3 Hacks to Becoming an Expert Networker

I went to an outdoor real estate networking event last week, and I’ve realized how much I miss it; networking, that is. It’s the first one I’ve been to since early 2020. There were food trucks, an open bar, and lots of like-minded people.

I seriously look forward to meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, building rapport, and getting involved with different communities. Remember that ol’ saying: “It’s not who you know, but rather, who knows you.” That’s what this article is about.

It’s all about perspectives – how will the other person feel while interacting with me? And what makes me more memorable to the people I meet? There are a few key networking hacks that have been absolute game-changers, which have really helped me with my objectives over the years.

Work Your Own Name into the Conversation

How many times have you heard the sentence “oh my god, I’m so bad with names”? I’m honestly tired of hearing that phrase – we’re all bad names is the conclusion I’ve come to.

When you’re networking, sometimes you might meet someone, they tell you their name, and you forget two minutes later. Or perhaps you’ve seen them over and over again for years, but it’s kind of too late to ask them their name, as you may feel embarrassed. It’s natural, you don’t see each other very often, but you recognize each other and know you’ve met before.

No problem, here’s what you do.

I always try to think of the other person’s perspective. When you’re in conversation, work your own name into a story to alleviate the stress of someone not remembering your name. For example, if we’re on the topic of social media marketing, I’ll say something like “so I always get asked, Johnny, I’m not having any success marketing on social media, where do I start?”, and then proceed to tell the rest of the story.

They’ll think “Ahh ‘Johnny’, that’s right”. At the end of the conversation, they can comfortably say “it was nice catching up with you, Johnny” to make it all personal.

 
If someone is busy trying to remember your name, it’s distracting, and this method totally mitigates that risk. As an added benefit, you’re more memorable in the most subtle way possible. Now no one forgets my name anymore when I go to conferences.

PS – this works at social parties too. 😉

Bring as Much Value as Possible

Approaching a conversation with the intention of providing value has truly worked wonders in the networking game. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and help in any way that I can.

Listening to a person’s problem in their business, and then offering advice and solutions that would help (without holding back any ideas) shows that you are a valuable and trusted resource for information.

Even if your advice feels like you’re giving away your core business practices, it’s worth it in the long run.

 
I’ve helped many potential clients with digital marketing strategies, tips and tricks, and you know what, they’ve always asked me for my business card. I’ve never had to push my business card onto anyone, and I attribute it to being someone they can trust to have their best interests at heart.

A Genuine and Caring Attitude Goes a Long Way

Be thoughtful with your questions and only ask if you are actually interested. This is not to be used as a “move”, but rather caring about your fellow human.

I’ve found that since my university days where I first had experience with networking at business conferences, I’ve managed to meet thousands of interesting people. Seeing someone’s face light up as they get to express what they’ve been up to with their business or their passion is truly satisfying.

Furthermore, ask insightful follow-up questions. It shows that you’re listening closely.

 
Likewise, let’s be fair, I also love it when someone asks me a genuine question about my business, or marketing, or music. I can’t wait to talk about it. And I can see that same feeling shows when I express care for something a person worked hard on.

Leave a comment below and let me know if you have any networking hacks to add. Would love to hear your ideas to make networking even more enjoyable. Thanks for taking the time to read and remember to subscribe below for my newsletter about investing, marketing, and business productivity.

Additionally, share this with someone you know if you think this would benefit them. Happy networking!