Networking: The Old Fashioned Kind

Courtney Briggs

Do you remember how business was done before the internet? Before Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn? Networking (the old-fashioned kind) was a vital part of the marketing mix for most organizations.

If you think traditional networking is out like pantyhose and MySpace, think again. “Friending” and “Tweeting” has tremendous power to connect people across industries, large geography, and diverse schedules. But like email, the process can be impersonal and frustrating to those who still have a dynamic personality and a winning smile.

You’ve certainly heard that people do business with people they like and trust. When you meet people in real life you develop both business and personal relationships. When you hit it off with someone you meet you brainstorm about the ways you can help each other. You learn about each other’s families and personal interests. Your business bonds have a more solid foundation, and chances are you’ll make a few new friends along the way.

Keys to success:

It’s important to remember that networking opportunities come in many shapes and sizes, from Chambers of Commerce and Civic Groups, to industry and professional organizations. If you’ve Networking: The Old Fashioned Kind ever invested time and money in networking with disappointing results, don’t give up just yet. The key is to find groups and events that meet these criteria:

• Members or attendees can do business with you, or they know people who can.
• Costs and time commitments are reasonable given the business opportunities provided.
• Meetings and events work with your schedule.

One effective and low cost option is to create your own leads group. All you have to do is to

1. Brainstorm the types of business professionals who sell to the same target market that you do.
2. Invite them to coffee or lunch and identify a recurring meeting time that is agreeable to all. Be sure you don’t include individuals who compete with each other (for example, don’t invite two copier representatives or two real estate agents).
3. Each week or month when you get together, each attendee shares information and contact names that might help the other members of the group. As you get comfortable working together, members will even begin making personal introductions for each other.

Traditional networking is not extinct. Put your personality back to work and get out and meet some new people in the real world. If you feel a little rusty, check out these books for great tips to maximize your results: Love is the Killer App, by Tim Sanders; How to Connect in Business, by Nicholas Boothman, and Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz.

Bio: Courtney Briggs is a working mother of two and an MBA with over 15 years of advertising, sales, sales training, and management experience. Visit courtneybriggswrites to learn more about her and her work. Check out momstrengths to learn more about your unique Mom Strengths and how to use them to be a happier, more successful Mom.