3 Rookie Networking Mistakes

Many people hate networking. They despise it so much that they miss out on great business opportunities. They also miss out on meeting a lot of great like-minded people who could really help them grow their business. If they simply got over their fears, they may reap the huge benefits of connecting with experts, mentors, and like minded-communities. However, when one begins networking, it's key to be careful and not make any rookie networking mistakes.

Here are some mistakes that small business owners and entrepreneurs should avoid.

• Not having business cards to hand out. It is very important that you have business cards at a networking event (yes, it still is important in 2015). You are going to meet people that you will want to talk to at a later time and if they have no way of getting in touch with you, you might miss out on a great opportunity. If you just try to take their number, it does not look as professional as handing them a business card.  Maybe they want to research you more before scheduling a meeting.
• Handing business cards out to everyone that you see and talk to. Doing this makes you look very desperate. You should only hand out business cards to people that you can see yourself doing business with or if you are truly interested in getting to know someone.  Another bad practice is handing out multiple business cards assuming that the person will refer you after just meeting you.  My network is my most valuable asset, and I wouldn't be able to sustain it if I handed them someone's card I had just met.  
• Not following up after an event. It is very important to follow-up after an event. When you say that you are going to call them or e-mail them after an event, make sure that you follow through with your promise. You do not want to lose business because you forgot. Many people like to send a little card which tells them that it was nice to meet you.  Email works nowadays, too, even if you don't have a specific ask.  Add them on LinkedIn, or give them a specific compliment on their website.  

Though networking can be scary, it is very important to grow your business with larger customers, strategic partnerships, and setting up a referral network. However, you need to avoid certain mistakes so that you do not look like a rookie. You should never go to an event without business cards. You should also not hand out your cards to everyone that you see and look desperate. You must never forget to follow-up, especially if you promised that you would!

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