How many networking events do you attend in a year? In a month? In a week? If you’re like most small business owners, meeting lots of new people continuously is the life blood of your business.
So how do you make yourself memorable? It’s a 3 step process. It’s what you do before, during and after that can makes you remembered by those you meet.
1. Before the event. Think about whom you are likely to meet at the event. Will certain industries be represented? Will they be company CEOs or sales people? Do you know specific people who will likely attend? Gather as much information about who will be attending so you will be focused on conversation topics that will be of interest to the other attendees. If you don’t know who is going to be there, then plan a list of current event topics and topics of personal interest that most people can relate to. Travel is always a great conversation starter! And always strive to be the best-dressed or the the most memorably and tastefully dressed. Clothes project an image of who you are. Use these tools to your advantage!
2. At the event. Now use the information you’ve gathered ahead of time. Walk in with confidence. Make eye contact with several people. Smile sincerely. These are visual clues that you are someone confident and accomplished — someone important to know. Connect with someone immediately. Then move about the room. Leave no one out who is in your immediate personal area. It’s a real snub to be left out. Even if you can’t speak with everyone near you, make friendly eye-contact to include them.
Listen to what others are talking about and respond and amplify. If people perceive that you are simply waiting your turn to speak, rather than listening and being involved with others’ conversations, the impression is that you are self-centered.
Brand yourself in conversation. Are you the one who kayaked the full-length of the St. John’s River? Does your collection of 70′s memorabilia rival a museum’s? Do you play on a rugby team on the weekends? Interesting tidbits of personal information is what we all, as humans, crave to know about each other. We are captivated by what motivates and excited others because enthusiasm is contagious.
Timothy Ferris met an influential person in an elevator with no time to make conversation. Tim told the person he would be contacting him and that he could identify him easily because he was the reigning Argentinian National Tango Champion. Now, who wouldn’t remember that person, even if you met him for 15 seconds?
3. After the Event. Following up after the event is where most people falter. It’s so easy to get caught up in the activities of our lives and businesses. But here is where you can really make yourself stand out. Send a personal, handwritten note. Email a video via email of something that you talked about in conversation. Forward a news article about a topic someone mentioned they were interested in. Showing your on-going interest in a person after you’ve met, will demonstrate your sincere interest and desire to know her.
Making yourself memorable is like a tango. It’s takes two individuals both focused on making a connection have “heat”. Getting to know each other and responding to each other makes it a beautiful – and memorable – dance.
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