Archive for the ‘Networking Etiquette’ Category
A Networking “Hit & Run”
While driving, being a victim of a ‘Hit & Run’ would not be a good thing. It’s not a good thing in networking either.
What’s a Networking ‘Hit & Run’?
You can always spot them entering any networking event. The ‘Hit & Run’ networker is well armed with all their marketing materials: business cards, brochures, sometimes even contracts! Their hands are full. They scan the room looking for their first victim – YOU! They hit you with their pitch and materials then run before they have to engage in your side of the conversation.
I recently attended a networking event in Knoxville where a young woman offered me the perfect example of a ‘Hit & Run’. She arrived approximately 15 minutes before the event ended. She quickly scanned the room and spotted me. She very assertively walked up and asked me; ‘Have you ever heard of [the company she works for]? I answered ‘yes’. Her response: hand me several marketing materials, her card and to start into her pitch about their newest and greatest promotion. I really don’t think she cared whether I had heard of her company or not. When she was done with her pitch, she quickly ‘dismissed’ me and went on to her next victim, leaving me standing there.
I’ve not seen her at a networking event since then. She’ll be one of those people that say “networking doesn’t work”.
Good networkers always ask you what you do. Great networkers ask you what you do first! Networking is meant to create mutually beneficial relationships for business – NOT to sell.
Avoid being a ‘Hit & Run’ Networker
Put others first! Ask about them; have a real and genuine interest in whom you’re talking with and how to connect them with those that could be helpful to them (professionally or personally). The more you help others, the more they’ll want to help you in return. The benefit to you: you become the go-to networker.
To Bring Or Not To Bring
Always bring business cards and pen. Be willing to share your business card but don’t ‘give’ it to anyone and everyone. DO NOT bring marketing materials, brochures, contracts, etc.
If You Network Well, You Never Need to Sell ™
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Name tags – Follow the Money!
Where Do You Wear A Name Badge? Proper Placement Equals Profit
On The Right Side Of The Body – Wrong!
This common belief stems from a study that “someone” did. However, no one seems to know who conducted the study or where it was done. Supposedly, this study concluded that while shaking a person’s hand, people’s eyes follow the line of sight along the arms and thus the name badge should be placed at the end of that line of sight – the upper right chest (just below the shoulder). But that just doesn’t make sense to me…
Follow the Money!
The truth can often be flushed out when you “follow the money.” So, let’s start by asking three questions:
1) When spending money to purchase logo wear (specifically shirts or jackets), does the promotional products company automatically place the logo on the LEFT side?
Answer: Yes! Promotional Products companies automatically print any logo on the upper LEFT side of a shirt or jacket (as people look at you it would be the upper right quadrant of your body) unless you request otherwise. Is it hard to find anyone’s logo? Not at all – logos are all in the same place.
We’ve been conditioned over many years by the promotional products industry (and even clothing companies) to look for logos in the same place – the LEFT side of the shirt (the right as we look at someone wearing it). See the GREEN nametag to the right…
2) Do you want your name associated with your logo or company name?
Answer: Yes! Of course you want your name associated with your logo! Make it easy for people to associate the two. Don’t make them read your name and company in two different locations. If your name badge is on the opposing side from your logo – you are mentally and physically disassociating yourself from your company! When you place your name badge just above or below your company logo – you link the two in sight and mind.
What if you don’t wear a logo? Well, when people are looking for your logo – viola – your name badge is exactly where they expect to find the logo. So why wait until you shake someone’s hand? Put your name badge exactly where they expect to find it – BEFORE they shake your hand!
3) When advertising, will you pay a premium for the top RIGHT corner of the page?
Answer: yes, you sure will. Savvy advertisers pay a premium to be located at the top RIGHT corner of the page. Why? Because study after study have found that people’s eyes are drawn to the top RIGHT corner of every page first – yes, before looking at anything else! And that holds true whether it is a magazine page, a web page, a computer screen or your body.
So, imagine the body in a similar fashion to an advertising page. Put the most important information where people will instinctively look – in the top RIGHT corner as they look at you (LEFT on your body).
Wear Your Name Badge on the LEFT Side of Your Body
Wear your name badge in the money spot – the top LEFT corner of your body (where you put your hand during the pledge of allegiance) and just above or below your logo so that when people approach you your name badge is seen in the RIGHT hand side of your chest.
Lanyards
Steer away from dangling nametags that hang on a lanyard. Unless the name is typed in VERY large letters it will draw people’s eyes down to your stomach (or your cleavage) and away from your face.
Rule: Follow the Money – When it comes to nametags or name badges – LEFT is right!
Raeus Jae Cannon is the Founder and CEO of REO, LLC; a relationship based referral exchange organization that creates networks for all professionals to be well connected and prosperous. She has been training professionals to network effectively since 2004 and is available to speak or train at corporations or associations. For information about REO, LLC click www.reomeetings.com. Contact Raeus at ceo@reomeetings.com
© Copyright since 2006 Raeus Jae Cannon
This article may be reprinted electronically in its entirety; however, it must include the entire author byline with an active link back to www.reomeetings.com. Send a courtesy copy to ceo@reomeetings.com. You may not print this article in a paid-for arena or for any commercial use.
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