Comments on: Top 10 Tips to Totally Suck at Networking Events

By: Ron Amundson

Ron Amundson — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 06:50:14 +0000

This blog entry perhaps best illustrates my previous comment on age, tech, and life experience. A 15 year old may have the tech tools mastered, but alas, the lack of life experience aspect can well lead to many of the errors mentioned above. Sure wish I had known these as a youngster… had to slam my head into the wall a few times to learn them the hard way back then.

By: Irene Koehler

Irene Koehler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:29:32 +0000

@Chandlee – So glad you found enough value in the post to pass it on to others. I also lead speed networking events and send specific tips to participants ahead of time. I plan to blog about it later, but am happy to share with you directly.

Irene

By: Chandlee Bryan

Chandlee Bryan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:15:28 +0000

Irene,

What a clever way to discuss best practices for networking. I especially like your tip for checking out lists of “who’ll be there” in advance. I am doing a workshop for a University alumni group which will include a group session on speed networking later this month and am going to forward your post to the organizers.

Best,
Chandlee

By: Irene Koehler

Irene Koehler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:20:31 +0000

@Leta – Great point about attraction marketing. What a concept!

@Clara – We’re all human. Like everyone else, we occasionally have other things on our minds allowing us to be distracted. When we keep a mutually beneficial goal in mind, we’re more likely to be forgiven for our weaknesses.

@Matt – I LOVE your comment! Thanks for sharing it on twitter!

@Leslie – Good point. Networking without respect is a strictly short-term strategy.

By: Leslie Sheridan

Leslie Sheridan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:56:12 +0000

Excellent article Irene! I continue to let folks know about the fact that “permission marketing” has been the gold standard for marketing communications for some time now. Not only is it about integrity, but also respect.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:25:33 +0000

Networking has recently become the foundation of my career and I LOVE this blog post. It’s easy to find countless lists of what we should be doing, but Irene provides a unqique and sarcastic approach to the pitfalls often found at networking events. As the owner of a Business Networking Association, I often want to call a “time-out” when someone fits into one of the aformentioned categories; however I refrain and hold the “nails to the chalkboard cringe within”

Great Post!

By: Vexed and trying to blog regularly « The Millennium Marketer

Vexed and trying to blog regularly « The Millennium Marketer — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:17:00 +0000

[...] you’re not too familiar with networking, Irene Koehler’s blogpost, “Top 10 Tips to Totally Suck at Networking Events” will make that entry into networking bliss a lot less painful. The main idea is that [...]

By: Clara

Clara — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:24:21 +0000

Irene, this is well said. I think all of these pitfalls I’ve experienced or have committed a few myself, so this is really helpful for anyone who is thinking of diving in to the sometimes scary world of networking. Scanning…now that is my pet peeve but sometimes there are distractions, so I guess in that case, you would just have to say sorry and express genuine interest to re-establish the conversation.

By: Leta Russell

Leta Russell — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:14:58 +0000

Great reminders to what is important in networking. Attraction marketing is always about relationship first.

Focusing on a few key contacts that can be mutually beneficial and then setting up future “face time” rather than just calling or emailing will really help solidify relationships.

# 6 is right on the money. Attentive listening will make you stand out in the crowd.

Thanks for the tips!

By: Irene Koehler

Irene Koehler — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:02:49 +0000

Napoleon- You’re so right. Why do all the hard work up front and then let your efforts go to waste by not following up?

Valerie – Yup, I’ve seen them all, too. You’re addition is also worthy of being added to the list. Networking is not a ‘me-first’ activity.

Thanks for the comments!

Irene