Are You A Business Owner? Top 2 Reasons For You To Network

For a business to be successful, you cannot do it alone. You need staff to handle different departments and take care of the business when you are away. However, you also need external partners and business people who you can consult or collaborate with to achieve a particular goal or close a deal. That is just how business is. In fact, the more people you get to know, the easier it becomes for you to work since you will have the necessary connections. Talking of connections, the best place to get them is through networking. Whether you are having a networking event or meeting a few business people in a bar; it always has positive results business wise. Below are some reasons why you should network more as a business owner.
Development
Your business needs to grow in terms of finances and the best way to do this is by learning the secrets and tricks behind your target market. Through networking, you have the opportunity to talk to experienced business owners in your field, which means you will get a few pointers or ideas from them. If the ideas could pose challenges such as lack of resources, you can therefore hire new suppliers from your list of networks. It is even cheaper this way and you can easily negotiate the terms unlike dealing with a total stranger. Similarly, you can offer your goods or services to a company and in exchange, they can supply what your business needs. Most networking events are actually in form of discussions and you might just be lucky enough to meet a potential worthy business partner.



Improve your business profile
During networking occasions, you meet many people with different needs, but all have a mutual goal, which is to grow their businesses. Take advantage of this, carry your marketing tools such as business cards, and use them to market your business to them, as they are still potential customers who whose needs have to be met. Your business card should have only relevant information about what you do and how to contact you (emails, phone lines, fax numbers, physical address etc.). Remember that presentation is everything! How you present your business can either build a good image or destroy it. Do not be too professional in terms of speech since it is a social event and try to make a summary when presenting; everyone wants to maximize on the little time available to meet as many people as they can.

Networking Is A Lot Like PR - Here's Why

I don't know about you, but networking is not something that comes naturally to me. Being thrust into a room of strangers all trying to sell to each other is not the way I prefer to spend my time, but it is a necessary evil of being a business owner.Have you noticed that networkers fall into different categories? There's the wall flower (me) who stands in the corner nervously smiling wishing they were somewhere else.Then there's the seasoned networker who's been there, done that, got the t-shirt and happy to let everyone know about it. They know everything about your business (even though they have no idea what you do) and have an opinion on everything.Finally, there's the uber-salesman. Before they've even said hello they've thrust their business card into your hand and launched into their well-rehearsed sales pitch whether you want to hear it or not. They don't ask you any questions about what you do because they're not interested - they just want a sale.These different attitudes will all have an effect on how you're perceived by others and it's that perception that ties networking with PR.Image - how you look and act - reflects on your business. If you look a mess or are rude, it will reflect badly (bad PR), but if you're presentable and friendly it will have the opposite effect (good PR).Let's look at that in more detail.Be interestedGoing back to our uber-salesman, incessant talking and showing no interest in the person you're talking to, will go down like a lead balloon.The idea behind networking isn't to see how many business cards you can get rid of, it's about chatting, showing interest and connecting people.A good networker drives the conversation, asks open questions and develops a relationship with someone. There's no selling (that can come later), just building trust and being seen as someone they might like to do business with in the future.


Look at meOne thing that really bugs me is when the person I'm speaking to scans the room looking for someone else to talk to while we're mid conversation.Maintaining eye contact shows the person you're talking to that you're interested in what they have to say. Again, this will build trust and develop a good relationship.Looking goodThere's a difference between looking smart and looking as though you've just stepped off a catwalk. If you want people to take you seriously you must look the part.Again, how you look will have an effect on your PR.It's all about youA big no no is to meet someone and launch into how great you are. I had a meeting a while back with a guy that wanted me to do some copywriting for him. It lasted about an hour and for the first fifty minutes he talked about how great he was, what he'd achieved bla, bla, bla. Needless to say I realised very quickly that this wasn't a guy I could work with.Introduce yourself, but then ask about the other person - what they do, family, hobbies, anything that will get an easy flowing conversation going. Feel free to refer them to people who may be able to help them achieve their goals - show yourself as a useful contact and they will stay in touch.As you can see, networking and PR are very closely related. You are your business, so how you conduct yourself will have a big impact on your reputation.Sally Ormond, Briar Copywriting Ltd

Business and Analytical Considerations for Deriving Business Intelligence From Social Media Networks

In our previous article, entitled 'The Provocative Possibilities of Combining Business Intelligence and Social Media', we talked in generalities about the opportunities of combining BI with Social Media to better leverage the potential of social media networks and internet marketing and to accurately measure the success of these programs and plan for the future.Social media is a critical component of market success in today's interactive culture and economy. With an ever increasing user base and ever expanding social media platforms, the focus on marketing, advertising and product and market analysis must include internet marketing, pay-per-click, search engine optimization, and social network marketing. Customer and prospects are focused on various personal, consumers, community and business topics and they find, share and express this focus using social media.If your business is not actively involved in this community, it will lose market share to competitors. In addition, it will lose the opportunity to analyze the mountains of free information provided by consumers, groups and individuals and may miss a critical shift in a buying trend or market opinion. In social networking, consumers freely express views and opinions, and there is no doubt that meaningful analytics of these conversations, connections and posts can indicate very clear and very subtle trends that will help your business establish successful strategies.In this article, we will delve deeper into this topic and focus on the factors a business must when building an analytical environment in which to measure the various aspects of social media marketing, market trends and buying behavior.In order to better understand the success of social marketing and the trends and patterns in customer buying behavior, a business can use activity analysis. With this approach, you interpret the activity feeds from various social media networks, and analyze visits, clicks, likes, shares, tags, timings and also, the underlying demographics and geographies of the discussion participants. This will help you to understand the popularity of a topic or product, and the demographics and geographies of the potential audience. Most of this data is structured, and can be analyzed by exporting social media analytics and reports and using BI tools with slice and dice, filtering and other data mining and visual mining tools.


The challenge is more significant when one thinks of the variety and number of sources and social networking feeds, generating gargantuan volumes of data, all in varying formats. Much of this data is in text and image form, which is not structured. To conquer this challenge, a business must apply thoughtful, intelligent and proven semantic and syntactical analysis in order to derive quantifiable and confident decisions from this data.When one considers the petabytes of data generated every day through social media, it is easy to see that the organization and analysis of this data presents a significant business challenge. The business must carefully examine the various objectives of analysis and research and focus on what is most important to the business in building and managing business success. Business and IT managers must also consider that the very nature of social networking will push the focus of topics from one to another, in a live, real time feed that reflects what is happening in the world and in the lives of your audience, your target market, and your followers.If an enterprise carefully considers its business intelligence requirements and its approach to social media analysis, and selects the right business intelligence tools to satisfy its analytical needs, it can provide a powerful source of data and information and meaningful reports, forecasts and analysis with which to manage its business and better leverage the real potential of social media networks.

Networking Checklist

Networking is such a dirty word. I prefer to use the term "making relationships".. because at the end of the day, that's really what it is all about, especially if you are an introvert.As the resident uber-planner, I have made a quick networking event checklist to ensure that I don't forget something when I attend an event. If you come ill-prepared, potential clients and referrals will be less than likely to refer an assistant who is disorganized. Maybe this will help you out too!Business CardsEven though we are a paperless company, business cards are still an essential marketing tool and branding piece. Make sure you include the following elements on your card:
Name & Title
Business Name (and logo)
Address (even though you are virtual, many folks like to know if you're "local")
Phone
Email
Web address
Tagline
A "connect with me link" (more on this below)
Optional extra: Your headshot! Sometimes a face is easier for others to remember you and your conversation.
Tip: Use both sides of your business card!Since the ultimate goal of networking, is to connect with other people and businesses, make it easy for them to connect with you. Set up a page on your website for connecting. Although we as virtual assistants have the tendency to be on every social media platform, not everyone you meet is on your preferred social media platform (you know, the one you really use most often). You connection page could be located on your 'Contact Us' page, but I prefer to have a separate page for each of us here and it includes:
Headshot
Phone
Email
Skype
About.Me URL
Links to all the social media profiles
Image of the front and back of my business card
Elevator SpeechYou are the face of your brand! If you cannot convey what you do to others quickly, then you may be perceived as unorganized (that's the kiss of death for a VA), shy, introverted, unsure of yourself and what you do. Make sure your elevator speech is short, evokes emotion, asks a question and be enthusiastic when you talk.Name BadgeWhile this might scare some folks, getting a name badge that looks like a corporate security badge is a smart thing. First, it has your name, photo, what your title is and where you work. Second, you can design your badge to look like your brand! OfficeMax allows you to make your own ID badge in their services center.


PenEven if you are paperless, you may need to write notes about a connection right away, so be sure to bring a pen. Write on the back of their card (or any white space you can find). If you need more room, excuse yourself, scan their card and add notes electronically on your phone.ClothingNot optional. Wear clothing that is professional but is you. I recently exhibited at an expo as a SCORE mentor, all dressed up and in conservative clothing. Most of my fellow mentors did not recognize me. When it came time to walk the show as the owner of a local small business, out came my polo shirt and capris. Heels? Sure.. if you're comfortable standing in them for hours and can walk like a lady in them. I've seem so many 4+" heel wearers out there that do not know how to walk properly in their heels. If you walk like a robot, choose different footwear. This is networking meet & greet, not a fashion show.CashSeriously! I've been to countless events where there is a cash bar, or drinks that you need to pay for, and most don't take credit cards. Be smarter than the average bear. When it does come to alcohol, know your limits or refrain. No one wants to be referred to as the "drunken wacko from the last meet & greet."Social MediaWhile you cannot pop the internet in your purse (well.. technically you can tuck your tablet or smartphone in there), it's important to keep your social media updated. If you're going to an event, mention it! No networking event is too small to mention. Big statewide business expo? Yep! Rotary meeting? Yep!Speaking of social media, LinkedIn is still an important platform to keep current and updated. It's also a great place to meet and find clients. If you're not on there, get there. If you're business isn't there, make a company page and a showcase page.SmileFinally, smile! Let your enthusiasm show. Let the passion for your industry and your business shine.

Why It Is Important To Get The Best Unlimited Email Hosting

One of the many aspects of running a business is communication. The circuits of communication are what allow you to keep in touch with customers, investors, and other members of your company. For this reason, having an email hosting service is an extremely important consideration. However, this consideration does not just stop at having an email hosting company; you are going need the best unlimited service around! Here a few reasons why it is important to get the best unlimited email hosting.Archived Mail FoldersIf email is one of the primary methods of communication in your business, you will likely end up with a lot of important mail that needs to be saved. Some services put a cap on the amount of data that can be archived. However, if you get the best unlimited email hosting, you can keep these important messages indefinitely and save as many as you need too. These emails may also come with attachments that take up large quantities of data. On a standard service, this would eat through your available space very quickly. Having unlimited email means that all of this information is saved and available for when you need it most.Interbusiness CommunicationMany businesses use email for memos and weekly status updates. This means a lot of back and forth with all branches of your company, which leads to a lot of emails. Some services that put a cap on the number of emails sent or received can leave your company in the dark for important information. By choosing to get the best unlimited email hosting, you can send all the emails you need to customers, employees, and investors without having to worry about the number sent. Communication within a business makes all aspects smoother and can help you secure the bottom line.


Email AccountsEvery business hopes to grow and hire new employees that will need access to the company's email services. This means that the number of accounts your service allows is very important. Getting the best unlimited email hosting means you will never run out of spaces for future growth. Some companies put a cap on the number of accounts allowed on their service. This can be a hassle if your business opens a new division or hires a lot of new people. Choosing a reputable company will allow you to grow without having to worry about the logistics of email accounts.SecurityIn today's world, the security of your company's email information is very important. Some services do not take this into consideration and leave loopholes where your company can become compromised. If you get the best unlimited email hosting, you can rest assured that all of this sensitive information is in protected hands. Be sure when you are looking for your email hosting services that you choose a quality company and don't forget to ask about what security measures the company provides.

How To Create A Successful Business Network

Networking: What Is It?In his famous book "Think and Grow Rich", Napoleon Hill explains at length the benefits of the Master Mind. OK, so just what is a Master Mind? As Napoleon puts it, the Master Mind is the "Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose".The great American industrialists of the early 20th Century had Master Mind groups. Andrew Carnegie was said to have had a group of over 50 men who came together with the definite purpose of manufacturing steel. Henry Ford gathered experts with the sole purpose of building cars.Today, Master Mind groups exist all over the planet... not just in the Corporate world, but also amongst small business owners as well. In many cases they exist as Business Networks. Every day of the week, you can find these formal networks of business people meeting over breakfast, lunch or dinner. From all walks of life, you will find florists, retailers, artists, internet marketers and handymen mixing with accountants, lawyers, electricians, finance consultants and personal trainers.So, what can a beauty consultant and a plumber have in common? Probably not much to begin with, but as they get to know each other they begin to realise that they can make some great contacts by networking. For instance, plumbers have wives and they know other women. The beauty consultant sometimes needs her hot water system replaced. What about a florist and a handyman? The handyman needs flowers for special occasions like Mothers Day, birthdays and Valentines Day. The florist needs odd jobs done around her home and shop. Each of them know other businesspeople and they have customers. Business owners will refer business if they know that you do a good job. It makes sense because they are adding value to their customer's lives at no additional cost.


Creating Your NetworkThere are 5 easy steps to creating a successful business network.Step 1: Do a Google search for business networks in your area.Step 2: Visit 3 or 4 of these events. Make a couple of strong contacts at each event by asking then about themselves and their business and then arrange to meet with them for coffee over the next few days.Step 3: Resist the temptation to "push" your product or service onto them. They will ask you in good time.Step 4: When you meet with your new contacts, ask more questions about them and their business. Don't forget to throw in a few questions about their preferred network event. You can get lots of information here that will help you decide which one to join. Once again, curb the excitement you have for your business. Your goal is to learn all you can about your new friend.Step 5: Make a decision to join at least one business network as soon as you feel comfortable.Networking is all about building rapport, trust and welcoming new friends and important colleagues into your life. If you are friendly and you show genuine interest in your new friends, you will have no trouble creating your own little business network. From this group can eventually spring the Master Mind that Napoleon Hill speaks about in his book. The ideas that a group like this can come up with are startling. It's incredible what happens when like-minded people get together. If you haven't tried networking yet, why not? Do it now.

Make Your Business Networking More Effective

First, let me clarify one point. Networking is NOT going to every event in town and handing out your business card to 100 people whose name you won't remember 10 minutes from now. Nor is it joining every online networking site and blasting all of your friends with SPAM. Networking is all about building relationships. Anyone who can understand that concept can network their way to more business.To get started, you have to create a network. Start by making a list of all the people you know. You'll be surprised at how many there are! This is your immediate circle of influence. If you maintain regular contact with some of the people on your list, great! Keep it up! For those you haven't had much contact with in a while, it's time to renew that connection. Send an email or give them a call. Invite them for coffee or lunch or just to chat. The idea here is to re-establish the connection between you, so do not spend your first get-together listing all that you have been doing and how they can help you. You want to find out what's been going on in their life. Let them do the talking. You'll make a much better impression that way.Once you have rebuilt your network, be sure to check in with these people regularly. Whether it's a quick email or phone call, a note to say thanks for some small favor, - even a gift - make sure you keep in touch. If you find yourself in need - your network will already be in place.Now that you have your initial network established you want to continue to expand it. There are many ways to do that. Get involved - in your church, your children's school, with community groups. Join any professional associations related to your field. When you go to parties, mingle and chat.


You can also network online. The internet has spawned a wide variety of social networking sites, each one offering access to literally millions of people. You can also network online. The internet has spawned a wide variety of social networking sites, each one offering access to literally millions of people. My personal favorites are Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Each is a little different but all three offer easy and fun ways to connect and share with others. There are tons of other sites as well - Facebook, MySpace, GooglePlus+, and CafeMom are just a few. Each one is a little different but all give you the chance to expose yourself and your business to more people.Now how do you use your network once you have it established? Simple. Keep in touch. Do favors for your contacts whenever possible. (Now they owe you one). Be genuinely grateful for any assistance they provide and be sure to acknowledge it with a card, a call, or even a gift. Make sure they all know what you do for a living - and make sure you understand their businesses. Otherwise, how will you send each other referrals? Participate - whether in person or by posting on the online networks. As I said when I started this post, it's all about building trust and relationships. Do that and the rest will fall into place. So I hope to see you on some of the networks. And for those of you living in NWA, contact me. I'll give you a list of local networking events. Hope to see you there!

The Networking Bypass

We all know the importance of "getting out there" and networking. As we are looking for a new opportunity, in transition, growing a business or being more professional, it is essential to market ourselves. But in the mist of all these events, conversations and connections, sometimes there are certain things which are still not in place. Of course, we can not wait until circumstances are perfect to launch our academics, careers, business etc. So what do professionals, students, entrepreneurs do or say when our objectives are not crystal clear? In these cases, do not avoid networking functions or skirt around the topics/encounters.Listed below are helpful tips for making the most of your business and social engagements.Online PresencePerhaps you have started a business or re-branding and do not have a functional website up and running. In your industry or business, you get a percentage of your customers and referrals from online resources etc. At your next event, offer your potential customer or client to connect with you via email. Send an email with a flier, list of services or any relevant information in regards to you or your business. Offer to connect on additional social media outlets to extend your business and following. Make sure to send a personal message with your website link, once the site is published to the public.


Professional ExperienceIf you are new in your organization, industry or business it can be difficult establishing credibility with little experience. In this case, focus on other aspects of your professional or academic career which can build your brand and marketability. For example, if you are a lawyer and recently started a private practice, mention the school you attended. Engage your potential clients in any of your specialties. Mention top clients or awards which you received.Products / ServicesIf you are an entrepreneur and have a new business, this is an excellent opportunity to find new clients. Talk about how you are different from your competition and how you would service specific needs and offer solutions and advice. Offer knowledge about incentives offers and promotions. If you are a consultant, share the different methods of how you coach and advise your clients.Hopefully, these tips and practical suggestions can enhance your credibility and networking skills. Use these to capitalize on opportunities to connect with others and grow in your endeavors.

How to Successfully Market Your Network Marketing Company

97% of all network marketers fail to get even 1 sign-up.Of all the hundreds of millions who join network marketing companies about 97% struggle to get even one sign-up into their company.Why is it such a struggle?Especially when most MLM companies have:awesome products
good compensation plans
inspiring stories from successful leadersThere are valid reasons why network marketers fail to build a downline.Leads/Traffic - finding people who are like-minded - who are looking to build a home business is not as easy as it seems, the excitement of joining soon wears off because it is difficult to find others who see the potential that you see.Real System - the systems that many MLM companies provide are archaic. - you need a real business solution that is easy to duplicate, makes sense and is applied in bite size chunks. Making a list of friends and family, cold calling and home parties do not create a business plan.Value - you do not have anything of value to give away. You need something fresh and useful to give awayMentor - having little to no support also makes building your business more challenging - having a personable, knowledgeable coach gives you the opportunity to build a sustainable business based on sound business principles.Posting and hoping - in the online market place -network marketers are hanging out in Facebook, twitter and other social sites - 97% of them are posting links and hoping someone will click and sign-up.The post and hope method does not work. Just as stopping people in Walmart to tell them about your business - does not work.


People want to do business with people they know, like and trust. Building relationships is the key to building a business - and with fantastic free tools like Skype you can find like-minded people all over the world.Today's market place rewards those who stand out from the crowd.How can you stand out? You have to have true value to offer...Do you remember your school days when you wrote a report? If you wrote enough words and made the whole report look organized - you could get a decent mark?As a former teacher I called these reports - "snow jobs" - they just covered a lot of ground, but really had nothing of value to offer. Well in the market place free reports and ebooks that regurgitate the same old stuff are useless and boring. People see through the "blah, blah, blah" right away.So what do I offer you that stands out?4 strategies when correctly applied that will bring you tons of new sign-ups.1. Traffic strategies - both paid and free that work - that bring people to you.2. Free access to a training site - List Driven Profits that costs $97.00 per month to join and will give you a ton of ways to build your prospective client list.3. Free access to a marketing funnel that you can personalize for your business4. Free one-on-one coaching to show you in bite size chunks how to put it all together.I will show you step by step how to do each of these things.Act now and you will reach the leader board in your company.

Can Developing Your Public Speaking Skills Help You at Networking Functions?

To progress in your career, it's important to have a network of contacts. Nowadays, professional networking sites such as LinkedIn are a good starting point to connect with potential contacts or even future employers. Online 'networking' has its positives.However that doesn't mean that we should not consider attending networking functions whether they are local business chamber events or professional forum events to name a few.Networking functionsAfter attending many networking functions I have observed some people thrive and others who look absolutely terrified at the thought of speaking with another person. Yet that is the main purpose of attending a networking function - to speak with and make connections with other professionals.Speaking in front of a group can have the same effect as attending a networking function for some people. Here are some tips that you can use from developing your public speaking skills.BreatheDeep breathing is a vitally important public speaking skill. It allows a presenter to speak at a good pace and have a conversational tone. This can be just as effectively used when you need to build a relationship with a stranger for business purposes.Practising breathing exercises helps to:· Relax your muscles which tend to become tense when feeling stressed· Develop a strong speaking voicePreparation is keyPreparation is an important component of being a proficient speaker. So it's important that you know your topic well. The same is true for networking events.


Prepare yourself by having an answer to the question: 'What do you do?'This is a simple question yet many people have a problem answering this question. Think about what you do and how you help others. Prepare your mini speech and be ready to include it in your conversation. Tell your story and make it relevant to the person with whom you're speaking.Make a connectionWhat is your body language saying about you?If you have closed body language then you will come across as someone who is not confident about what they do. If you have a strong stance with a firm handshake then you will automatically come across as a competent person. A simple change in stance can make the world of difference.Eye contact is important too. When speaking with a person make sure that you look at them, not past them looking at other potential people with whom to network. Give the person that you're speaking with your undivided attention.Your voiceSpeak clearly with an appropriate pace. Consider practising voice exercises prior to attending the networking function. This will help with all of your vocal qualities. Using your voice well assists in making a positive connection with the people that you meet at a networking event.By using techniques used in public speaking, attending a networking event can become a positive experience, which may lead to new business or a new job.

Locating Quality Contacts In Networking Events

You are probably familiar with the following situation: networking event, lots of people, business cards, smiles, "Hi I'm XYZ", laughter, buffet, drinks, speakers, "Nice to meet you", more business cards, etc.After the event you look at your new collection of business cards, some are extremely polished and well designed - and sometimes, you are simply confused.Events are full of new people and happenings, but since you came there for a reason - it is your responsibility to "organize the chaos".In such events many interesting, high potential people surround you. These events are actually a "playground" where you have to locate relevant people, "connect the dots" and eventually focus on the very few people that are right for you and your purpose.1. Know your networking purposesMany people simply don't know whom they want to be introduced to, get to know to, and sometimes actually go to events that are completely invaluable and wrong for them.Before you start going to these types of events, it is recommended you prepare yourself and define the purpose of "your networking". These are the profiles of key people who might help you achieve your startup goals (the goals of your networking are usually a derivative of your business goals and objectives).Once you have a clear view of the people you are targeting and their profiles, you can aim and focus to meet them in different events. Focusing will help you network and create connections much more effectively.For example, if one of your startup purposes is to identify customers in the academic space, than your networking purposes should be to meet and connect with key people from the academic institutions faculties or management departments. This goes also towards university or College Board members, service providers who work with the institutions and decision makers who work within those facilities. Next time you will be present in one of their events, you have already located the right people and so it would be easier to approach them.2. More is less and less is more?Sometimes in order to locate and network with the right people you will need to "filter" people you meet along the way and focus on those who are the most interesting to you.Start conversations with people who are at the event, try to understand as fast as possible whether you are interested to continue or not. If yes, deepen your participation in the conversation and share more. "Small talks" on similar and diverse topics you might share and are passionate about, will contribute to building a good basis for future relationship that might develop after the event.


By the way, it is perfectly okay and normal to quickly end a conversation with someone who is not adding any value to your networking objectives, as long as it is carried out with polite, dignity and a smile.3. Ask for referencesYou should feel perfectly comfortable asking for references to the right people. Ask those you already know, as they probably know you and your characteristics by now, which makes it easier for them to reference you. Clearly define what are the profiles of people you would like to target and let them make the connections during or after the event.4. Check in advance who is attending the eventWe live in amazing times. Technology forever changed the way we find connections and we all benefit from that. It is possible to look for and find upfront who will attend an event, or even to find out real-time who is present and to connect with them instantaneously. Apps like Bizzabo allows you to do it easily and effectively from your smartphone, and websites such as meet up shows you all the interesting and relevant events in any place of you choice. You can also use Facebook for that.5. Be open and leave room for "fate"Always leave a door open for opportunities: allow new people to approach you and do not hesitate to initiate conversations with people who seem interesting, even if they are not necessarily what you are searching for. After all, not all is "objectives", "goals" and "needs"; networking and making connections in its basis should be a fun activity where you get to know many different, funny, interesting people, mostly in a relaxed, non-formal environment.Sometimes, just the simple fact that someone strange made you smile, will make an event memorable. You never know how a new connection might evolve or what effect could it bring into your life. Sometimes, the greatest opportunities come from unexpected situations.6. It always works when it's "real"Making new connections is a delightful activity and is really an R&D experience. Keep an open and tolerant approach, and be positive and open to others. Connect with people you genuinely "click" with or feel an initial bonding. After all, we all feel when its "fake", and such a connection will not last for long, turning into a valuable one. So remember - it's working when it's for real.