Networking-GO

About Us

2012-02-24T09:15:00.001-05:00

Every Friday we email out a list of all the upcoming networking event in Connecticut.

I believe that networking is the most cost effective and reliable way to build and manage your business. I also believe that going to networking events are the shortest roads to start making those all important connections. At a networking event you have an opportunity to meet with professionals in all areas of business. You can brainstorm ideas with fellow business people who are familiar with your market and situation. Networking gives you the opportunity to develop relationships rather then to open the yellow pages or do a quick Google search which can sometimes lead to catastrophic results.

Networking has not always been an easy task for a busy business person like yourself, the information about networking events was spread over dozens of chamber, business, and calendar websites. I encountered this myself and it was frustrating as a small business owner, so I started keeping a networking events calendar.

When fellow networkers wanted access to it, I decided to share it online for others to use. Soon after, business people started adding networking events they knew about. The word has spread and my personal calendar has now become the most popular networking events calendar in the state of Connecticut. The personal calendar I used to grow my business, has become my business.

So whether your Gung-HO about networking events like I am or you are just starting out, I hope you find the calendar useful and who knows maybe I will see you at a networking event soon.

John Green Founder

John Green
Founder

Tip of the Week Feb 13th

2012-02-10T12:40:00.000-05:00

Quick Tip from....
SOS Networking Esther: Group Body Language

Which groups in the following image would you walk up to?
Figure 1 – image from “Networking Like A Pro” by Dr. Ivan Misner, David Alexander and Brian Hilliard

Open vs closed discussion groups – body language either invites or turns away other networking opportunities.

By standing in “open Vs”, you can invite many more wonderful networking opportunities that may result in your receiving a referral, whereas standing in “closed” groups to chat with others, you definitely can repel those opportunities.
When you speak with someone, do you leave your conversation open for others to join? If you don’t, you may miss out on a great referral!

Networking-Ho finds tips that are believed to be useful. There is no affiliation or connection with the people or organizations presented

Networking Tip for Week of February 6th

2012-02-03T10:12:00.002-05:00

Quick Tip From......

Wayne English: How to tactfully get away from someone you don’t want to talk to.

Networking-Ho finds tips that are believed to be useful. There is no affiliation or connection with the people or organizations presented

How to tactfully get away from someone you don’t want to talk to.

Yes, it happens. You’ve been looking forward to this networking group because you see real potential in being there. You’ve moved your schedule and rearranged your time. The person sitting next to you just loves talking. Talking to you. He, or she, just loves telling you about what’s important to him or her. That’s nice, but your needs are going unmet. While this stream of chatter is coming your way the people you need to talk to are getting their business done, and getting closer to leaving.

You have two problems, and neither are the talker, but are closely related. Here’s why. One. You cannot afford to be rude, or simply walk away. Never do that. Two, the talker may become an important referral, or a contact one of these days, and you want this person to think good things about you.

One way you can possibly avoid this situation is to secure your seat, but don’t sit until things get going. Walk around and work the room, then sit down. If your talker grabs you afterwards, these techniques will set you free without harm.

Try using one of these remarks.

"Excuse me, I need to see So and So before he leaves." Say this as you are getting up from you seat. Notice, you are not asking permission. A question will only keep the conversation going. Don’t ask permission."Thank you for the chat, I have no wish to take all of your time." Always thinking of the welfare of others. You’re a lovely person. A lovely person who’s ending this conversation. In a lovely caring way, of course.

"Please excuse me, I haven’t had my morning coffee yet." Be sure that you head to the coffee pot and pour yourself a cup.

These are only suggestions. Use words that you're comfortable with. As long as you are friendly and protect the feelings of the talker, you're golden. The thing to keep in mind is that valuable contacts can be denied you by talkers. So, be polite, be firm, be nice, but be gone. Be gone nicely. The 'nicely' part is as important as anything you will ever do in business because people do business with people they like.

About the Author

Wayne English is a Web content and social networking expert, published author and writer. Read his blog at blog.WebContentRx.biz.

2012-01-27T01:08:00.000-05:00

Quick Tip From......

Mike Maddaloni: Don't Eat at Networking Events

Networking-Ho finds tips that are believed to be useful. There is no affiliation or connection with the people or organizations presented

Allow me to share some advice I have learned over time – don’t eat at networking events.
Unless the event is specifically a breakfast, lunch or dinner, don’t eat at it. If not a formal meal, eating involves walking around with food while talking with people and probably enjoying some form of a beverage. Add to it business card exchanging, taking notes, and overall focus on the conversation in front of you, unless you are a member of Cirque du Soleil, you will certainly not be able to balance it all perfectly. As the purpose of the event is networking, you are surely not getting the return you could be from the event. Not to mention the cleaning bill from when you flip a chicken skewer onto your shirt.
I am not saying you should not have a drink at an event – alcoholic or not – as they serve a function, especially if you tend to talk a lot (like me) and your mouth is dry. When holding a drink, you still have a free hand to shake someone’s hand, pass a business card, etc. People will also be less likely to notice you without food rather than without a plate of food, as they may assume you already had something. If you spill a drink, it is less likely to show a stain – and to make it less so, wear something dark.
In order to pull this off, eat before you get to the event. Even if you bring with you a granola bar to eat just before the event, it should be enough to carry you through the time. Plus you’ll have the chance to check your teeth for stuck food particles before you go out and meet new people. Somewhere I recall someone, someplace talking about first impressions.
If anything, because you are hungry there’s an opportunity to grab a bite to eat afterwards, and ideally with someone you may want to get to know better from the event. As the event is drawing to a close, you can invite people out for a drink and appetizers. If they ask you why you are hungry, you can simply quote your new networking strategy!

Tip of the Week

2011-09-09T17:04:00.001-04:00

Watch this Less than 3 minute Tip from.....

Andy Lopata on working out your networking ROI