30 Day Networking Challenge - Set Yourself Up for Success

Networking is one of those things many people know they should do, but it’s something they often don’t make time for. Networking is just not a priority - when it should be.?

At the moment, many businesses are struggling due to COVID-19 lockdowns. They are struggling financially and struggling with isolation. At a time like this, social capital is the only thing you can build for many businesses. For much of Australia it looks like we will be stuck at home for some time so I have created this challenge.

I will be completing this challenge and I’m encouraging more of you to join me on this journey. Each day there is one action item that should help achieve the following:

1. Help you avoid isolation
2. Keep you active and connected
3. Leave you better placed to bounce back when lockdowns end as you ensure you haven’t been isolated at home.?

Here are each of the taste I am recommending for each day.?

1. Set Goals

Numerous studies have shown that those that set clear goals are more likely to achieve those goals.?

What are your goals for the next 30 days? Do you want to grow your network? Do you want to deepen relationships? Do you want to give more referrals? Do you want to get more referrals?

2. Create a plan

Some of the activities outlined below are fairly broad. That way, in fulfilling each daily task you can make sure it fits into the goals that you have outlined above.?

3. Recruit a Wingman or Wingwoman

The purpose of networking is to grow your network. This is easier to do if you are not doing it alone. By recruiting a wingwoman, or wingman, you achieve dual outcomes. You can exponentially grow your results and you also have someone to hold you accountable - making sure that you complete each of the daily tasks and ensuring you are both doing what needs to be done to see great results.?

4. Set up some 1-1 meetings

Set up 1-1 meetings with people in your network. These are not a casual catch up. These are business meetings, with an agenda. These could be people you know well or people that you want to get to know better. Talk about how you can help each other out and strategise how you can make connections for each other.?

5. Schedule time for networking

I don’t know about you, but if something is not scheduled in my calendar it doesn’t get done. To ensure that your networking happens, and that you achieve the results that you want, make sure that you put time aside for it

6. Check in on people that you have lost touch with

This would be relevant whether or not we were in the middle of a global pandemic, but you probably have more time to do this now. Check in on old school buddies or family and friends. Find out what they are up to and see what’s going on in their life.?

Today’s task is to create the list of people that you are going to follow up with going forward.?

7. Set your next lot of 1-1 meetings

It’s time to plan some more 1-1 meetings. Early on we were planning 1-1 meetings with people that you already know and now it’s time to plan your next meetings. If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, schedule 4 meetings - 2 with people you know well, and 2 with people you don’t know. If you feel like a challenge, double this. Schedule 4 1-1 meetings with those you know really well and schedule 4 meetings with people you want to get to know better.

8. Check out people’s social media profiles

It’s time to do a bit of cyber-stalking (not in a bad way.) When you are reaching out someone you don’t know, check out their social media profiles. Check out the profiles for their business pages. Learn more about their industry and what the latest news is. Showing an interest in them, and their industry, when you reach out differentiates you from all the others that use social media platforms to spam sales pitches.

Make sure you reference something of interest when you reach out to them to start developing your relationships.?

9. Work out what you are going to talk about at your 1-1 meetings

A coffee chat is great with friends and a coffee chat has its place. These 1-1 meetings we are scheduling at the moment are different. They are purposeful business meetings that should have an agenda.?

BNI (bni.com.au) has developed a useful process for discussions at preliminary 1-1 meetings. They call it the GAINS exchange. You can learn more about the GAINS exchange here - https://www.bnipodcast.com/2007/05/09/episode-005-the-gains-exchange/

This podcast was recorded in 2007 but the points are as relevant today as they were then.,?

10. Create your networking toolkit

Preparation is everything when it comes to ensuring you maximise your chance of success at networking. Prior to attending a networking event you need to ensure that you have everything prepared in your networking toolkit. It is this toolkit that maximises your chances of success. Here are the things that you need to pack:?

Business cards, pens, a charged smartphone with social media apps downloaded.

At the moment, your toolkit is slightly different. It may include things like Zoom backgrounds, template messages and similar.?

11. Create your elevator pitch

Let’s talk about the basic anatomy of an elevator pitch - the answer to the question “so what do you do?” At its most basic level an elevator should provide your business name, the industry you work in, the product or service you provide, the problem you solve and your ideal target market (not necessarily in this order.)

12. Create a list of networking events to visit

Now it’s time to find some networking groups and events to participate in. It’s time to sign up for some events and diarise them in your calendar. You can get online and find plenty of events to attend. COVID-19 lockdowns mean some of these events may be online.?

If you are not sure where to start, I would suggest starting with a visit to a BNI Chapter. If you want to attend a Chapter meeting, let me know and I will put you in touch with the right? person (or host you at my own Chapter meeting.)

If you are already a BNI member, choose some other events to attend. You may find some visitors to your BNI Chapter?

13. Have a meaningful meal catch up with someone

One of my favourite networking books is Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazi. I like the idea of never eating alone. Why waste an opportunity to connect with someone over food. Whether face to face in a cafe, on the phone or over Zoom, jump on a meeting with someone over breakfast or lunch and deepen your relationships.?

14. Call a member of your extended family

When’s the last time you spoke to a cousin? Or an uncle? Check in with an extended family member today. See how they are going. Find out what is going on in their life. Reach out today and say hello. See how they are doing. Today is not about expecting something from anyone. It’s about checking in, seeing how they are, and seeing if there is something that you could do to help them.

15. Update your social media profiles

It’s time to clean up your social media profiles. It’s time to ensure your LInkedin profile is up to date. It’s time to ensure that your Facebook Profile shares enough information with people about who you are and what you do. Do you have Facebook Pages and the like set up as well?

What about other social media platforms? Should you be on Twitter? Instagram? Tiktok? Depending on your industry, some of these channels may be relevant to you.

16. Follow relevant social media channels and join relevant groups

Yesterday you checked and updated your social media profiles, now it’s time to do a social media group audit It’s time to leave groups that no longer serve you, and join groups that will be useful for your networking. These could be business specific and focused groups, or they could be local community groups. They could be groups that are specific niche focussed (for example, I am a member of a number of Dad groups.)

17. Review your first two weeks

Yes, it has been a little longer than 2 weeks, but today is the day we have scheduled for review. Let’s look back at the goals we set at the beginning, and the other tasks we have set for ourselves. How have you gone? Is it time to pat yourself on the back and give yourself a treat? (Hint: it is, as you’ll be much more ahead of where you were 2 weeks ago.) If you’ve got a little off track, how many 1-1 meetings do you need to have in the next 2 weeks to?

18. Connect with people you went to school and university with

It’s time to see if your school or university has an alumni network. Connect with people that you went to school or university with and see what opportunities you have there for connection. People subconsciously want to help people they have a connection with - and being a fellow alumni can be this connection opportunity.?

19. Research a new hobby (or service organisation)

Networking doesn’t always have to be talking about business. Do you have a hobby? What about volunteering opportunities? If you don’t have a hobby, it’s time to find one, or join a service organisation like Rotary.

20. Plan your 1-1 meetings for next month

On Day 7 we scheduled some 1-1 meetings - some with people you do know, and some with people you don’t know. It’s now time to schedule your next round of 1-1 meetings, but the difference is this time you should schedule follow up 1-1 meetings as well with those that you have already met.?

21. Check in with your accountability buddy

You signed up with an accountability buddy at the beginning of this challenge. It’s time to check in with them. We’ve been at this for 3 weeks and it’s time to see how they are going, and to share with them your successes and where you are struggling. Work together to see how you can make improvements over the final days of the Challenge.?

22. Create a networking CRM

Do you have a CRM for all your contacts? You can create this as a spreadsheet or use CRM software. Make notes of all your contacts and keep track of when you last followed up with them - and when you lan on following up with them again in the future.?

23. Develop a follow up strategy

You should have a follow up strategy for everyone you meet. I’ve chosen to model my follow up strategy on one I read by Ivan Misner, the Founder of BNI. He calls it the 24/7/30 strategy. Basically, if you meet someone you should send them a quick note within 24 hours of meeting. Within 7 days you should connect with them on social media platforms. Within 30 days you should organise a 1-1 meeting.?

24. Share your goals and who you’d like to meet

Make sure you share your goals with everyone in your 1-1 meetings. Make sure you post them on social media platforms. People won’t know how to help you if they don’t know what your goals are.?

25. Review and refine your elevator pitch

You have been practicing your elevator pitch for a couple of weeks now. It’s time to think about how successful you think it has been and where it can be improved. What lines have resonated with people? What lines haven’t??

26. Make sure you are connected with everyone on LInkedin

Have you connected with everyone that you should on Linkedin throughout the last 4 weeks? It’s time to do an audit and see if you have missed everyone. You want to expand your Linkedin connections to help keep in touch in the future.?

27. Embrace continuing education

Continued education is important - whether about your industry or even general business books - a quick Google search will show you some of the most popular business books out there. Make yourself a reading list and get started.

28. Commit to self-improvement

Continued self-improvement is key to success - in business, and in life. Can you watch a bit less netflix? Spend more time with family? Dedicate some time to mindfulness? Stop scrolling Facebook so much? Get up 15 minutes earlier?

Whenever I talk to people about networking a common objection is “I don’t have time.” Self-improvement will give you the time you need to network, and to do it more effectively.?

29. Make sure everything you have done is filed and easily accessible

I hope you have made some significant notes over the last 4 weeks, about what you have learned and who you have connected with. You should also have updated your CRM significantly.?

Make sure all your educational documents are filed away tidily, make sure any links you have collected are bookmarked and saved properly. Keep a list of the conversation starters that have worked for you, and refer back to them regularly.

Most importantly, make sure you schedule time in your diary for all of the daily tasks you need to do in order to achieve your networking success.?

30. Review your achievements and celebrate your goals

It has been a busy 30 days and, even if you haven't quite got through all of the items on this list you have laid the foundations for massive success going forward. You may have achieved more than you ever imagined possible by being strategic and focussed with your networking. At the very least you will have opened your eyes to the possibilities.

You should get together with your wingman or wingwoman and celebrate all that you have both achieved. You should also strategise your goals for the next 30 days so you can hold each other accountable. Networking never stops.?