Networking 101
From Community Leadership Summit Wiki
Contents |
20-second introductions
Chris
- "Just a guy"
- Likes computers
- Dragged here by mark
Kevin
- Nickname sunshine
- Likes helping people, non-profit things
Jason Axelson (notetaker)
- Visiting from Hawaii
- Thinking about moving to the bay area as a developer
- Interested in Linux
Sudish
- From SDForum
- Intersted in mobile computing, search
- Helping startups
Cesa plata (organizer)
- Running website for 11 years
- infobayarea.com soon to be everycircle.com
- runs networking mixers, large networking events
Giovanni Reed (stopped by mid-way)
- Puts together BerkelyTIP using VOIP
Peter (stopped my mid-way)
- Silicon valley code camp
Networking 101
- Common courtesy is important for tradeshows
- Usually you just get namecard and sent off, this is not how you treat guests at your house
- Introduction to the event sets the tone for the event
- Eliminate tables and other barriers
Key to success
- Key to success is Not what you know
- It's Not who you know
- It's Who knows you
Main Points
- Networking is not an event, it is a process in which you never know which contact will take you to your goal.
- Best business is personal business
- Introduce yourself,
- 30 minute talks are not networking, it is socializing
- Don't introduce yourself only to presidents of companies, secrataries can help you alot too
- Smile and think positively
- Smile even when on the phone
- People like to do business with others they like and feel comfortable with.
- Know your goal
- Don't use metrics, just be yourself
- Be clear about what you want from each event and interaction.
- Give people business cards nicely, maybe with a slight bow
- When receiving a business card don't put it in your back pocket
- Give your business card as an invitation, an invitation to do business with you
- Have a message strategy (elevator pitch)
- Quick 30s summary of what you are
- Don't tell them your lifestory
- When connecting with others, determine their interests and establish a rapport before delivering your branding statement.
- Be effective with your time
- Economy of words, get straight to the point
- Acknowledge your friends and devote more time to meeting new people.
- If someone just keeps talking, say that there's alot of people that both of us haven't met, let's follow up later
- Hold the sales pitch
- Use brief 'elevator pitches.' Do not make long-winded sales presentations.
- Make it a team activity
- Invite others and they may help you maximize coverage at an event.
- At networkig events, offer people to look for people that they would like to talk to and ask them to do the same for you
- Get involved!
- Information is power
Misc
- When you go to events, act like it is your event
- Introduce yourself to everybody
- Eventually you'll give off an energy and they'll want to talk to you
- If you're running a business and you're not growing, you're not a business, you're a hobby
- Cesar asks people to count the rings on his logo. If people spend 4 seconds looking at the logo, they'll remember it for a long time
