Biggest Networking Mistake Business Owners and Salespeople Make

What do you do when you meet someone in a potential networking situation? If you’re like most business owners and salespeople, you probably tell the other person everything you can about yourself so they’ll be interested in and perhaps, hire you.

You see this behavior often at trade shows. A prospect comes to your booth and you immediately tell them all about your company and products. The prospect hangs around politely for a while, takes some obligatory literature and off they go. With a little luck you may have separated them from one of their business cards.

4Profit MarketingSM Immutable Law of Networking:

I have two minutes or less to find out everything I can about you; I have the rest of my life to tell you about me!

If, during that short time I have in a networking situation, I don’t learn as much about you as I can, I’ll never be in a position to sell you anything. The people you meet won’t have the benefit of the 4ProfitMarketing SM Immutable Law of Networking and will use their 2 minutes to talk instead of listen. LET THEM!

Without learning about a problem they may have or an opportunity they might benefit from, you can’t sell anything!

Better yet, ask as many questions as you can and remember the answers. As soon as the other person is out of sight, write down everything you learned – preferably on the back of their business card. Use the information you learned during your follow-up. This is your opportunity to solve their problems, offer suggestions, present opportunities, etc. If your follow-up has these benefits, your prospect is much more likely to listen, be interested, and yes, even hire you.

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