Your Best Networking Tip?

Pick the right event.

I know that sounds obvious, but it's easy to attend 'anything and everything' in order to meet as many people as possible. That 'shotgun' approach doesn't work in sales or marketing, nor does it work in networking. Whether online or offline, pick a targeted crowd - people you know share your interests, and put your best foot forward by asking how you can be helpful.

I agree that the event and potential people should be targeted. I also like to have some point of conversation that relates to the event or the people I have targeted. I also like to look for a good point of follow up, a real reason to contact the people I have met after the event. This is best, as Kai mentioned, if it is something you can do for them.

While face to face meetings are always the best, here is an online tip. Create and manage a Linkedin Group for your interest area. Post your blogs and commentary on news items. Get people to participate in the discussions. I have made many connections through my own group (Security Leaders) as well as by participating in other groups.

Once someone is a member of the same group you can request a connection to them without having to have their email address. After they accept you can see their contact details!

Give more than you get. Always be thinking of what you can do for the other person. Is there something you can send them? Someone you can introduce them to?

For me networking with everyone is important but not in a pushy sales focused manner, I rely on recommendations for future business and it's often my contribution to something outside of my sphere of commercial interest that develops those recommendations.

I talk to any businessman I meet, take an interest in what they do and always pass on my card at the end of a discussion, but I rarely do any shameless plugging for my own services - an initial encounter is not the place for that.

LinkedIn is OK for profile building but contributions to a wider selection of forums is a better approach in my experience.

Thanks everyone for your wonderful thoughts. Take care, Guy.