Networking can be painful though. The awkward chat about the weather, traffic, where you live, and then eventually—what do you do and what you are after. Luckily, with the recent emergence of ‘speed networking’, you can go about this in a more efficient manner than ever. Speed networking events give you 90 seconds to make friends and influence people. Sounds good, right? Well before you get started, read expert Warren Cass’s tips for speedy success.
1) Rehearse Your Intro: Your intro can make or break someone’s opinion of you, so you need to deliver it clearly and powerfully. Get to the point swiftly. Keep it to 30 seconds. Most importantly, practice it so that every second is used to the fullest.
2) Angle Your Content: Even if you are the first to speak, make sure you know who your audience is and angle your message accordingly. Make what you are saying as relevant as possible, and stay the course. Don’t waffle.
3) Include Key Words: Don’t be afraid to repeat your name, company name, where you are based and what you are looking for. To really connect with people you need to help them remember these things about you.
4) Positive Body Language: 80% of communication is visual. Good body language (stand up straight, don’t cross your arms) and a smile will instantly warm people to you. It gives you a head start on getting people to buy in to you.
5) Be Confident: Confidence is attractive. Don’t be embarrassed about anything. Visualise yourself being at ease, and practice your pitch aloud at home with a clear and sure voice.
6) Be A Great Listener: Give others your full attention, ask questions. Remember relevant things they say.
Let us know if these tips work for you at info@vtsl.net or in the comments below. And if you do end up with new clients or at a new company, see if you can pitch a VTSL VoIP phone system to them in 90 seconds. We will pay you 15% of the first year of revenue. For more details on referrals click here.