You’re in a new city and want to network. How can you make the most of your time?

While visiting a new city, which is surely for a reason, quite a lot of work must be done in advance for effective networking. Fix meetings with my connections, business leaders whom I ll like to meet. I prefer to be at #Starbucks and meet, if not visiting their offices. Find out on exhibitions, industry events happening in the city. Connect, inform, connections about visit plans on professional platform like LinkedIn. Most important, offer high value, exchange information which helps the network, and do not look for short-term benefits. Remember to follow-up, thank people who took time out to meet and network.

You can join business networks or a peer group focused to your industry and diversified networks as well. LinkedIn is a good platform to network and arrange meetings when you are new to a city. Do your research first what networking events are available that are relevant to you or more general ones. Once done, follow the simple rules of do's and don'ts in networking. Be confident and proactive in building genuine connections. Always follow up with new contacts afterward to maintain relationships. You cannot go wrong with these easy steps!

For me, it's almost always been to find the local Chambers of Commerce for several reasons: 1. They don't restrict membership by category; there can be many with the same title who could learn to help each other. And the title may mean different things ... there doesn't really have to be any competition. 2. They are part of the business community, offering much in the way of lessons for everyone. 3. Most have been around for many years, and have documented success stories of local business folks. Because there's often a way to help them help others -- training, connecting -- it's a simple step to finding others in the business community to get to know on a professional and personal level.

Whatever your line of work is, identify the relevant groups in your industry and join them. Networking with peers will give you insights on the job market and the business potential for your own skill set

When you're attending a networking event it is vital to make yourself memorable in the room. In doing so, not only are you providing a face/identity to your business, but at the same time, you're leaving a lasting impression with those you interact with. Whilst it is advisable to prepare a succinct and impactful intro to your business, to sum up your unique value proposition(s) and your key wants, one must refrain from delivering any type of sales pitch as it is one of the biggest fails at a networking event! Conversely, storytelling is a skilful way to take your audience on an unforgettable journey be it to portray a case study or your approach in business; aiming to build up the all-important, 'know', 'like' and 'trust' factors.

Hone your pitch so it doesn't sound rehearsed or salesy. The last thing people want at a networking event is to be sold. Inserting your "why" into the pitch will make it sound more genuine. Finally, practice practice practice and then practice some more. It's essential. The best off-the-cuff pitches I've heard were the result of preparedness and practice.

when you're in a new city and aiming to network effectively, it's crucial to evaluate and improve your networking strategy and results. Begin by researching local networking events, industry meetups, and professional organizations in the area. Prioritize attending events where you're likely to meet individuals aligned with your goals and interests. Engage actively in conversations, ask questions, and listen attentively to others' experiences and insights. Be genuine in your interactions and strive to build meaningful connections rather than simply collecting business cards.

In my experience, you don’t create a business network. You create a network first, build trust and familiarity, then do business together . In that respect, never underestimate the power of similarities . Find people with similar experiences to yours : alumni associations from a school or a company, nationals of your country / representatives of your regions (I look for Caribbean people all around the world because we have the best food and drinks and a strong sense of community). And join the local club of your preferred sport/game.