Networking, or face-to-face marketing, can be a really effective form of marketing.

But only if you do it correctly – and most people don’t.

Most people make the mistake of meeting somebody and quickly pressing for a sale, either explicitly (by asking for it) or implicitly (by demonstratively handing over their business card).

Would you buy from someone you’d just met? Of course not. So why would a stranger buy from you?

If you want to succeed with networking, you need to play the long game. Meet people. Get to know them. Show you care. Listen more than you talk. Keep in touch. Nurture the relationship. 

That way, if they eventually decide they want to buy the sort of thing you sell, you’ll be the first person they think of.