Being familiar with your business is a must, of course, if you are trying to make business contacts, but remember all work and no play is very dull. Have a few casual, non-business related conversation ideas in mind so you end up having a conversation and not giving individual sales pitches. Practice your introductions in front of the mirror if you tend to get tongue tied, until you are comfortable with your material. You don’t want to sound staged, just comfortable and confident.

Tip number two is to do your research. If you’re going to an important event, find out a little something about the big players who are going to be there, so you don’t have to approach them cold. Know who you want to talk to and determine in advance what the best approach for each person is. Also make sure you know the fine details, like dress code. If you come dressed for the wrong occasion, you will look out of place, and your confidence will take a hit.

It might sound obvious, but tip number three involves following some simple rules of etiquette. Don’t park yourself by the buffet table and make a meal of it; if you want to grab some food, don’t try to strike up any important conversations over cocktail wieners. Have your food, and then move on to networking. Carry your drink in your left hand, so your right hand is always available for shaking. Remember, no limp handshakes. A firm handshake is one sign of confidence everyone recognizes.

Tip number four is to skip the long conversations. Don’t latch on to anyone; talk a few minutes to each person and move on. You’re there to meet as many people as possible, not make new best friends.

Tip number five is related to this one as well. At the end of your short conversation, if the person might be a good contact for you, let them know you would like to talk another time. If they’re not, don’t make empty promises. Play it straight.

Tip number six is follow up! Send emails the following day to arrange further meetings or simply thank people for their time. Your courtesy will be remembered.

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One of the most obvious places to start is with your existing friends. Friends that you already know and feel comfortable with will probably be the easiest to network the most productively with. Friends can easily introduce you to people who may turn out to be meaningful contacts. Friends already know about you and your skills. They know what you can off+er and what you may need help with and therefore can easily refer you to others. Other times friends themselves may be able to be a vital component of your networking circle.

For many of the same reasons family members are good avenues to pursue networking. You more than likely feel the most at easy with you r family and will therefore be able to productively utilize them as a networking source. Make sure your family is aware of the services you offer and those you may need help with so they can point potential contacts your way.

Since you are in the same market, colleagues often provide great avenues for networking opportunities. They often know many business contacts that you may be interested in being introduced to. Since your business circles probably overlap they can also be the best source for referrals. Since they are knowledgeable about the business they will probably be able to offer the most relevant networking information.

Volunteering at a church or charity event can also be a great networking opportunity. You will meet people that have similar interests and willingness to help others. As you work together you will get to know each other and hopefully build a relationship that will be beneficial to you both.

Business meetings can also be a good networking opportunity. Traditional meetings bring individuals with business commonalities together. Business assemblies can also take the form of seminars, organizational events, and social gatherings. These events can often be set up with the sole purpose of networking as a focus. Business meetings are probably the most useful avenue to pursue networking contacts, because there will be a large number of people with a common goal at the same location.

You don’t just have to be at a physical location to take advantage of a networking opportunity, you can do it from the security of your own home. The Internet is making networking from home a more popular option. It allows you to connect with thousands of people with similar interests in seconds, without ever having to leave home. Networking from home is a convenient avenue to pursue networking opportunities.

Since you never know who or where you might meet your next meaningful business contact, it’s important to always be prepared. Never leave home without your business cards, and attempt to initiate conversations in a variety of venues. Consider every contact an important one and remember that having a diverse networking circle makes it a valuable commodity. Therefore you should try to network everywhere and with everyone, and expand your social circle as much as possible.

No matter which avenue you choose to take advantage of the key to successful networking begins with deciding to put in the energy it takes to make it work. Meeting people is not enough; you must develop and sustain the relationships you make. This means following up after the initial contact and making continuous efforts to reconnect. Learning how to network effectively can make the difference in having a successful business.

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Another reason networking may not be working for you is because you are unprepared.  If you are attending a networking event, you should know why you are going and the types of people that will be there. You should research specific contacts that may be there as well as prepare some conversation topics ahead of time. Keep in mind having a little bit of back ground knowledge about the people who are attending the event will make starting a conversation easier. As part of your preparation you should set up a thirty second pitch. A pitch should be a fast way to introduce yourself and what you have to offer. Doing your homework and planning ahead will help you avoid the mistake of arriving unprepared.

Networking will also be ineffective if you forget your business cards. You should always carry your business cards on you, but especially if you are attending a networking event. It appears on professional to give out your contact information on a scrap piece of paper or napkin. Doing so may discourage a contact from getting in touch with you in the future. Your business cards should be printed on quality material and you should give them out generously. The more cards you have circulating at any given time the more likely they will be useful.

Another very common reason networking may not be working for you is you may be coming across as pompous or too aggressive. To effectively network, listening to others is just as important as promoting yourself. Experts recommend that when networking you spend 80 percent of your time listening. To avoid looking arrogant ask questions about others, offer advise, and don’t talk too much about how great you think you are. While a big part of networking is marketing yourself, it is important to know where to draw the line.

If you are constantly monopolizing all of your contacts time your networking efforts may be going to waste. Keep in mind, people attend these events to socialize and mingle. They may become annoyed if they feel you are dominating their entire evening.

Another reason networking might not be working for you may involve your appearance. Also avoid dressing down. You should present yourself professionally at networking events. This means dressing in appropriate attire, standing up straight, making eye contact, and practicing business etiquette. Remember though you may be at a party you goal is to build healthy business relationships. For this reason you should also try to limit your alcohol intake.

One of the main reasons networking may not be working for you effectively involves the level of effort you are putting forth. Avoid is being passive at networking events; be aggressive without being obnoxious. Persistence will show that you are interested and self-assured. Ask follow up questions and remain engaged in the conversation, remaining passionate and enthusiastic.

Networking is becoming a more popular way to do business; because of this it is crucial that you learn how to do it effectively. If you feel it is not working for you should examine some of these key areas to figure out what may be going wrong.

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