My first blog teaser should have been called NOTworking. Okay, so I wrote a very meaningless blog on a very meaningful topic (especially to me). Did I lose my mind? Has my networking noggin stopped working? I hope not.

So why did I write something that was probably a waste of time to write and a waste of time to read?

Glad you asked. Because so many of us think we are networking when we go through the motions of going to an event, grabbing a business card, giving a business card, possibly even emailing someone after an event with an empty and meaningless email.

So my point is that if you are not successful networking, you probably are doing networking very much like my 1500 words on Networking chapter. I initially was writing the chapter as a humorous look at how we do an action but we don’t do the action with impact. Wouldn’t you agree if you met five or ten people at a networking event and actually connected with them in such a way after the event that you would really be networking?

Networking is not just going to events. It is not just passing cards. And it is not about you!

If you want to take networking to a level you perhaps have never experienced, I assure you this information is worth writing and reading and passing along.

Networking – the next 1500 words

The 7 C’s of Networking: Communicate, Capture, Communicate, Connect, Collaborate, Create, & Continue

First, prepare for your networking event, if you have a name badge that will make you stand you, then wear that instead of a label that doesn’t stick to your jacket.

Second, bring enough business cards that you can hand 2 cards to each person you meet so that the possibility of them connecting you in the future is possible.

COMMUNICATE… by listening and asking ‘perfect’ questions

When you meet someone at a networking event, don’t worry about your pitch, I assure you that it probably won’t be remembered, so work on your listening and if you need to take notes to help you remember, then by all means. The new iPhone has a microphone that allows you to dictate thoughts and actions you can later download on your iTunes to play and remind you what actions you can take to begin the networking process of building a relationship and referral source.

Ask questions that engage the other person so that you can truly learn how you can help them. Questions like:

“Share with me what you do.”

“How did you get into this business?”

“What social sites do you participate with? Facebook? LinkedIn? PerfectNetworker? Twitter?”

“What is your target market?”

“Tell me how I could help you”

This should be enough information that you can make a difference in their life. That is part of what networking is about. If you are going to get something out of networking, start thinking about what you are going to give.

Always get two of their cards so that you can recommend them to someone you meet that evening at the event or later.

After you leave a networking event is when networking really begins. Consider the networking event the start line and when you leave the networking event, you are about to start the race much like a sprinter prepares their stance before the gun is fired signifying the beginning of the race.

CAPTURE… their data so you can begin and continue to communicate with them

When you return back to your home office or your office, it is time to sort your cards into two stacks. One that is for focused conversation and one that is secondary polite. The reason for the two stacks is that you don’t want to feel overwhelmed. Simply place the cards that you felt would be easiest to help succeed. Think of the conversations that were most memorable, the contacts most likely to return the favor when you contribute to them.  The secondary stack we will get to in a moment.

Remember to label the stacks of business cards with a post-it identifying the date and event you met the new contacts. This is important because you want to focus for the next 7 days on developing this contact. The reason you have two sets of each card is so that you can work one stack and start recommending with the other stack.

COMMUNICATE… as soon as possible so that the ball is in their court

If you are short on time, it is important that you at least write the first stack and let them know you really enjoyed meeting them. Look or listen to your notes on that particular meeting, so that you can customize the message so that they see you as a sincere person, and are impressed with you listening skills and memory.

Now for the secondary stack, simply write them an email to demonstrate you are a serious networker by getting the communication going immediately after the event.

If you invite all our new connections to PerfectNetworker.com, your name will be memorialized on their profile as the contributor, thus making a memory stamp for every bit of success they experience on the site. Second you can let them know that they can be featured on the site by simply letting one of the ambassadors know they are ready to be spotlighted on the home page. All you need to have is a complete profile and photo to be considered for this complimentary publicity.

Although this is a little more expensive, I highly recommend writing a thank you note or use send out cards to stand out as someone that is serious about continuing the initial conversation from the networking event.

CONTRIBUTE… through virtual introductions

Look in your network for people that would be great to connect your new contact with and do a virtual introduction via email or on PerfectNetworker. It helps to explain in the email why you considered the connection valuable. Also, you may want to reach out via phone to explain that you are going to be making this virtual connection via email and to look out for the email you just sent.

CONNECT… with them where they like to communicate

Google the names of your new connections and when you find them on Facebook (FB), LinkedIn (LI), PerfectNetworker (PN), and or Twitter, send a connection request. It is important that you get into their virtual life if you want to get into their real life. The frequency and timing of your communication will catapult you from a status of stranger or someone they will not remember to a person they know and feel comfortable communicating with. The number you are trying to get to as quickly as is comfortable without being considered a stalker or a psycho is the frequency of 7.

So you meet them at a networking event - that is 1.

You email them after the networking event to let them know it was a pleasure to meet them and possibly invite them to PerfectNetworker with your link - that is 2.

You make a virtual connection for them as a contributor to their success - that is 3.

You google them and find them on FB, LI, and Twitter and connect with them – that is possibly 4, 5 and 6.

You wish them a Happy Birthday when their birthday reminder is sent to you on FB and you search for their birthday on PN.

COLLABORATE

You invite them to meet with you for a one-on-one to learn more about how you might be able to work together and help one another. When we work together with someone to create success, a synergy is formed a desire to win together and a bond is formed. Success minded individuals become more driven and inspired to succeed when they work with other success-minded individuals.

Try it… you will like it a lot more than working your way by yourself.

CREATE… a future

Stay in touch, keep the communication alive and a relationship will form. Remember that you create your future, your relationships, and your success. Since the ball is in your court, you must not wait for the other person to decide to communicate or contribute to you. That is your responsibility, and through this responsibility you have control to shape your life and your success.

CONTINUE… to do all the C’s, especially communication and contribution.

Continue to contribute even if you don’t see anything coming back to you. This isn’t about a short-term relationship. This is about you being a Perfect Networker. Your identity is contributor, you are thought of as a person that makes a positive difference, a person who cares, a person that leaves people in a better position after they meet you, a person that will go the distance… a professional networker.

CONCLUSION… only to this chapter

Many times when we meet someone at a networking event we believe that when we leave that our impact was so amazing that they will want to start sending clients to us right away. I hope you see that type of conclusion to a networking event is really very unrealistic.

There really is not a conclusion to networking, it is continuous set of actions and conversations leading to hopefully a referral source. So where most people leave the networking event thinking the networking is over, you are now equipped to actually start networking by applying the 7 C’s of networking

When you apply the 7 C’s of networking, you will see the benefits and look back and laugh at how what you called networking was really NOTworking.

Networking is about playing big, playing to win… and most of all playing together.

 Siovhinn Polizzi of WeUTubedU has partnered with PerfectNetworker in a cutting edge marketing campaign. Her work is brilliant and we are so proud to be a part of the viral aspect of this campaign. Bill Iampieri from Maryland Web Group put it best "If you have the most incredible video in the world and no one knows about it, then you have an missed out on the distribution aspect of your marketing campaign." 

Please go and rate the following videos and please share them with your network.

Here are some impressive videos that Siovhinn has put together for this campaign - 

Ken Rochon - PerfectNetworker - 23 ratings, 4.35 stars, 981 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUPjWzrcVQI

Ken Rochon - Calling Card - 12 ratings, 4.50 stars, 633 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v347wVHxq9o

Perfect Networker - in 30 seconds, 12 ratings, 4.08 stars, 341 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-nA2C00DX4

Meant for a Moment Designs - Tara J Hannon - 16 ratings - 5 stars!!!, 337 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou6aExvCtPo

The Scary Guy - 8 ratings - 4.62 stars, 292 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyQJFID3x_I

Perfect Networker Presents WeUTubedU - 2 ratings - 5 stars!, 220 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIGwz4qalA

LivFit Fitness - Carol Whitaker - 5 ratings - 5 stars, 222 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWB5vD5Wljw

Perfect Networker Kennects with the World - 3 rating - 5 stars!, 101 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykXBwkzRWvM

American Reverse Mortgage - W.L. Pulsipher - 7 ratings - 3.43 stars, 116 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpG8w9LTDNE

Cruise Planners - Paul Belletiere - 3 ratings - 5 stars!, 94 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhJ3hLtPUEk

WeUTubedU - 30 Seconds - 4 ratings - 5 stars, 88 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIUFMkauwwU

One Voice by Liz Cosline - 4 ratings - 5 stars, 62 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2UCq3NF58

Noble Canine - PN - 30 Seconds - 1 rating - 5 stars, 50 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFODIv3-vm4

Rolling Ads MD - 2 ratings - 5 stars, 33 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyG_8hmVsCk

Send Out Cards - Perfect Networker Joyce Nelson - 2 ratings - 5 stars, 40 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBuERZd8is4

Unexpected Knowing by Liz Cosline - 3 ratings - 5 stars, 31 views - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38j2Sx5eptA

 "Becoming The Perfect Networker ... Succeeding One Connection at a Time" is coming out next month.

Please send me a Networking Secret Tip you use to create opportunities and relationships. If you tip is used, I will give you credit and a link to your webiste on the book.

I will be listing the Tips here that I receive.

Mac Cassity - Connector at PerfectNetworker.com

Work on quality, not quantity - So many people feel like they had a successful networking event just because they met a bunch of people. Personally, I don’t care how many I met, as long as I had quality conversations with the ones I did meet.

Bring business cards and write on them - Having business cards seems like a gimmee if you are at a networking event, but I can almost guarantee that at least one person in the crowd will have either forgotten theirs, or is out of them. That is crazy, UNLESS they get one from the other person and truly do follow up. Most promise to, few ever do. I like to write a fact or bit of info on the backs of cards I get so I remember tidbits of info after the event. Also, if someone doesn’t have a card, you can have them write some info on the back of one of yours.

Focus the conversations on the OTHER person - Ask questions, learn more about them, when you are done, ask a few more. People LOVE to talk about themselves. If they turn the subject to you, answer, but then get back to them. This is so key in developing the relationship. They will naturally be attracted to you as your interest in them will be remembered favorably. How often do you fondly recall that person that only talked about themselves all night? Because you focus on listening, they will be more inclined to seek you at future events, and wanting to find out about what YOU do.

FOLLOW UP! - What good is networking and getting business contact info if you aren’t going to use it? Most folks never do. They go to event after event and are always stuck in the rut of not having enough business. Follow up with the folks you meet and set up a time to grab coffee or lunch. Business will happen, as long as you take the time to establish the relationship properly.

Nicole Beus - Indy's Services and GM of PerfectImageNation.com / www.IndyES.net

1. Schedule time daily for networking. Whether you participate in an online professional networking site, Facebook, or other social media outlet - schedule 15 minutes a day to reach out to current contacts, meet someone new and update your status.

2. When you are at an event, make sure and meet someone new. When I go to baseball games or other events, I am constantly looking around me and more importantly listening to people. I almost always find a moment that I can introduce myself and have some common subject to talk about. The person you're talking to may not be a prospective client or vendor, but they might have a great connection to give you in the future.

Curtis Cole - Kent Door & Specialty

When I'm out running errands (banking, groceries, etc), I always pick up business cards from corkboards, desks, etc.  I send out invites to join PerfectNetworker to the email addresses I see on the cards.  I give it a couple days to digest, then I follow up with a personal call to see if there are any questions and to mainly introduce myself and what I'm about.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Chris Doerr from Beltway Networking

You have two types of networking - event and social.  How can you combine the two?  Place your social media profiles on your business cards.  By doing so potential connections have your contact information and can follow you online.

Dale Furtwengler - Furtwengler & Associates, P.C. / 314-707-3771 http://www.furtwengler.com

If you want to create a memory while networking define your ideal customer, not by demographics, but by the values they possess.  Values elicit emotional reactions which create memory.  It also makes it easier for those with whom you network to identify whether or not someone is a good referral to you.  You'll end up with better referrals and waste less time with those who aren't a good fit for you.

Dick Steiner - Dick Steiner Magician & Mentalist

Get to a networking event 30 minutes early and study the names, titles and companies that will be there. Focus on the 3 or 4 you want to meet, and ask to be introduced to them either by the host or someone that knows them. It is ideal if the person knows you and the people you want to meet. This is using a 3rd party introduction method which typically creates instant credibility as well as a warm introduction.

From Vincent Wright - MyLinkingPowerForum.ning.com

1. N – Network – No network, no gain.   Positively said: The better

your network, the greater your gain.  Networking is networking – online or off, entrepreneur or warehouse worker, doctor, lawyer, student, teacher, child, or grandparent – to advance from where you are to where you want to go, you need help and the best help you can get on earth is the hands of others.   To get their hands, you need to network with them.

2. E – Energy – To network with people, you need to put some energy into your networking.   Put twice as much energy into your networking as you want to get out of it.   Energy makes you shine.   If you don’t let your light shine, no one will notice you.  If no one notices you, you can’t network.  If you can’t network, you can’t get their hands. Show people that you and your light are present and available to help them GET MORE!

3. T – Thoughtfulness – THINK of others!   There is no getting around the great importance of thinking of others.   What good is a networker who doesn’t think of others?  What do they need?  When do they need it?  Where do they need help?  How much help do they need?  What else do they need?  If you can’t give them what they need at the time that
they need it, what else can you give them instead?  A referral?  A lead? Guidance?

4. W – Work – Ok.  So, you’ve done all the right things in growing your network.  You’ve thought about people you know and the people they know, you’ve considered that people in networks want to connect with you, they want your energy, and you’ve started assembling your network.  But, there’s still the most important thing to excel at: WORK.  Your WORK must be EXCELLENT! (Not perfect.  Just EXCELLENT! You’re networking because you can’t be perfect and because you want to be excellent in some area of your life.)

5. O – Organize – Organize your work, your network, and your networking.  How can a network of people be sustained without it and you being organized?  It can’t!  Not for long, anyway.  Organization is the key to reducing the stress of life.   If you’re not organized, network with someone who can help you in this area, too.

6. R – Recruit – Very few people know what the word “recruit” actually means.   But what it means is of TREMENDOUS value to you: “To nourish the core”.   If you’re weak, stressed, empty, broke, un-centered, inexperienced, or aging, YOU MUST LEARN HOW TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO HELP YOU!

7. K – Knowledge – Keep adding value to your knowledge by keeping your knowledge current, up to date. Who wants information that’s stale, disorganized, incomplete, ill-informed, or poorly formed.   Read stuff.   Learn stuff.  Shape stuff.  Share stuff with LOTS of other people in your NETWORK.

I will be including this in the book that I am currently writing, and thought I would share this entry in the event it would be useful. If you have any ideas that would make this list that much more beneficial and meaningful, I would welcome your feedback.

1. ABC = Always Be Connecting and Always Be in Action

2. Remember Birthdays, and wish someone you don't know a 'Perfect' birthday

3. Communicate with at least 10 of your Connections a day, and at least 1 Perfect Networker you don't know each day.

4. Contribute to others. Give an introduction, a kind message, a referral, a thank you, an invitation to PerfectNetworker.com

5. Attend at least 1 networking event a week, collect cards and communicate with your new contacts.

6. Get featured on the Home Page of Perfect Networker again and again!

7. Make sure your profile completion is at 100% with a Photo and improve your statistics

8. Create a life of balance with family, friends, your network, health, and business and personal growth

9. Be a positive force and leave people better than they were before they met you 

10. Be The Change in the World You Want to See!

I hope this helps you Become a better Perfect Networker. We can create our world through our actions, so I try to remember all the above everyday so that what I create is something that makes me proud. 

Want to get some FREE publicity? Here are some actions you can take...

1. I am writing a book "Becoming the Perfect Networker... Succeeding One Connection at a Time!"

If you would like to send me a networking tip you think would be worthy of adding to the content, I will certainly give you and your company and / or website credit.

2. There is a member on the site we set up with the name "Perfect Networker" If you go to that profile, we are collecting testimonials and the ones we choose will have a hot link to your profile.

3. 300 - Play the game! Use our new invite feature and share the site! First person to contribute to 300 professional networkers that sign up and list your name as the referrer will receive a $300 check. See home page opportunities for more details. The reason I share this, is that you will be very visible on the home page if you keep the lead or stay in the TOP 25. This is not as difficult as hitting a "Perfect" score in bowling or being a gladiator in a 300 movie. This is just what a Perfect Networker should be doing ... contributing to other's success!

"I am a member of over 20 different social sites... I am going crazy! And I am not getting value from doing this, so what should I do?"

Evaluate which sites are meeting your business and/or personal goals and focus on them. I recommend focusing on only 3 or 4 social sites since time is a commodity we shouldn't waste. It is better to develop rich relationships on several social sites then to spread yourself so thin that no one ever gets to know you.

Weed out the sites that give little to no return for your efforts (ROE - Return on Efforts). Stick with sites where the mission of the site or the community is like-minded with your goals and principles.

Make your mark and consistently connect and communicate with 10 people a day on each of the social sites you decide to participate in... and don't stop. Be patient and persistent. Believe me, that 1 year ago when I started, I had no idea how valuable all these business relationships could be... especially in a down economy. 

Prioritize your time, so that you have 15 - 60 minutes a day (preferably before you go to work and after.. or during if you can). Consider this your 'social' networking work-out. 

Convert your 'social' networking contacts into your database and stay in touch offline. This is where the magic happens.

Meet at least one person a week you feel comfortable with and want to start helping them with their business. Focus on them and I assure you that the business you want will naturally happen without any worries.

I heard this in a movie once and it has never left me "Always be Kennecting! ALWAYS be Kennecting!! ALWAYS BE KENNECTING!!!"