A lot of people are on their way to Funnel Hacking Live because they know they will learn things that will transform their business.
However, to many people, that's just half of the value of FHL.
The other half is the networking opportunity.
Whether you're joining us at FHL this year or not, developing your networking skills can open you up to opportunities like nothing else.
However, to many of us, approaching someone we don't know to start a conversation is daunting to say the least.
So, we've scoured the internet to come up with a toolkit to help you reduce that fear and put you on the path to networking mastery.
It turns out that the better you are prepared, the more confident you will be. These are the 4 things you need to have prepared:
1. Decide why you want to network with people
There is no wrong answer. You might be interested in making friends, learning from your peers, or finding a business partner. Whatever your reasons are, know what you want and it will help guide your conversations.
2. Have 3 conversation starters lined up and ready
For many people, initiating a conversation is the most stress-inducing part of networking. However, if you have 3 conversation starters lined up that you're happy with, approaching people becomes significantly less stressful.
Here are a few ideas for openers:
Ask for information
A good way to start a conversation is to ask for information from the person you want to talk to (even if you already know the answer).
Example: You're waiting for FHL to start and you see someone with a coffee, "Excuse me, where's the best place to get a coffee here?"
Pay a compliment
Complimenting someone can brighten their day and boost their confidence.
Example: A lot of people will be wearing t-shirts with slogans and branded with their own businesses, "I really like your t-shirt. Is that your company?"
If you see someone who has spoken on stage, "Your talk earlier was fantastic. I took so many notes! How long have you been doing ?"
Ask about them
People naturally like talking about themselves and sharing their knowledge.
Example: At FHL, everyone has a badge with things about them on it, "Hey, you're in the Inner Circle? It's my goal to sign up this year. Would you recommend it?"
Give yourself a challenge and involve them in it
A great way to overcome the initial nerves of speaking to someone is to have a reason for talking to them. Involving people in a challenge also makes them feel like they're helping you in return.
Example: Set yourself the challenge to get the #1 marketing tip from 50 people at the event, "Hey, I'm doing a challenge where I have to get the #1 marketing tip from 50 people here at FHL. Would you mind sharing yours?"
3. Know what to do to build rapport
Here are some of the top examples from Dale Carnegie's 'How To Win Friends And Influence People'
Avoid criticism, condemnation, or complaining
Positivity encourages conversation more effectively than negativity.
Show genuine interest in others
Engage in conversations with enthusiasm and attention. Ask about people's lives, thoughts, and experiences, showing sincere curiosity.
Remember people's names
A person's name is crucial to them. Remembering and using it during interactions establishes a sense of familiarity and respect.
Encourage others to talk about themselves
People love discussing their lives and opinions. Encouraging them to share builds a sense of rapport and goodwill.
Make the other person feel important
Sincere compliments and acknowledgements make people feel valued and can have a profound impact on relationships.
4. Have a plan for follow up
You've had a great conversation with someone, what do you want to do next? Do you want to grab a drink at the end of the day and discuss notes, do you want to arrange a time to chat about working together, or do you simply want to tell them it was nice chatting?
Have a few plans in mind and it will significantly increase the chances of those things happening.
With these 4 steps, you will be well on your way to creating new and exciting relationships.
As a bonus… If you're an introvert, remember people want to be heard and understood. Introverts often possess deep listening skills and empathic understanding. These are your networking superpowers!
