A Crash Course in Speed Networking

To make the most of your speed networking experience, the Business Resource Council has developed this guide to help you prepare. By filling out this worksheet and practicing your "45-second commercial," you'll be fully prepared to maximize your time!

Name: ___________________________________________________________

Title: ____________________________________________________________

Company: _________________________________________________________

One-sentence business description: ___________________________________________________

One-sentence description of your ideal customer: ________________________________________

3-4 points on benefits of doing business with your company/business "pains" you solve: __________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Then put these 6 lines together and you're set to go!

Example:

Name: Kim Whelan
Title: Director of Member Relations
Company: Amherst Chamber of Commerce
Business Description: The Amherst Chamber is the leading organization of its type in the Buffalo Niagara region, we are a suburban Chamber with a Regional focus
Ideal Customer: Chamber members are businesses of all sizes, from the sole proprietor to the largest corporation and everything in-between, who are dedicated to growing their business and the Buffalo Niagara marketplace
Benefits/Pains: Chamber members have access to products, services and opportunities unique to the Western New York area. They have access to a membership base of over 2,500 businesses, public officials and policy-makers, several complimentary or low-cost events, numerous councils, and affordable health care options, plus so much more. Any business looking to expand their professional network, get involved in their community, and decrease their cost of doing business should consider joining the chamber!

So Kim would put this all together to make her final script:

Hi, I'm Kim Whelan, Director of Member Relations with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. The Amherst Chamber is the leading organization of its type in the Buffalo Niagara region, we are a suburban Chamber with a regional focus. Chamber members are businesses of all sizes, from the sole proprietor to the largest corporation and everything in-between, who are dedicated to growing their business and the Buffalo Niagara marketplace. Chamber members have access to products, services and opportunities unique to the Western New York area. They have access to a membership base of over 2,500 businesses, public officials and policy-makers, several complimentary or low-cost events, numerous councils, and affordable health care options, plus so much more. Any business looking to expand their professional network, get involved in their community, and decrease their cost of doing business should consider joining the chamber!

General Networking Tips:

Be a good listener: Pay attention and listen when the other person is speaking - you'll want them to do the same for you!
Networking is not a time to sell, it's a time to begin/develop relationships. Nothing will turn off your networking partner faster than if they feel you're trying to sell them something! The sales come later in the relationship
Treat everyone with respect, even if you feel that there's little potential for developing an effective business relationship. You never know who that person might know!
Be memorable and concise
Be sure to get a business card from everyone you talk to, and make notes on the card to help yourself remember them
Steer clear of controversial topics, politics, or religion the first time you meet someone. Use humor appropriately and don't use foul language

If you're stuck on something to say, networking questions that work every time

How did you get started in your business?
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
What separates you and company from your competition?
What significant changes have you seen take place in your profession through the years?
What do you see as coming trends in your business?
Describe the strangest of funniest incident you've experienced in your business?
What ways have you found to be the most effective for promoting your business?
What one sentence would you like people to use in describing the way you do business?

#1 tip: Follow Up! Send the people you meet a quick email the next day, telling them that it was nice to meet them, you hope to see them again, ask to set up a coffee meeting if you'd like to get to know them further, reference a conversation you had, etc. Most people don't do this, and it's the best way for people to remember you!