Checklist for your next networking event

__ Business cards in pocket

__ Breath mints

__ Scan newspaper or news websites for late breaking news you can discuss

–– Do you want to meet a specific person? Who do you know who will be at the event and can help you meet that person?

__ Who do you already know who will be there? Can you:

• introduce them to contacts useful to them?

• use the contact for further introductions?

Know your "elevator speech"

__ What will you say after the elevator speech?

__ Does it sound natural, or like a script? Practise this with a colleague or friend

Action steps to take after the event

__ Map your current network backwards. Who introduced you to current clients and other valuable contacts? Are some thanks in order?

__ Which of your network contacts might be useful to one another? Could you connect them?

__ Schedule time each week to nurture your network—do it now!

__ Buy and read "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty" by Harvey Mackay

Always do your follow-up

__ Immediately acknowledge all new contacts

__ Enter new prospects into your pipeline and know how you will follow up

Monitor your results

__ Who did you meet?

__ How did you follow up?

__ What were the results over the short and long term?

If you'd like to print this checklist for future use, click here to download the pdf version.