes are polished to a T and just going through the motions day in and day out.

True, a lot of people see it this way… as something that’s needed to survive — a necessary evil if you will.

But it doesn’t have to be viewed this way. In fact, a lot of people (everyone I’ve interviewed here on BusinessNetworkingAdvice.com) don’t see their professional lives in this light.  Click to read the full post...

Assuming you’ve never heard of the 30 second elevator pitch before here’s a quick summary…

Imagine you’re in an elevator and you notice someone you want to make a connection with. The challenge is that you only have say, 30 seconds or so to fully describe your idea, skills, abilities, etc. (because that’s typically how long it’ll take before they reach the floor they are going to get off on).

Basically, the idea is that you’ve got to create as much of an impact on the person you’ve just met as possible so that they’ll want to re-connect with you.  Click to read the full post...

Sometimes you have an experience which just totally affirms that what you’re saying is true (in my case the speaking and training I do on teaching effective networking skills).

The other day certainly qualified as one of those times…

A while back I wrote an article entitled, Networking Made Easy. When I wrote it my reason for doing so was to inform others on ways to get the most from the art of networking – that is, creating win, win relationships.

From the time I wrote it the days turned to weeks, then a month or more passed…  Click to read the full post...

Have you ever noticed that the term “networking” tends to conjure up all sorts of thoughts in ones mind? For some it’s an uncomfortable term that makes them down right squeamish. This is pretty sad for several reasons. Not the least of which is that we all network in some respect — it’s just that some of us take the time to learn to do it more effectively than others. It’s sort of like the old saying, everyone sells, whether they realize it or not. Well the same holds true for networking.  Click to read the full post...