Are You Present?

I arrived at a networking meeting this week and starting talking to a client I haven’t done business with in awhile.  It was great to catch up and see if I could help them now.  While we were talking, four people interrupted to ask if I would see them before I left.  My client was impressed and asked how I do that.  It was his first time to that meeting in over two years.  I explained that I attend this particular meeting every month.  People can count on me being there so they will often make themselves a note to connect.  I schedule an extra hour in my calendar for the meeting because I know I will be staying after and getting there early.  I am always present at this meeting.

It seems funny that a little thing like showing up can make such a difference but it does. If you asked those people who wanted to talk to me if they remembered me when I wasn’t around they would tell you “absolutely”.  But that’s not the point.  They associate me with the event.  They are going to XYZ Meeting and my face pops into their heads.  With that comes reasons to talk with me.  And wah-la! New business.  Other people walk in the room and find me there “just like always” so there is a familiar face. They don’t have to talk to someone they don’t know and they can be confident I will introduce them to whoever is around.  Again, we get to reconnect and generally can make new business happens.  All because I was there.

The other thing that happened was several people asked me about the presence of another person.  That person wasn’t at the meeting and clearly people were disappointed.  Two of them said they would follow up later but the other two, even after being offered his contact information, chose not to take it.  A missed opportunity?  Seems likely.  I did send a note to the individual and let him know these four were interested in speaking with him, but when he calls he now has to overcome why he wasn’t there first.

I highly recommend (if networking is part of your marketing plan) to choose a group or groups that fit your target audience and  commit to attending those meetings regularly.  You really need 5-6 times before you will become known and to evaluate if there is business to be gained from the group.  Give yourself the opportunity to succeed and don’t make up your mind after one meeting.  Being present makes all the difference when it comes to networking!