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• Remember – networking is all about building relationships, not about a hard sell
• If possible, find out who is going to the event in advance and decide who you want to meet
• Arrive early
• Go with a purpose
• Act as the host not the guest
• Ask people about themselves
• Listen, show an interest
• Introduce yourself effectively (practice in advance)
• Remember to tell everyone you network with your business name
• Sell the “sizzle” not the sausage
• Carry a large stock of business cards, try to give everyone you meet one
• A good way to exchange business cards is to ask for one first, and then offer yours, it shows you are interested in what they do
• Make sure you get a business card from everyone you meet
• Have a pen handy – write notes
• Wear a name tag if these are provided – right hand side
• Talk to one person at a time
• Give a lead or referral where possible
• Wrap up the conversation gracefully & move on
• Stay 15 minutes after the event
• Afterwards, record the names of new contacts in a contacts list
• Never throw out the business cards you are given – you never know when you are going to need a contact until you need them!
• Follow up … but don’t over promise
• Pace yourself

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