Networking 101: How to Be the Most Memorable Person in a Room

There's always that one person at a party, networking event, or social function that hits it off with everyone and makes a stellar first impression. It's the same person that you talk about on the way home ("Did you meet Derek? What a cool guy.") and, often times, the person you remember weeks later. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to become that person; with only a few easy tips and tricks, you too can start becoming the most memorable person in a room.

Tip #1: Memorable doesn't mean being in the limelight
Introverts breathe a sigh of relief. Being a 'success' at a social event doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be the center of attention. In fact, some of the most memorable people (in a good way) are far from being in the limelight. You'll see why this is, in the following tips.

Tip #2: Have a clear idea about how you want to be perceived and what you want from the event
If twenty people all leave a networking session and say something about you to someone who wasn't at the party, what would you want them to say? "She was so kind", "She was really passionate", "She is very dedicated to her work"... Decide how you want to be perceived BEFOREHAND, and then make sure your actions and speech follow up your brand. You also need to set goals for what you want out of each event. I know it sounds stupid, but trust me, it works. Maybe it's a social party with friends and your goal is to have a good time and make new friends. Maybe it's a business networking event and your goal is to target three potential customers for your business. Whatever it is, making goals will ensure that your night isn't a total waste of time (because when you make a goal, you often follow through to achieve it!)

Tip #3: Focus on others
It sounds counter-intuitive, but spending more time focusing on the other people at the event will make you more memorable. Check out the following tricks to make sure you are focusing your time and energy on others:

Trick #1: Have a loose knowledge of a wide breadth of subjects. This will allow you to talk to almost anyone about their favorite subjects (PS. You don't have to be know-it-all about every topic. You just need to know enough to hold a conversation and make them feel like they are interesting and intelligent.)

Trick #2: Be a people connector. Standing in the corner talking to one person the whole night might make you memorable to that one person, but not to everyone else. Think of any networking or social event as a game of memory. Instead of flipping over cards to reveal matches, you want to identify people that have similar interests. This accomplishes two things: 1) it allows you to work the room without getting stuck with just one person all night, and 2) it makes you seem more caring when you seem to know small details about someone that others might have forgotten. (example: when you introduce Sally to Steve because they both have a weird love of Jenga.)

Trick #3: Remember names. It's not always easy, but it works. Remember people's names and use them as often as possible without sounding weird.

Tip #4: Master the follow-up

It doesn't matter if you're networking at a business event or working the room at a party, follow-up is key. I personally love sending a handwritten letter to the host thanking them for a wonderful time. An email, text message, or LinkedIn invite are also good ways to connect after the event. A successful follow-up (once again) focuses on the other person and makes them feel special. It also may include an ask. Here's a great example of a brief, but effective follow-up:

Hi Sam, I really enjoyed meeting you last night at the xyz networking event. It was so fascinating to hear about your experience in business and how you started ABC consulting company. If you don't mind, I'd love to get together for coffee sometime and hear more about the marketing strategies you've used when getting ABC off the ground. Best Regards, Taylor

The key is to sound interested, without sounding like a total suck up. If you've done your job well, then they will have enjoyed their time with you during the event and will gladly make room in their schedule for you in the future.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Everyone is selling something, especially at a networking event. Successful salespeople know to make relationships first, and then offer their product. The networking event and even some follow-up events (like the coffee mentioned above) should be primarily for relationship building and not for selling. Selling your product will come naturally when the other person trusts you enough to tell you their personal or their business problems (which you would provide a solution for). PS. Generally (though not always) the bigger the price tag of the item you're selling, the more time and energy you will need to put into the relationship.

Networking events, mixers, and parties all take up your precious time, so you might as well get something out of it! Making yourself memorable is not only easy (bonus: it gets easier the more you do it), but it makes your goals more achievable in the long run. When you're memorable, people will start reaching out to you, rather than you spending tons of time and energy reaching out to them. Now, get out there and start standing out!


 By Leslie Friedman


Article Source: Networking 101: How to Be the Most Memorable Person in a Room