Want to Start a Business? What Are You Waiting For?

Business Start-Up Connections: 3 Tips To Improving In-Person Networking Skills

by Bruce Lawson

Following the American dream of owning a small business is desirable to approximately 65% of American adults under the age of 30. If you've always dreamed of having the freedom to work for yourself and not for a boss, it's vital that you learn the intricacies involved with operating a business. You can't accomplish everything alone, and you'll need to learn how to build quality business relationships. Fortunately, there are many business partner network services out there that can connect you with like-minded people. However, the rest is up to you. To build beneficial quality business relationships, you'll need to work on your own in-person networking skills. Here are 3 tips that will help you get started.

Be Familiar with Your Elevator Pitch

In order for others to be confident in your business, you must first exude confidence yourself. This means that you need to know what you're talking about and be able to make an unforgettable and strong first impression. The easiest way of accomplishing this is to be familiar with your elevator pitch. This is basically a short introduction of not only who you are, but what your business does and some quality features of your business. Practice your elevator pitch often, so that you have it down to a science.

You don't want to memorize your elevator pitch word for word, as it can throw you off. It can also make the conversation appear more practiced and less natural, as your elevator pitch might disrupt the flow of the conversation. As a result, it's usually a good idea to only focus on the key highlights and phrases that are important to your business.

Make Note of Little Details About the People You Meet

People tend to like others who seem caring, considerate, and kind. When building in-person business relationships, you also want to build a friendship with the people that you meet. This can really help take your business to new heights and can help you make a better impression in the business community. If you're probably going to come into contact with an individual multiple times or if you plan on building a business relationship with a certain someone, make sure you remember them and the little details of your conversation. Try to remember a detail about each person that you meet. If you have difficulties remembering the little things, consider jotting down quick notes on your phone after the meeting. You can go back to these notes at a later time.

For example, if one of your business connections brings up the fact that they have kids, you might want to take note of that. This way, you can ask them about their kids the next time that you see them.

Be Yourself and Let Your Own Personality Shine Through

Most importantly of all, it's vital that you be yourself, let your guard down, and let your own personality shine through. Don't try to put on a fake persona or try to change up your personality. Not only will this make you appear fake and more difficult to approach, but it will also be blatantly obvious and people will notice. Instead, don't be afraid to let your own personality shine through. Others will take note of that and feel that you're an easier person to approach.

Personality is definitely important when networking, and you want other people to remember you for being sincere. Don't be shy to introduce yourself. Be open to meeting other people. Even if they don't seem like a good fit for your business at the moment, it doesn't mean that an interesting business opportunity won't arise in the future.

Conclusion

Networking is important in the business world. Knowing the right people can really help your business grow and expand. After all, you never know which business opportunities might end up being the golden goose that your business needs to finally make it into the big leagues.

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