20 Things to Remember When You Network

1. Smile. Your smile is your billboard advertisement. People see it from afar. It says, you're friendly, happy to be here and excited about life. It will draw them closer to "read you more."

2. Offer a firm handshake. Personal touch is powerful and it says a lot about you. A weak handshake can be interpreted as lack of passion for life while a heavy one can literally hurt someone.

3. Introduce yourself first. Many people are intimidated in a public setting. Make them feel at ease by first telling them your name, nature of your business and handing them your card asking for theirs in return. Look at his/her card and repeat his/her name (it's the sweetest name in his/her ear).

Why Business Networking Groups Fail To Attract New Members

As a business owner I'm always on the lookout for new ways to promote my business and get my name out there. I'm a passionate believer in business networking because my fundamental belief is that business is won in most cases by word of mouth recommendation or referral. OK, I'll stretch it a little because word of mouth also means by keystroke too as more and more of us take to the social networking airwaves.

Through a business contact I had the opportunity to take up a guest slot at a business networking group, a new one that competed with my regular business networking Blackburn chapter but hey, one doesn't have to always remain with one group and I think it's important to reach out continuously and meet new people.

First impressions count and when I walked through the door into the meeting I was greeted by... nobody! Great start. Being familiar with business networking I decided to jump in with both feet and I'm glad I did otherwise I think that I would have stood around drinking coffee ad nauseam.