Displaying items by tag: Networking
4 Tips for Making Your Holiday Parties Profitable!
It’s that time of year again! Time for the annual company or neighborhood holiday party and all the other social events that come with the holiday season. The truth is that these seasonal events are also a great place for networking. And even if you don’t look at them as a ‘networking event,’ you likely will be meeting new people and making an impression in the process. You may as well make the most of it!
Here are four easy tips for maximizing your interactions at holiday parties this year:
Networking and the 30 Second Elevator Pitch
Assuming you've never heard of a 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.
Certainly, there are those out there who are master's of the elevator pitch. In fact, I'd recommend taking some time to develop your "pitch" into a well developed mini-speech which you can deliver easily and comfortably when the time is right to do so.
But for the purpose of this article let's look at a way to extend the connection without having to put the focus on ourselves.
Six Essential Steps for Becoming a Better Networker
Through my coaching sessions, training events and speaking engagements, I have an opportunity to interact with a lot of financial advisors. I enjoy answering tough questions and learning about what’s working in the trenches. Over the last six months, networking has been a popular topic.
Many advisors tell me that they have ramped up their networking efforts. They’re looking for a marketing edge as they work to overcome the effects of a tough business environment. Those who are getting it right are seeing great results.
Unfortunately, a large number of these advisors are trying to reinvent the wheel. They are treating networking as if it’s never been done before. They forget that any successful client acquisition strategy entails preparation, practice and repetition.
