Learn to network like a pro! When you’re going to a networking event, a lot of people picture eating cheese and drinking a little wine or drinking a soda. But this is an important time when you are laying the foundation for long term business relationships. I often say, when you’re at that networking event, what are you learning about the people you’re meeting?
Make the conversation about them and how you can serve them, and this is how you will increase your business connections. When I was a young doctor and I was trying to build a practice, I would go to networking events and simply say, “Hi, I’m Doctor Bragg. Nice to meet you.” The people would look at me like, ‘so what?’
They would go back and start talking to their friends. I would come home with zero referrals. Now moving forward, I have treated over 20,000 people in my 20 years of practice, and I had to learn how to market and network like a pro.
I challenge you to make the encounter all about the people you come across and how you can service them. Regardless of what business you are in, plumber, mechanic, opening up your own business as a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer, whatever you’re doing.
When you’re networking, learn about the people you meet, and then you’ll be able to build a big business.
I think about the 4 P’s when you’re learning about them.
1. Person
Of course you want to know the basics of a person such as their name and occuption. You also want learn about what’s important to them.
2. Passion
You want to learn about what are they interested in, what is their passion?
Do they like football, basketball? What is their favorite food? Because how often it would be for you to take them to a seafood restaurant when they hate seafood.
3. Pain
You also want learn about a pain that they have. Not a physical pain, but something you can help them with.
For instance, if they are new to town, and you may be able to tell them about a babysitter, then that’s going to help them to really want work with you because you solved the pain for them.
4. Purpose/Priority
Then what is something that’s a purpose or a priority for them? Do they donate money to the church, to a civic league, to a a little league, baseball, a basketball team? Then donate and give something to something that needs something to them, Because people like to do business with people who also show gratitude and who are interested in making a better community.
I hope that this tip is beneficial to you. And that the next time you are networking with someone, then you remember, make it about them. And then that’s the way you will create long term business relationships. Check out this blog post on nurturing those relationships as well.