Why You’re Not Getting the Most From Your Networking

“The currency of good networking is not greed but generosity.” — Keith Ferazzi

Why aren’t you getting the most out of networking?

Honestly, you’re probably doing it wrong.

Don’t click away!

I’ve done networking wrong as well.

A lot of people do.

Maybe when you go to events, hand out cards, shake hands, and it feels forced and awkward.

You may feel out of place.

I still feel that way sometimes, and I go to a lot of conferences.

With that experience, I’ve developed a keen eye for networking strategies.

These strategies helped me raise nearly $40 million and grow my net worth by 20x.

I want to share my three best tips with you today.

There are ways to quickly grow your network and your net worth.

We’re going to talk about some of the best ways today.

1. Why Your Networking Isn’t Working

We’re gonna have an honest conversation about why your networking isn’t working.

Let’s start by painting a picture:

You go to a networking event.

Maybe you sit in the corner and greet a few people.

All the while, you feel a little bit out of place.

You’re not making connections.

You have a feeling that you don’t belong, even when you definitely do.

That sensation is also called imposter syndrome.

I still feel like this sometimes.

Especially when I’m in a conversation and don’t think I have anything to add.

Almost every successful person I know has felt that same way.

A lot of people think networking is handing out cards, shaking hands, and bragging about deals you’ve done.

That’s not good networking.

You should also consider that you aren’t going to the right events.

Watch out for free events in particular.

A lot of times, nothing will be accomplished at these events.

There are many tire-kickers who won’t buy what you’re trying to sell.

I went to real estate networking events for six years and didn’t do anything.

I owned one rental, but wasn’t really an investor yet.

I went to those events trying to figure it out.

If you can, go to events that charge money, particularly if they charge a lot.

I know it sounds counterintuitive.

If you have a great event that costs thousands of dollars, most of the attendees will be very serious about investing.

Plus, you can be in the room with other high net worth people.

Those are people who can get things done both on the passive side and the active side.

2. Good Networking Is…

A great marketer named Joe Polish wrote a book called What’s in It for Them?

I totally recommend it!

There’s a lot of great insight in there.

In the book, Polish says that when we network, we spend a lot of time thinking about what we’re gonna say:

Will they like me?

How can I pitch this idea?

Good networking requires none of that.

You need to get out of your own head.

When you talk with someone, put yourself in their shoes and think:

Why does this person need you?

They might need an introduction to potential partners.

They might need a resource.

They might need to hear about an event.

When you’re talking with them, think about who you can introduce them to.

Consider what resources or events you can pitch to them.

Give them something of value.

That’s great networking.

I’ve directly benefited from people telling me about events, books, and connections.

People never forget that stuff.

Now, you might be thinking: How does that help me?

You want to grow your business, but you’re being told to help others.

How does that work?

When you add value to people, you will get paid somehow.

It may not happen right away, it may not even happen in that deal, but you will build a reputation.

You will be known as someone who provides value and resources for others.

More value will come your way.

Some of the best business deals I’ve ever done happened when I put myself in someone else’s shoes.

I paid attention to their needs and asked myself:

Could I help with that?

Do I know somebody who can help?

I once helped raise $100,000 for one deal, and then I found a way to work into a partnership.

In that partnership, we raised $15 million over 18 months.

That growth happened because I let go of my own agenda and helped someone else with their goals.

I encourage you to do the same!

Focus on helping others.

Make introductions.

Be a connector.

Impress people.

Those are the people everyone wants to work with.

When you get value from someone, you usually find a way to pay that value back.

And if you’re more of an introvert, you need to ask yourself if that serves you at a networking event.

Usually, introverted tendencies don’t mesh well with networking.

That can be a bit of a hurdle.

If you’re more introverted, work on mirroring extroverted behaviors when you attend events.

With some practice, you’ll be impressing potential partners in no time!

3. Make a Goal for Each Event

One of the most valuable things I do is make a goal for each event.

I spend a little time before an event and ask myself questions such as:

Who am I trying to connect with?

What am I looking for?

Sometimes you can get an attendee list ahead of time.

There are also apps for certain events.

Using those resources is really helpful.

You should also prepare a short elevator pitch for when you introduce yourself.

That may sound weird, especially if you’re not in sales, but hear me out!

An example of one I would use is:

“My name is Bronson. I help high net worth individuals get passive income through alternative investments, such as oil and gas, ATMs, multifamily, and car washes.”

That’s not everything I do, of course, but that’s what I want people to know about me right away.

Then, they’ll always associate my name with my specialty.

They might even start talking to people about me.

If you use an elevator pitch, the same thing can happen for you.

The pitch doesn’t have to be long.

You can keep it simple with something like: “My name is Bob. I passively invest in deals in the Southeast.”

If you use this strategy, people will send others your way.

It’s almost a code at events.

People hear something related to your pitch and remember you.

You’ll get connected to the thing you’re looking for.

You should also make sure to smile.

Even if you don’t have a great smile, just smile!

Don’t forget to dress nicely as well.

I always try to dress one level above where I’m at.

Dressing nicely and smiling says that you’re serious about what you’re doing.

It’s part of your personal brand.

These strategies can help whether you’re an active investor or passive investor.

Now I want to hear from you!

What’s your favorite networking strategy?

Let us know in the comments.

Before you leave, make sure to check out our special report about inflation investing. It shares the best choices to invest during an inflationary environment.

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Disclaimer: I am not your investment advisor. This is for educational purposes only. I am not giving specific advice on what you can do. I am simply giving my opinions.