‘Tis the Season to Be Networking

You’ll probably see more people – and more people you’ve never met before – during this time of year than any other. What better time to brush up on your networking skills?

And because there’s a fair amount of event planning going on, you’ll have ample opportunity to prepare for each holiday party, family visit, even the long shopping trips where you’ll be trapped in lines long enough to deliver your elevator pitch a dozen times over.

Kelle Sparta, founder of Sparta Success Systems, shared her holiday networking strategy recently, and it’s a five-step process you can remember even with a little spiked eggnog in your system:

1. Create a goal and stick to it: “For instance, your goal might be to meet 10 people, discuss your business with them, and give each of them two of your cards while collecting at least one of theirs.”
2. Have an elevator pitch: Give people the information they ask for in 30 seconds or less.
3. Have a follow-up plan: Make a date to follow up with the person if they seem interested.
4. Give back: “If you want people to give you business and referrals, you need to offer the same in return,” Sparta explains.
5. Have fun: “People like to talk to happy people,” Sparta says.

Could it be any simpler than that?

Now, let’s add one bonus tip: Practice it. With your spouse, your child, or anyone living with you. Get them to role play with you, so you can get comfortable. The more natural your networking sounds and feels coming out of you, the more people you meet will respond positively to you.

And finally, because the follow-up is so important: When you get home from any event where you’ve done some networking, immediately take a few minutes to make notes about your contacts, and get your follow-up contact dates into your calendar. If you don’t do it right away…well, it’s the holidays. A lot of other things are vying for your attention, you know?

So set yourself up for success this holiday season. And dress warmly, too!

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