We usually talk about 'Social Networking' as it relates to media and the web, but for Ricky Steele, former Definition 6 Chief Development Officer and long time friend, 'Social Networking' means building personal and professional relationships.  Here are a few of Ricky’s networking tips – you can read others on his TechLinks blog, Nothing But The Net.
 

1. Meeting Attendance: When attending a networking function there are certain things you need to remember. Create and practice your elevator speech many times before the event. You need to be able to interest your prospect within a very few minutes with something that interests them enough to continue listening or even better, to grant you a meeting in the future. I have heard so many horror stories from executives about people who attempted to create a relationship by dominating their time at an event.

2. Communicate in a Meaningful Way and Communicate Often: Avoid at all costs, impersonal mass mailings. Everyone has received Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa cards. Weeks later, which cards do we still remember or keep? Of course, they are the cards that had a personal message, a photo of a new baby, new house, or their garden. If you are not willing to personalize every communication to your prospects and clients, save the 42 cent stamp. Personally, if I receive a card that says, Seasons Greetings from the A B ...., I never get to the C Company, I throw it in the trash. If you don't have time to personalize the card, don't send it.

3. Be Available: Great Networkers are available people. Most people go through life fast and furiously. I felt like for many years that the only reason Rome was not built in a day was because I was not the General Contractor.

4. Plan Your Work and Then Work Your Plan: Successful networking does not just happen, you must prepare for it. Everyone has heard the cliché: "Plan your work and then work your plan," yet many people try to network without planning anything. For that matter, too many folks go through life without planning for their future.

5. Help Others Succeed: The Golden Rule may be a verse from the Bible but it is also a sound business principle. If you will treat others as you would like to be treated, you will be successful. Is there anyone who does not appreciate a helping hand? I know that 90% of the greatest sales I have made or successes I have celebrated came from someone else opening a door or making an introduction.

6. Without Work There Will Be No Success: The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. If you want to be a great networker, prepare to do a lot of work. Thomas Edison once said, "The reason so many people miss great opportunities is that the opportunity shows up in overalls and looks like hard work." I could not agree more with Mr. Edison.

We'll be posting more of Ricky's networking tips so be sure to visit us again!