Learn How to Make Your Business Stand Out While Building Business Leads

At most small business networking events, the attendees often meet a handful of people (sometimes dozens) and wind up coming up with a pocketful of business cards. Sometimes that even but often the next day it becomes practically impossible to remember all that faces and names and conversations. How easily would you be able to recall the people you meet when you have dozens of small conversations?

The last thing you need is a lot of time invested in small business networking that doesn’t pay off. When you’re trying to establish a solid foundation in new relationships you want to leave a lasting impression. How else can someone send you a referral or a business lead? They need to know who you are in great detail for that relationship to pay off. If you don’t try to brand yourself and stand out from the other business owners in your vertical then those business owners you meet simply won’t remember you. Here some tips on how to make yourself memorable in the eyes of those you meet:

Be Distinctive – While you don’t want business owners to necessarily remember you for the shoes you wear, your haircut, your cologne or the color of your tie, these are all excellent ways to create a memory trigger that will help others recall their interaction with you. Little abnormal or unique things that stand out have a way of cementing a memory. You don’t need to go overboard, just enough to avoid blending in.

Be Engaging – It’s pretty obvious when someone isn’t paying attention in a conversation, and if you’re just going through the motions is can be pretty insulting. They might make an effort to intentionally forget you. Avoid this attitude when you’re networking to generate business leads. Stay engaged by listening, responding when needed, maintaining eye contact and overall show that you’re giving them your undivided attention.

Carry the Conversation – While listening is extremely important amidst conversation and group discussions, it’s important to also give something back in the discussion. If you want to cement the foundation with these business leaders in order to foster strong relationships that bring in business leads then you need to do a lot more than just nod your head. Ask though-provoking questions that help carry the conversation. It proves you care, that you’re interested and that you’re actually listening to what they have to say.

Reinforce “You” with Keywords – Trying to get someone to remember who you are while using long descriptions will rarely produce results – that’s why there’s so much emphasis on a short elevator pitch for networking and selling a brand. Stick to key points like name, business, location, products, etc. It’s much easier to remember “Joe the Barber from Detroit” as opposed to a 5 minute description of who you are and what you do.

Contribute to the Group Conversation – Everything about you is important, and you want eyes on you but you can’t take the spotlight. Don’t hog the conversation, just join it. Think in terms of the power of words and choose what you say carefully. Saying one smart thing in front of the group will make you more memorable than 15 minutes of semi-conscious chatter. Create value for others and you create value for yourself.

Small business networking is about branding, and when you’re trying to promote your brand you should be selling more than just a logo or a product. You want to sell an experience, and a memorable one at the. If you focus on selling the experience, the odds of people remember everything about you and your business are far more likely. That creates a stronger foundation for building future relationships and a greater chance for receiving targeted business leads in the end.

Referral Vault provides businesses in the Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Metro area with access to targeted small business networking groups to finally build sustainable Business Leads. Discover how you can improve your brand reach and visibility with Small Business Networking today.