By: Jim Zaspel

If you’re reading this blog, then either you already attend networking events…OR…you want to attend networking events but haven’t because you’re not sure just how to network…effectively.

These 5 simple Steps will Help ANYONE get the most out of networking!

1) Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone! Let’s face it…we all have some reservations when it comes to going up to complete strangers and saying, “Hi, my name is ____…what do you do?” It’s perfectly normal to feel this way! However…just realize that almost everyone else at the networking meeting ALSO feels the same way! So…just know that they will GREATLY appreciate it when you take the initiative by introducing yourself and starting the conversation 🙂

2) Know Your Objective. Why are you going to the meeting? Are you looking for buyers, sellers, private / hard money lenders, contractors, attorneys, or something else? Knowing what you need and what kind of person who can help you with that will help you feel more confident in guiding the conversation with the new friends that you make at the networking event!

3) Know What You Can Offer Others. A huge part of networking is giving. When you give of yourself continually, it will certainly come back to you; there is no stopping it. Do you have funding for the right project or business? Do you have expertise in a certain topic within your industry? Do you have a bargain deal to pass along to someone else? Remember everyone’s favorite radio station, WIIFM, What’s In It For Me? That’s what is at the TOP of everyone’s “radar” at these meetings, so always be ready to offer any help, guidance, advice, or resources that you can. Keep in mind that some of the best of what you have to offer may NOT be something you can offer for free!

4) Follow-Up, Don’t Sell. Your purpose in networking is to create as many relationships as you can so that you can follow-up with the ones that you are likely to do business with. And yes, I just ended a sentence with a prepositionJ So, if you’re not having 10-minute sales presentations with people at the meeting, what are you to do? Whether it’s with a CRM system or just making live calls to your new prospects, be sure to follow-up with your new prospects the following day or at the latest two days after the event. ***Be warned: This is where most people completely drop the ball. Don’t be like most people!

5) Collect A Business Card from EVERYONE! This is part of what’s entailed in going outside of your comfort zone, but for crying out loud! Everyone at the event is there to MEET people, so by all means do NOT be bashful about going up to a complete stranger, swapping business cards, and letting each other spend 30 – 60 seconds share what you have to offer. Once you collect a card, make quick notes on the back so that you can follow-up with that person in a more meaningful way.

Give it a shot! Make it a point to hit up a networking event this week, and be sure to implement all five of these steps. You’ll like the result. Attend at least one networking event every week, and you’ll LOVE the results!

Here’s the BEST and BIGGEST real estate networking event in Philly: http://greaterphiladelphiareia.com/ 

If you liked this blog, please share it around! 🙂

To YOUR success,
Jim “JimmyZ” Zaspel

P.S. – Did you see this video training that I just recorded on 29 Ways to Find Motivated Sellers? Here’s the link: http://jimzaspel.com/29-ways-to-find-motivated-seller/