“ Speed networking “ is a contradiction in terms.

The whole point of networking is to build relationships over time so that people get to know and trust you.

The point of speed networking is to see how many people you can talk to in shortest possible time. The format may vary but basic approach is same, you get 30 or 60 seconds to speak to someone, then you move on and talk to someone else.

You don’t have time to ask questions or have a conversation, you just say your piece. Not very good for building rapport!

So should you just avoid these events? No! But I’ve found there’s a certain way to approach them which will be most productive.

Here are my tips to survive – and thrive – in world of speed Networking.

1.HAVE ONE SPECIFIC GOAL

My own goal at these events is to get people to sign up for free report which gets them onto my mailing list so I can build relationship later through my newsletter. Yours might be to get them to visit your website or ring a Freephone number.

Once you know action you want them to take, follow these steps.

2.TELL THEM WHO YOU WORK WITH AND HOW YOU HELP THEM

Have a short, simple statement that says, “ This is who I work with and this is what I do for them .“ Focus on client, not on yourself. For example, “ I work with business owners who want to get better results from their networking. I help them to prepare and deliver a compelling marketing message so they get more clients with less effort. “

3.ASK THEM TO TAKE THE ACTION YOU WANT

Most people miss this, they end up saying “ Well, that’s me, if you’re interested please give me a ring. “

You have to tell them what you want them to do.

Everybody had a PowerPoint presentation. Those who didn’t use this type of presentation material really felt pressure to conform. Plus it wasn’t difficult to see how bored their audiences were becoming with nothing visual to hold their attention.

When technology bubble burst a few years back, and after-effects of 911 dealt a serious blow to economy, business travel budgets became practically non-existent. At same time, globalization was becoming new buzzword. To stay in business and be better able to conduct business globally, more and more companies developed websites. Other advances in technology helped reign in and at same time expand global marketplace.

Today, slide show presentations still are valuable sales and marketing tools used by all types of large, small and even home-based businesses. They’re also a favorite of anyone giving a seminar.

In an effort to keep up with today’s fast pace of business and its global nature, many marketing departments are realizing benefits of emailing their slide show presentations. That’s right. Presentations that used to be viewed primarily in a room full of marginally-interested decision makers can now be directly posted on a website or delivered via email instantaneously to right person. Viewing PowerPoint presentations sent via email is as easy as reading your email. But it’s even better because you get sound and animation, too.