Become Great at Networking in 10 Minutes
1. Quality > Quantity
Too many people passively network. They go to meetups or join communities and hope someone can help. The internet has changed the game. You have access to anyone! Don’t cross your fingers. Get super clear on 5–10 people who can change your life.
2. Scrap The “Me” Mindset
The #1 networking mistake is leading with your needs: “Can I pick your brain for 30 minutes?” “Can you pass my resume along?” “Can you tell me how you did X?” Nobody has time to do that for a stranger. If want you to want in? You need a new approach.
3. Relationships Are Like Banks
You need to deposit capital before you withdraw. Say a referral costs you $20 “Social Dollars.” You need to start by making “deposits” in the relationship. When you’ve made $20 worth of deposits? Now you can ask.
4. How The Heck Do I Make Deposits?
Deposits take many forms:
- Recognize someone for something they’ve done
- Recognize a career transition or achievement
- Add new information to a shared interest
- Help the other person achieve a goal
Those are just a few examples.
5. Learn About Your Contact
Read their LinkedIn profile from top to bottom. Run a Google search for their name, and check out their other social profiles. All while looking for “connection clues” that you might be able to use as an in.
6. Use The “10 Idea Strategy”
Grab a pen and a blank sheet of paper and pull up all of the information you got on your contact. Now come up with 10 ideas for ways you could add value to them. Don’t stop at 3, 5, or 8. Brainstorm 10 ideas.
7. Build An Engagement Plan
Now you have 10 ways to potentially connect. Rank them based on two criteria:
- Chance of success
- Ease of implementation
Now you have a plan of action.
8. Make Contact!
Take action on your #1 idea. If they engage? Awesome! Use the rest to build the relationship. If they don’t? All good! Fall back to idea #2, then #3, etc. Sales data tells us that most prospects take action after the 3rd touchpoint. The same is true here.
9. Create A “Second Brain”
This is a sheet where you track your relationships. It has all of your contact info, plus:
- Date of last contact
- Notes from the last convo
- General notes on contact (updated as you learn more about them)
Reference this before every touch point.
10. Make It A Habit
Great relationships are built in consistent layers. Every day, open your Second Brain sheet. Filter by “Date.” Find the person who hasn’t heard from you for the longest period. Review your notes and engagement plan. Then reach out.
11. Compound The Reciprocity
This is my last and most important tip: Delay your ask as long as possible. The more value you add and the more goodwill you build. The bigger the ask you can make. And the larger the return you’ll get. You’ve got this!
