{"id":593,"date":"2016-04-11T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T17:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thebigtimegroup.com\/?p=593"},"modified":"2021-04-16T14:10:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T14:10:40","slug":"the-10-big-mistakes-youre-making-in-your-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thebigtimegroup.com\/the-10-big-mistakes-youre-making-in-your-networking\/","title":{"rendered":"Your 10 BIG Networking Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Networking is an essential part of any marketing effort, and so many people get it WRONG! <\/b>Here are some hints from The BigTime Group to help you get it right.<\/span><\/p>\n

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MISTAKE 1: Starting a conversation with, \u201cSo what do you do?\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

BORING! Everyone at networking events begin their conversations like this. Here\u2019s your opportunity to stand out. Instead of jumping right into business chatter, be original. Pick out something on which you can compliment them. Something like, ‘Nice watch’, ‘Cool shoes’, ‘That\u2019s a great outfit’, ‘I love that necklace.’ Starting with a compliment or positivity is a great way to open someone up and begin a connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

MISTAKE 2: Starting a conversation talking about yourself.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Never ever, ever open a conversation by telling the other person about you. Instead, deflect the conversation away from yourself and ask questions about THEM. When others feel that you are interested in them, they judge you as smarter and more trustworthy. Also, by asking questions, you can determine how your business can be valuable to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

MISTAKE 3: Talking too long about your business.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Have a 30 second buzzer in your head. Don\u2019t talk about your business any longer than that before relating the conversation back to the other person. Ask them if they have had a similar experiences, how they handled a similar situation or simply ask them their opinion, visit fixbodygroup.com<\/a>. If you find yourself going on too long, stop mid-sentence and apologize. Be humble. It\u2019s endearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

MISTAKE 4: Talking about the technical details of what you do.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you own a tire store. Don\u2019t launch right in to talking about all the different types of tires you sell. If you\u2019re a lawyer, don\u2019t talk about all the kinds of legal services you offer. Instead, tell a story. Talk about a person you helped. Spice it up with a little drama. Talk about how they were stressed prior to working with you. Explain what you did to help them and save the day. It won’t sound like bragging if you stay focused on being grateful for having a business that gives you the opportunity to be in service to other people.<\/span><\/p>\n

MISTAKE 5: Presenting yourself as just another lawyer, accountant, real estate agent, etc. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

You always want to show up in the room as a thought leader in your industry. That means speaking knowledgeably and having specific opinions about your business. The greatest way to get others to think of you as valuable is to freely offer advice and the benefit of your experience. Help them on the spot with a specific problem. Use language like:<\/span><\/p>\n