Top 10 Biggest Networking Mistakes

1. Spending too much time with one person

Your goal at every networking event is to spend about 5 minutes with each person.  It is not to get “engaged.”  Ask questions and, presuming you see a fit, politely ask for their card and ask for permission to stay in touch.  Remember, this is not the time to make a sales presentation or to tell your life story.  It is the time to spend a few minutes of quality time with someone new and then move on to meet a new prospect.

2. Crashing a conversation

When there’s already a group of two people involved in a conversation, this is not the time to crash the party.  Look for groups of three or more and find the person who seems the most animated.  Catch their eye and if it looks like a place where you can fit in, try to join the conversation.  You can politely listen and then join in if you are have experience or interest in the subject being discussed.

3. Dressing like you are looking for a date

First impressions are ever-lasting.  Make sure that what you wear says you are there for professional reasons.  Women who wear short skirts or low cut tops may be sending a message they may not want to send.  Men who wear open shirts or appear very casual may be presenting an unprofessional first impression.  Keep in mind that people are judged in the first 7 to 10 seconds, so make your first impression count.

4. Giving a long elevator pitch of what you do

When someone asks you the question, what do you do, be prepared with a short 30 second upbeat, easy to repeat elevator pitch.  Tell the person about your talent, not your title.  Create curiosity and don’t give a made for television miniseries about what you do.  Ask questions of the person you are talking to and do more listening than talking.  As an old mentor said “If you are telling, you ain’t selling.”  The primary goal of the networking event is to make a friend, not make a sale.

5. Spending time with the people you already know

6. Doing all the talking, and not much listening

God gave us one mouth and two ears for a reason … to listen twice as much as we talk.  So ask open-ended questions and the person you’re speaking with will think you are the most interesting person they’ve met.  Most people love to talk about themselves.  Becoming a great listener will make you a great qualifier.  So do more listening than talking and you’ll quickly determine whether the person you are talking with is a fit.

7. Falling down on the follow-up

How many times have you gone to a networking event, come home with a pocketful of cards and done absolutely nothing with them?  Take action and follow-up with a hand written note, an engaging greeting card, a personal email or a phone call.  Put the cards of the people you have met in your database and once you have determined where they fit in your networking system, take follow-up steps to stay in touch with them.  Networking is like advertising, you need both reach and frequency.  You’re follow-up protocols should be consistent.

8. Not having a plan

If you don’t have a plan prior to attending a networking event, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be rewarded.  Know who you want to meet, have an elevator pitch that’s catchy, a follow-up system, and be up to date on current events.  Make sure you have a professional name badge worn on the right hand side, a pen, business cards and a calendar.

9. Not acting like a matchmaker

Too often, people go to events and fail to introduce people to each other.  This is one of the easiest ways to position yourself as a resource, and meet new people as a result of it.  Once you have met someone new and find another person that would be a good connection, play matchmaker and make the introduction for them.  Reciprocity is fundamental to successful networking.  So do it for them and they’ll be more likely to do it for you.

10. Not asking the right questions

When you meet someone at an event, you only have a few minutes to make an impression.  Asking someone about the weather, or if they have ever been there before is not going to do the trick.  Find areas of commonality, or ask what the person does.  Be curious and ask what got them into that line of work?  What do they like most about what they do and what do they think is their greatest challenge?  Who knows, maybe you’re the solution.

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