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.