Tag: networking

I network a lot. I’ve even given three presentations on how to network. I always recommend that meeting people in-person will bring you more success than meeting online. Of course, I supplement my networking through social media tools like LinkedIn and Twitter, but nothing beats face-to-face interaction.

That’s because it’s easier to develop the rapport or relationship you need to do business with someone, provide a referral or offer job leads. I can’t imagine doing any of these things without having met someone, just like you wouldn’t marry someone without first going on some live dates.

Put another way, every consultant or business offers essentially the same level of service (don’t kid yourself). When you’re at a networking event, you’re not selling your services; you’re selling “you.” That’s how people decide on which accountant, lawyer, financial planner and yes, PR consultant, to hire.

This week, I was talking to someone at a networking event, when another person butted in and joined our conversation. A general rule of networking is that you leave two people alone, and that faux pas should have warned me about how rude this person was. After I nicely introduced myself to him, he mentioned his company already has a relationship with another agency, and that he wouldn’t be a good candidate for my business. WOW.

I’m about building relationships at networking events, not doing hard sales. I don’t see many other agency people at events, and the few that are there follow the same rules I do. Thus, I don’t know what would make this guy say that, other than he was just an asshole. Here’s to hoping karma comes back to haunt him.