Networking is about building solid business relationship so you are confident in passing referrals and helping each other.
 
NETWORKING DO’S:
a)                  Be sincere; be on the lookout for how you can help other people.
b)                  Focus your networking on events that will be beneficial for you and your business.
c)                  When at an event, or on Social Media  watch and listen carefully for comments that might help you give a referral to one of your team members or a relationship you have built.
d)                 Listen 90 % of the time – make the event or connection  about  “we”  not “me”.
e)                  Ask Open Ended Questions – be truly interested in what the other person is saying.
f)                   Make notes on each person’s business card or on the persons Social Media profile — where you met, the date and place and what they are looking for
g)                  Have a contact database that you enter business cards in and follow up after an event.
 

Networking Don’ts

 
a)                  Don’t just collect business cards or LinkedIn contacts without a method of following up.
b)                  Don’t get caught up in Quantity instead of Quality.
c)                  Watch out for people who are at an event or on Social Media that only talk or focus on  their business and are not interested in relationships.
d)                 Don’t go to an event or connect on Social Media looking for immediate business.  You should be at the event or on LinkedIn  to see how you can help others – and it will come back to you.
e)                  Don’t be shy – think about who you want to meet and the types of conversation you can make prior to the event.
 

GOAL OF NETWORKING

 
Your goal in networking is to form solid business relationships that help you to truly know the person you are dealing with. This will make you feel confident in giving and receiving qualified referrals.