Networking is a social activity that most sales professionals embrace as part of the professional mandate. Unfortunately, many tend to put the “sales” part ahead of the “professional” piece. Adhering to these 10 Commandments of Prospecting will make your life easier and you accelerate your results.

1. Every person you meet has the potential to help you. One of the biggest mistakes sales people make is to pre-judge others. Prospecting is the activity of meeting others. Don’t discount a potential prospect because you feel that they don’t qualify before you spend a few moments really getting to know who they are, what their real needs are and who they might know.
2. Always put the person ahead of the business. Selling is a people business, not a product business. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. When prospecting with others, focus first on developing a relationship with them as a person, setting aside your selling needs. As your relationship develops and trust builds, you will quickly see how the sales process will fit.
3. Develop the discipline of being a student of listening. Time is our most valuable asset. When we listen to others, we demonstrate our respect and sincerity towards them. Prospecting means gathering information. The best way to get information about others is to ask questions and listen for the answers. Most people will give you the key to their wants and needs within the first two or three minutes if you listen carefully.
4. Focus on one person at one time. Selling is a one-on-one, one-at-a-time activity. When you meet another person, focus all of your attention on them. To prospect effectively you must really listen to what the other person has to say. That one contact can represent a multitude of opportunities. Trying to see who else is in the room or watching for another contact while speaking with someone will only rob you of the opportunity to get quality information as well as insult the other person.
5. Take responsibility for effective communication. Professional sales people understand that most folks are very anxious about meeting others. They take responsibility for the communication process to make others feel at ease. Part of prospecting success involves communicating the message about your product or service in a manner that others will understand and respond to.
6. Be sincerely curious. The trait of being sincerely curious about another person has a powerful effect. Others pick up on your sincerity and feel very much at home. Expressing a sincere interest in the other person’s situation or issue is one of the best prospecting skills. It brings out the other person’s pain or passion and allows you to better position your product or service.
7. Seek to create interest and enthusiasm. Prospecting is a highly creative process that is based on mutual interest. We all like to be with people who have a high level of enthusiasm. Selling has, in fact, been called a transfer of enthusiasm. When you are enthusiastic and positive, it transfers to the other person and creates a higher interest level, inspires dialogue and brings forth more information.
8. Work on developing a reason for others to want to stay in touch with you. Prospecting is the process of discovering needs. When you find that the other person has a need, one of the best things you can do is let them talk about it, explain and expand on it. Your prospecting responsibility is then to work on helping them meet that need. This will create an opportunity for future contact, create a debt of obligation or develop trust.
9. Respond to folks who express warmth and comfort. Continually seek out people who respond to you as a person. These are usually the people who want to help us or are those who will respond best to our help. Relationships develop more quickly with people we are comfortable with. Some people are naturally attracted to us as we are to them. Use a prospecting style that makes it easy for you and for them by being ready for these moments.
10. Expect that most people aren’t initially excited about your product or service. Selling is a highly emotional process. We are heavily attached to our product or service and many people will not share our level of enthusiasm. Discipline yourself to use the prospecting process to find out the other person’s state of mind before proceeding to the presentation or product stage of the sales process.

Do you want to use networking to achieve more and better sales results? Email me at info@NetworkingForResults.com to get your complimentary 20-page “Managing the Networking Experience” ebook.

Technology and the global mindset are prompting more and more companies to increase their reach into new cities, markets and countries. Whether because of an expansion strategy, merger/acquisition opportunity, or some other innovative marketing concept, long-distance relationships are becoming the norm.

Being dropped into a leadership role where the team is scattered across different time zones can be difficult enough; when you add geographic disparities and culture, it can be quite overwhelming. The key to success is focusing less on results and more on relationships.

1. Do your homework. Whether it’s a colleague in a different country or a team spread across a continent, technology (e.g. LinkedIn) offers a number of options to gain more insight into their background, competencies and interests. This is a quick and easy way to get a head start on relationship-building, no matter where the other person is located.
2. Expand context. Even though business is the launch pad for your relationship, it’s not enough. Exploring and expanding areas that you both have in common and finding areas of complementary interest will always accelerate the relationship process. This is even more important because of the lack of a face-to-face interaction.
3. Balance communication frequency. Early on in a relationship, more communication is better. Once the relationship stabilizes, it can be sustained with less frequent contact. Take charge of the communication process by making sure that every interaction includes a next-contact component. It’s your primary measure of relationship growth.
4. Humanize communication. Long-distance communication is often technology-based, which can be curt, cold and over-structured. Learn to craft messages that reflect emotional content. Take the time to incorporate a personal perspective. Review your email or text message to ensure the other person feels a personal connection.
5. Emphasize communication quality. When it comes to a long-distance relationship, the quality of your conversation will determine the trust level. Wherever possible, try to expand electronic communication by adding other options (e.g. phone, Skype) that allows you replicate the live interaction experience. Doing so will exponentially drive communication quality and have a positive impact on trust.
6. Over-deliver. In a business-focused long-distance relationship, delivering on your commitments and obligations is the main way to earn trust. The lack of human contact needs to be counter-balanced with a strong sense of professional competency. Professional trust is the precursor to personal trust in a long-distance relationship.
7. Contribute. Long-distance relationships require more time, investment and energy. It’s easy and convenient to simply focus on getting the job done and moving on. But this unique environment can open doors to new experiences and opportunities. Why not embrace this brave new world and seek to contribute the lives of those you connect with?

Linkedin represents an enormous opportunity when used effectively. Unfortunately, most professionals have no idea how to leverage this invaluable resource for optimal results. Here are my most powerful and productive strategies and tactics.

1. Focus on the highest-value connections.

For the longest time, I felt overwhelmed and intimidated every time I opened my Linkedin newsfeed. My eyes would wander endlessly and I’d wind up confused and confounded about what to do and where to go.

To help me focus I created a one-page list of the primary markets I wanted to connect with and now use this list to drive my efforts every time I visit Linkedin. This list represents the top companies I want to connect with and a profile of the typical decision maker for my services. It acts as a compass that points me in the right direction.

P.S.: It only takes five minutes to create.

2. Put your avatar on steroids.

Every time I receive a request-to-connect, the first thing I do is look at the person’s profile. It takes no more than five seconds to do, but is the basis for not only whether I will accept or reject their request, but also how I feel about them as a person. Don’t you do the same?

Your Linkedin profile is your online avatar. It shapes the perception of your professionalism and your value. Use the inverted writing style to help visitors zero in on who you do business with and what your value is to them. They should be able to do this without scrolling down.

P.S.: Most won’t.

3. Reach out.

In the past, when I received a request-to-connect, I’d usually accept if the requestor’s profile had any semblance of professionalism. What happened next was€¦absolutely nothing. Is that what you do?

I remember thinking €œThere has to be a reason why this person reached out to me.€ So I decided to start asking. After agreeing to connect, I now send a brief message asking why the person invited me to connect. I’ve been amazed at the responses.

P.S.: I dare you to try it.

4. Reach in.

I use to think of Linkedin as a numbers game. I was singularly focused to building new Linkedin connections. After all, isn’t a key point of Linkedin creating new connections in specific markets and with new professionals?

Don’t be afraid to leverage your existing connections. Many of your connections end up being past contacts and clients. It’s inevitable we lose touch with some of them, but Linkedin lets you stay aware of their journey and progress. In fact, it can act as the perfect vehicle to re-connect.

P.S.: Who should you reach in to today?

5. Think strategy not sales.

The majority of Linkedin users are business and sales professionals. They understand and appreciate the culture of networking. Yet, when interacting online, many lose their sense of perspective and propriety, misconstruing a connection as a buying signal.

Whether online or face-to-face, a connection is not equal to a relationship. Online connections are simply the first step in building a relationship. Relationships take time, need to be nurtured and require investment.

P.S.: How long is your sales cycle?

6. Start conversations.

Too often, we want to jump right into sales mode after a brief introductory exchange with a new Linked connection. I know I used to. Then I realized that we buy people first, ideas next and things last. Now I focus on building a relationship first.

Online, there is lack of human dynamic. I call it relationship inertia. To move a relationship forward online, start by using Linked in for small information exchanges that get the relationship pendulum swinging back and forth. It doesn’t take long for momentum to build.

P.S.: Isn’t that the way it works?

7. Let’s talk.

Online interactions can be cold, overly structured and one-sided. The lack of human dynamic tends to focus on a one-way communication style that can be misinterpreted. After all, you can’t see the other person so your words will always be filtered through the other person’s perspective.

One of the secrets to building powerful and productive relationships is the ability to bridge from the online environment to a live conversation, which exponentially drives the relationship process. When two humans connect and communicate, all is possible.

P.S.: Isn’t it about people?

Michael Hughes is known as North America’s Networking Guru. To get more info about his services or to have him speak at your next meeting or conference, visit his web site at www.NetworkingForResults.com”

Professional relationships are the foundation of future success. Are you clear on the companies, contacts and criteria required to achieve this by strategically and proactively seeking out, and investing in, relationships with the right people, in the right organizations, for the right reasons?

From the desk of Michael J. Hughes, North America’s Networking Guru. It’s time to assess where we’re going for 2012. Here’s my take on the top networking-related trends for the coming year.

1. Return of F2F. The explosion of interest and involvement in social networks has, in many cases, only served to confuse the marketplace about products or services. There is a resurgence of face-to-face contact as a powerful, productive business strategy. In fact, face-to-face networking is now considered a “differentiator” that uses the human dynamic to positively impact context and credibility.

   STRATEGY: for more success in 2012, implement a bi-weekly networking strategy that allows you to connect directly with your highest-value clients and prospects.

2. Rise of the machine. Having stated the above, there is to question that social networks have become an integral, necessary component of a personal marketing strategy. You cannot afford not to be visible and active online. However,  as social networks have matured, it has become obvious that their true benefit is not as an either-or networking option, but as a compliment and contributor to accelerating client and professional relationships.

   STRATEGY: In 2012, make it a priority to get online, get educated and get active.  Networking is now a holistic strategy that incorporates both online and offline activities as part of the relationship-building process.

3. Confirming networking ROI. Today’s competitive marketplace is forcing professionals to justify every investment. Joining a group or attending events without a proper plan and solid evidence of results is no longer acceptable. The opportunity cost in both time and resources is just too high. The good news is that networking is still your highest-return leverage strategy when used effectively.

   STRATEGY: In 2012, invest more time and effort planning and preparing for networking success. Develop clear objectives and measure your progress on a monthly, even weekly basis.

4. Personalized value. The old adage of unique value as a benefit area is dead, as is the over-used analogy of being better by supplying added value. The new competitive difference lies in creating a value premise (or package) customized to each client’s situation and/or needs. The shift from delivering a value statement to discovering the value gap, and having prospects see you as the bridge, has now become your most important networking tactic.

   STRATEGY: In 2012, commit to changing your networking paradigm from a self-focused agenda and make it “all about them.” I consider this trend and corresponding strategy a critical success factor in the coming year.

5. The relationship factor. Professionals, entrepreneurs and corporate managers agree that relationships are the basis for success in business and in life. Creating and nurturing relationships in today’s matrix-oriented, the technology-driven world is now a required skill. Relationship-management is a social process that can be learned and managed. Networking, with its capacity to ignite and accelerate relationships, is the perfect resource for our time.

   STRATEGY: In 2012, invest in building your networking skills. Your survival and future success depend on it.

6. Collaboration nation. The idea of being a unique entity is fast fading into the sunset. Consumers are now in the driver’s seat, with more options and opportunities than ever before. The business world is now a buyer’s market. How can you offset this shift in positioning and power? Networking creates connections and builds relationships. Entrepreneurs and business professionals are more open than ever to collaborate with trusted partners for mutual gain.

   STRATEGY: In 2012, instead of seeing competitors at networking events or in the marketplace, explore how you both can benefit from working together.

7. Adapt, expand, innovate. We are in an age that defines constant change as “the new normal.” Geographic boundaries have disappeared, generational disparities complicate our lives and the lines between work and home seem to be blurring. Rather than lamenting this brave new world, why not use 2012 to embrace it?

   STRATEGY: Adapt your networking behaviour and tactics for this new environment, expand your networking reach by taking on new roles or adopting new resources, and commit to networking innovation.

BONUS: Here’s one final item on networking-related trends. Recent surveys confirm that, even with our expanded connectivity and the explosion of online activity, many people are feeling an increase in their sense of loneliness. Fight the urge to sit in front of your computer, perceiving that sending out requests-to-connect is networking. The real connections are waiting for you at the next networking event.

What’s your take on these trends? I’d love to hear your comments. Email me at info@NetworkingForResults.com”