How to Network Effectively at the Lake of the Ozarks
If you’re looking for ways to enhance your business at the Lake of the Ozarks, there are few ways that can do so as well as networking within your community. But, it’s more than simply attending the socials and events, you need to know how they operate and how you can capitalize on your time spent there to get the best results. In this week’s blog, the Lake West Chamber of Commerce is going to give you a few pointers to help you make the most of your time networking at the Lake of the Ozarks. Continue reading to learn more!
“The Early Bird Gets the Worm”
While most networking events have a set time and while it can be tempting to arrive slightly after the event has started, we wouldn’t recommend it. The reason being, doing so can increase the barriers of entry to a conversation – making it more difficult for you to meet new people and have meaningful conversations. However, if you arrive before the event has begun, you’ll be able to meet more people as they enter and strike up a conversation before they are deep in another conversation. You’ll also be able to meet some of the hosts of the event, which can open even more avenues for conversation and could lead to new introductions being made as these hosts know people as well.
Give them Something to Remember you By
An appealing business card will do wonders in helping people you meet remember you after the event. While you’re making tons of introductions and meeting people, so are they. It may be difficult to recall all the people you meet and what they do solely based on memory. But when you have their business card (and they have yours) you can easily reference who they are, information about their business, as well as having their contact information handy. So, if you or anyone you know enters the market for said product or service you have a referral readily available – and that goes both ways. We’ll touch more on that a bit later in the blog.
Become a Customer/Give Referrals
One of the main points of these socials is to meet people and engage with them in meaningful ways that are mutually beneficial. While you could simply introduce, handout business cards, and wait for referrals – this is not an effective way to go about networking. While in business at the Lake, you’ll likely find yourself and know somebody that is in the market for a product or service that one of your new connections can provide. Why not utilize them yourself or make the referral? This is a great way to show you’re a team player and make valuable friendships and enhance your connections with these people and the community. As such, they’ll likely be much more included to refer business to you as well when the opportunity presents itself.
What’s your Networking Plan?
One surefire way to stay focused while attending the various socials you’ll go to around the Lake is to go into each with a goal in mind. Something as simple as “have a meaningful conversation with 3 people,” or “give out and receive 10 business cards” could be an effective place to start. As you continue to grow and meet new people, adjust your goal to be more strategic. Something like, “talk to ____ business about their ideal clients, ideas for growth, future plans, etc”. Having a plan upfront will allow you to track the performance of your networking events so you can be strategic and adjust where needed to get the best results.
The Lake West Chamber of Commerce is here to help enhance the business environment at the Lake of the Ozarks, provide a valuable platform, and advocacy to help businesses succeed here at the Lake. We’ve been assisting businesses enhance their reach, engage within the community, and become more successful since 1987. If you’d like to boost your business further with invaluable resources, exclusive referrals, and community insights, consider a membership with the Lake West Chamber. We’re always here to assist our members with their business needs here at the Lake.
Building a stronger economy and a better business community since 1987!
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