TWELVE STEPS FOR EFFECTIVE NETWORKING:

1. DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, ASK FOR INFORMATION OR REFERRALS, FIND COMMONALITIES;

2. CREATE A PRIORITIZED LIST OF TARGET ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES AND CONTACTS;

3. START WITH PEOPLE WITH WHOM YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE;

4. ASK FOR FEEDBACK ON YOUR NETWORKING SKILLS;

5. PICK REFERRAL SOURCES THAT HAVE A STAKE IN YOUR SUCCESS;

6. BECOME ACTIVE IN AT LEAST THREE ORGANIZATIONS;

7. ALWAYS HAVE BUSINESS CARDS;

8. KEEP A DATABASE OF CONTACTS, SET GOALS AND MEASURE YOUR RESULTS;

9. ACT LIKE A HOST, NOT A GUEST, AT GATHERINGS;

10. BE OPPORTUNISTIC – EVERY INTERACTION IS A POTENTIAL NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY;

11. FOLLOW UP REGULARLY;

12. CONTINUOUSLY BUILD NEW LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WHILE CONSTANTLY MAINTAINING ESTABLISHED ONES.