How to Make a Lasting Impression

If you regularly attend business after hours cocktail parties, work-related social functions, and other in-person events, and other networking events, you probably meet a lot of new people all the time.

But how many of them remember you? More importantly, how many become lasting, valuable business contacts? For most business professionals, the answer is probably very few.

 Prioritizing People

Participating in networking events is often social and can be fun. But it’s important to remember that the real reason you are there is all business.

Make the most out of your networking opportunities by focusing on those people who truly can help your business. These include potential clients, people who can make referrals to your business, those with mutual interests, and even direct competitors.

While it’s nice to be social, it’s important that you not waste your networking time on people who can’t directly or indirectly help your business. You can always socialize on your own time. At networking events, your business needs to be your top priority.

 Introducing Yourself

Most people you meet at networking events don’t know who you are, aren’t aware of your accomplishments, and frankly aren’t sure if they should waste time talking to you.

It’s your job to connect with the most high-value contacts in the room and introduce yourself in a way that will be memorable. You need to prove your value to the other person while assessing their value to your business.

It’s a good idea to put together a 40-second “elevator speech” that succinctly but accurately describes who you are and what you do. That doesn’t leave enough time to go into detail about your education, job experience, or even your products or company.

Instead, you need to boil it down to the absolute essentials: Who you are and why you could be valuable to them. Once you get their attention, there’s plenty of time to go into more detail later.