Ok Let's see a show of hands for those of you who participate in some form of networking for your profession....
I'm betting most of you do. What local organization doesn't have a Realtor in the group? And that's wise... it's a great way to get your name out there. And in Networking Groups the common goal is for members to help fellow members out with referrals.
Over the years I've had some great advice about networking. I even wrote one of my earlier posts about how many cards you give out at a networking event. I learned from someone at my Chamber of Commerce meeting that it's better to walk away with 5 or 6 cards of people with whom you've spoken and gotten to know, than collect bunches of cards of people you haven't spent any time with.
In fact a Realtor I was introduced to a few years ago at one of these Business Card Exchanges (I think they need a better name) has been one of my best contacts. There must have been 200 members there but I think I handed out maybe half a dozen cards. It may not sound productive to some but I've had a steady source of referrals from this Realtor.
Another piece of advice I was given after I'd joined a group was to get involved... don't just show up. Have you noticed that in many groups there's always a small handful of members that keep the group going?
Rebecca Gaujot is a good example of this. If you follow her blog at all you know that she is very active in her community. She's been out helping build houses for Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity. She isn't just a name on a Member Roll.
Toni Weidman is active in her Rotary Club and shares their activities with us. I bet she doesn't have to hand out many cards because her community knows her from her work with this organization.
So if you're out there networking either by joining your professional organizations, your local Chamber of Commerce and their internal leads groups, other leads groups, BNI, or your community groups remember to do more than just show up and hand out cards.
Let them get to know who you are by getting to know them!
