Networking - The Joys of Schmoozing

The benefits of living in a larger city like Seattle is that there are a ton of events, clubs, societies, organizations, non-profits that you can be a part of to help get your brand (and yourself) out there to potential clients. It's more than just "showing up" to the event, handing out and receiving business cards, and doing basic follow-ups. If done correctly, this could be extremely beneficial for your business and yourself.

Here are some tips to help create a plan for your 2013 networking:

1. Do a full search of clubs, organizations, etc in your community: your local chamber is a great start, but there may be specific clubs that hit key aspects of your business that you weren't aware existed. Also thinking outside the box like going to a Young Entrepreneur Meeting or finding a charity to join. The website, meetup.com, has also been creating clubs that may be worth exploring (depending on your area).

2. Be prepared to spend money: Networking is not particularly cheap. If you're hitting a lunch and learn, an evening networking event and then happen to hit a social event, you could be spending anywhere from $15 - $100 per event. Once you've found the organizations you want to be a part of, look at their events calendar and see which is most beneficial to your networking needs. Also consider becoming a member - there are a lot of benefits that come from joining including space on their website and email blasts, special sponsorship opportunities, and special events.

3. Be prepared to spend time: If not planned out properly, you could be spending a lot of your evenings at networking events. Some last an hour and a half over lunch, others are 4 hour event galas - it's good to know what you're planning for yourself and promising others to be a part of.

4. Don't make rookie mistakes: It would seem a no-brainer, but you walk in and are surrounded by strangers. It's open bar with great appetizers and feels extremely social.Don't forget you're there to meet people for professional reasons! Make sure you have your business cards with you. Have a brief, more casual, elevator pitch to discuss what you do - and don't be afraid to mingle! Also, don't be too tempted by the bar! Knowing that some events are more social (Thirsty Thursday) and some have more corporate tones (Business After Hours) is great before walking through the door.

Above all else, if you find you've gone to an event once or twice and you're not gaining anything from it, move on! Finding the right networking opportunities to help grow your connections is what you're aiming for. Networking can create leads, so make sure to follow-up with people you meet.

Happy Schmoozing!