Networking!

Great seeing everyone who made it out to the PUG last night! We had an awesome discussion on networking! What a great way to start off the new year, and with WPPI right around the corner!

For everyone else…

Here’s some helpful networking tips:

• Make helping others your main focus
• Become a great listener
  • Learn more about others than you tell about you.
• Remember names
  • Have a bad memory? Of course it’s a given that it’s good to make an effort to get better with this, since remembering a peoples names is a huge part of building friendships. But a quick solution that really helps for conventions or situations where you’ll meet a lot of people at one time is to make a short note about each person you meet - on the back of their card, in a little notebook, or your iPhone. This way, when you’re looking through that huge stack of cards to follow up on later, you’ll be able to remember who’s card is who’s. Which brings us to…
    
• Business cards:
  • It’s usually better to collect business cards than giving out your own.
  • Instead of immediately putting someones business card in your pocket - take a good look at it, make a positive comment, and find a way to connect it to the person so that you can remember them better later.
• Follow up!
  • Whether it be a quick email, phone call, some blog lovin’, a thank you card, or small gift - following up is one of the most important parts of networking.

Some great ways to network with clients, vendors and other photographers:

• Visit your local PUG or other photographer meetup groups
• Online: Blogs, forums (such as the pictage forums or opensourcephoto.com), facebook, twitter, etc.
• Go out for coffee, lunch, or drinks
• Thank you or ‘Just because’ Gifts and cards
  • Sending a little gift is one of the best ways of showing someone you are thinking of them - and it keeps you fresh in their mind.
    For example, I know I love getting little packages in the mail! Getting something besides junk mail and bills can really brighten a persons day. That simple. So I challenge you to think of those little things that make you happy, then try passing some of that joy onto others. =)
• Get out there!
  • Participate in tradeshows, bridal shows, workshops, seminars, whatever! Just get out there - meet people and build relationships however you can. Not only does it help you grow, but it’s also tons of fun and will help keep you inspired!