Networking for Beginners

So, you keep hearing that you should be networking. But, you have no idea how or where to start. Here's your game plan.

1. Google "business calendar" for your town/city. You're likely to find a few business calendars with event listings. You can also try "business events" and other related words. Once you find sites that really give you what you are looking for, bookmark them so you don't have to google them again. If you don't know how to bookmark, use your "help" button near the top of your screen and type in "bookmark". (The help button is really helpful if you get in the habit of using it.)
2. Check out "meet ups" in your town/city. Go to http://www.meetup.com/ and then choose your city/town. Plug in search terms for hobbies or interests you have. Also, search on business events.
3. Check your local newspapers and bulletin boards at your favorite shops (coffee shops, libraries and co-ops or markets are big bulletin board spots) for events.
4. If you work full-time I suggest choosing one new event each week to attend. Once you go 2-3 times you'll know whether this is something you want to continue to attend. Give it a few chances because sometimes the crowd changes, topics or events are more or less interesting and every meeting can have one dud. Hang in there.
5. If you work part-time or not at all you need to be at a new event every single day. Yes, you read that right. When I started my business I was at at least two events each day, sometimes three. Doing that for 6 months gave my business the boost it needed and caught me up to competing businesses in the area that had been established.
6. Think about your introduction but not to the point it stresses you out. What do you want people to know about you the first time they meet you. Keep it simple and short. Make it interesting. Be personable (nice). Ask them about themselves- which takes the edge off of you. Remember that this isn't a sales pitch, its an introduction to you the person. They have to like and know you before they want to sit down and talk about business or how to help you find the right opportunity (job, lead, client, etc...). Be someone that they want to get to know better.
7. Take the first step and go to an event. You don't have to give a 10-minute speech, just go to the event. You'll see it gets easier the more often you go to them. You'll establish your own rhythm and the words will come based on your experiences and seeing/hearing others. Observe and absorb.

You can do it! In this climate, you must do it, if you want to make the most of your career/job search/business, etc... Networking can be the difference between success and failure. Trust me, I wasn't always the networker I am today, but I, like you, had to start somewhere.

More networking tips will come via my blog. This is just a starting point for beginners.