If you are just getting started in your new business venture, or if you have owned your business for a while and want to expand your reach locally, you want to read every word of this article. It will explain how to maximize your time invested in attending live business networking meetings. When you finish reading this article, and even if you are a person who is shy by nature, you will be able to confidently start conversations and establish the business contacts and referral partners you have come for.
I will start by explaining what business networking meetings are, what they are not, then I will explain the basic fact about business only happening when people interact, and, finally, I will give you five easy conversation starters so you will be able to accomplish more in an hour than you ever thought possible.
What Are Business Networking Meetings
Business networking meetings are gathering of local business people who want to establish contacts in the community, and promote their own and other people's businesses. Usually the business networking meetings have at least two parts, an invited talk, and a social. If the social happens before the talk, it is best for you come to the meeting early. That way you can start your conversations sooner and get more accomplished.
Business Only Happens When People Interact
Many of us were told from young not to talk to strangers, that it is unsafe and risky to do so. As business owners we must overcome this fear. We must do it cautiously though. It is all well and good to start a conversation with a stranger in a business networking meeting. It is a safe environment. We should be careful however not to go to the other extreme either. We do not want to be overwhelmed by a person who has taken a liking of us and wants to chat about themselves for the entire allotted time. We must know how to leave a conversation like that quickly as well. I will write about this in another article. For now, let us focus on us being brand new to the meeting and getting the conversations started with the intent to get down to business, and establish useful connections that will be our source of referrals in the near future. Here are the five best conversation starters:
Five Conversation Starters
In this day and age, there is no time for obligatory politeness. You can skip introducing yourself also; you brought your business cards for that. The best way to start a conversation in a business networking meeting is to go directly to the point. Smile and ask: "So, What is Your Business?"
Then transition to asking about what their ideal customer is like. Finally, conclude the conversation by telling about your business, what the ideal customer is for you, and tell them that you came to the meeting to initiate the referrals. With that, exchange the business cards and move on. If for any reason, you are still having difficulties starting the conversation with the direct approach above, here are five additional questions you may want to ask to move the conversation along:
What separates your firm from the competition? What will be the coming trends in your business? Tell me about your most important work experience. How has the internet/Twitter/Facebook impacted your business? What do you enjoy most about your profession?
Here you have it. The best way to start a business networking meeting conversations, and five helper conversation starters. Now that you know how to approach your fellow entrepreneurs, and you know what to do and what not to do, you can go out and test this approach in the next business networking event. Keep in touch with the contacts you gather and your new referral partners will be fun for you and mutually beneficial.
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Shannen Lee has been a freelance writer for the last 3 years. Check out her latest writing here on the bronze shower head website, where you can read her review of the best Hansgrohe shower heads.
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