The Other Type of Social Networking

Forget about how many LinkedIn® contacts you have or Facebook ® "likes" you've tallied. Sometimes, networking is about making connections in person. Spending quality face time with industry influencers and prospective customers at networking events can benefit your business in a variety of ways.

Here are some tips:

• Arrive on time. If you're late, people may already be in groups, and inserting yourself into a conversation could be difficult.
• Work the room. Don't wait for others to approach you.
• Be prepared. Mentally review some business successes that you can use to showcase your skills and capabilities.
• Focus on each conversation. You don't have to meet everyone in the room or take notes.
• Follow up. Of all the networking rules, this may be the most important one.