If you’re networking to grow your contacts and business like I am, you may find the experience to be fruitful (that’s how it is for me these days), fatiguing or even frustrating.

If you want to get better results from networking — and have it energize and inspire versus tire — I have ideas for you.

As an active networker for almost 25 years, I’ve picked up many to-dos and to-don’ts along the way. Networking was important to me in the mid-’90s (my first stint at being self-employed). When I moved to Corporate America, I kept networking — not for business-growth benefits, but to meet other marketers and communication professionals. I’ve been self-employed since January 2016, and 2019 is becoming the year of networking for me and my marketing business. And my efforts are paying off.

I’m still perfecting my networking skills, but my foundation’s strong. So, from me to you, here are four ideas I bet you haven’t tried — or you don’t do often enough. And, just for fun, I’ll award you networking brownie points for trying my tips, which are ordered from easiest to most difficult, IMHO.

Connect in Person, Then Again Online Right Away

This is a networking brownie point. You get one point for trying my tip.

Tip 1: When you first meet someone at a networking event, look them up on LinkedIn when you get back to your office. Send them a connection request and remember to personalize the invitation. And don’t wait to do it. Make this a same-day habit or you’ll forget the task … and maybe even the person’s name. (This has happened to me more than once.)

If you don’t know what to say on the personal message you write, keep it short and simple: It was great meeting you today! Would you like to connect on LinkedIn?

By taking this first step now vs. later, your new contact is sure to note your initiative, and they might even feel special. (“A LinkedIn request already? She must want to get to know me!”) Your swift action gets the new relationship off to a great start.

Show a Genuine Interest in People With Your Follow-up

These are two networking brownie points. Get both chunks when you try this tip.

Ever heard of the Baader-Meinhof phenomena, where you learn a new word or phrase one day — and then, within a short period of time, come across that new thing again? This can happen with new people, too.

Tip 2: Seize the Meinhof moment and stay aware of opportunities that inspire a meaningful follow-up with one of your contacts (both new and your longer-time connections).

Here’s an example: You meet a graphic designer at a city chamber luncheon. The next day you happen to see a story online about graphic design trends. (That’s the Baader-Meinhof effect.) Share the trends article with your new designer friend. You’re already connected on LinkedIn (right?) and can send it via DM. If you have the person’s email address or can find it on LinkedIn, share the news by email. (I use a variety of approaches to stay connected, as you’ll see in a moment.)

Your follow-up message could read: I saw this today and thought of you. Hope your week’s going well! Or you could choose to elicit a response related to what you’re sharing: Sometime, I’d love to know your thoughts on these trends. Are you running into any of them in the design work you do for clients?

Tip 2.5: You don’t have wait for a Baader-Meinhof thought to come to you. Proactively look for something to share with a contact. I like to search online for recent news or stories on a given topic using Google’s advanced search features. (Pick you keyword/phrase then go to Tools > Any time > Past week or Past month).

Go Above and Beyond for VIPs

This tip takes more time to implement, so you get three brownie points for your effort.

We all come into contact with VIPs — those promising power partners or prospects, where we want to super-charge the new relationship.

Tip 3: After you connect with a VIP at a networking event (and also on LinkedIn), make a calendar note to do a snail-mail follow-up in a few weeks. (Your gut will tell you the best timing for this.)

Send your new connection a postcard with a handwritten note. Have a stack of colorful, already-stamped cards on your desk to make this task easy peasy.

You’ll need to get the person’s mailing address, of course. If you can’t find it online or on the person’s website, just send them a note like this: I’d like to mail you something. Mind sharing your address with me?

People don’t expect to receive something in the mail from a business contact. The everything-old-is-new-again approach helps you stand out — so make a point of sending one card a month to maximize that benefit.

Networking Idea for Standing Out in a Crowd

At the next networking event you attend, I dare you to wear (or say) something bold that’s connected to your business. Four brownie points are waiting for you.

My last idea isn’t a follow-up tactic, but one designed for the next networking event you attend.

Tip 4: Wear something connected to your business or industry, like the I Love Marketing t-shirt I wear to some networking events.

The shirt gives me something to reference in my 30-second commercial, where I say my name and talk about my business. I rarely see anyone use this approach, but they should as it tends to inspire interactions after the meeting and more business card requests.

At another networking meeting, it wasn’t my clothing that stood out. It was how I broke away from the typical business card exchange.

Before the meeting, I bought Emergen-C packets at Target and created a prescription card that I printed and cut to size. I tied these giveaways together with a “marketing emergency” theme.

The interest it generated was worth my time, and I kept the receipt as a business expense to note in QuickBooks. (Tax savings FTW.) Now that I have the template, I’m using this in follow-up mailings to key prospects.

My initials are MD and every business experiences a marketing “emergen-c” from time to time, so I thought why not have some fun!

Get Your Networking Groove Back, If It’s Gone

Almost two years ago, my husband and I moved to the Phoenix area. After we were settled in for a month, our beloved dog Daisy died. Then a month later my mom got sick and passed away unexpectedly.

These life changes derailed my interest in doing much networking for the next year, even though I knew it was important for my business — especially since I’m new to Arizona. But I needed time to focus on the clients I already had, the new city I was living in (and enjoying) and grieving my losses.

In late 2018, I decided to explore Phoenix-area networking groups and found there were more great ones than I could possibly be involved in. I attended six and chose two to fully commit to. Additionally, I made networking on LinkedIn a higher priority and also set a goal of doing at least one coffee or lunch meet-up each month.

Use My Networking Ideas and Earn Brownie Points

Are you inspired by these networking ideas? I hope so. If you need more convincing, here’s my parting advice: When you work to nurture VIP business relationships, it makes it much easier to reach out later with an “ask” — a referral or advice you need or when it’s time to make a new-business pitch. You’ll feel more comfortable knowing you kept in touch with your contacts instead of hitting them cold. And, of course, they could be the one to do the first ask of you!

Writing this today, I feel re-inspired to score more networking brownie points! If you want to try this, too, let me know. I’m running a contest where I’ll gift one winner with a dozen real (not virtual) chocolatey brownies. Email me for contest details, including the deadline and requirements (e.g., the winner must be in the U.S.).

Photo: ALEJANDRO ESCAMILLA Via Unsplash