Do networking events make you squeamish? Do they make you feel sleazy and slimy, like you just want to run home and shower after having participated in one? Or maybe it's not that bad for you. Maybe you just want to develop a professional, online relationship with someone you admire, but you have no idea where to start – or what to even say to that person.

My guest today is going to explain how the same principles that apply to face-to-face, offline networking are true for online networking and, if done right, can be the greatest driving force in your business. Networking doesn’t have to feel icky or gross. In fact, it can be fun and profitable if people take the time to invest in nurturing the relationship, instead of simply trying to make a sale.

In this episode, I talk to Dave Delaney, the founder of Networking For Nice People, an online community for sales professionals, business leaders, and people looking to build professional relationships that both feel good, and are mutually rewarding. He is the author of New Business Networking: How to Effectively Grow Your Business Using Online and Offline Methods, in which he shares proven strategies and tactics to grow your professional network. Dave shares the biggest mistakes he sees people make when networking, and how to avoid them.

Today, we’re going to discuss the pitfalls people encounter when networking; the varying ways people should interact in different networking environments, and tips on how you can make your networking more effective both online and off.

“You need to be establishing relationships first,” Dave says. “Let [people] get to know you, and understand who you are and what you’re all about first."

I know you're going to love this discussion, and you're going to learn a ton from Dave Delaney on this edition of Grow My Revenue!

Listen to this episode and discover:

· What “casino-style networking” is and why it’s a big bust.

· The winning formula to networking effectively.

· The biggest networking mistakes people make on LinkedIn and Twitter.

· Tips and tricks to following up online with people you met in real life.

· And so much more…

Episode Overview

Dave Delaney started his business because he was fed up with going to networking events where people just threw business cards at him like a blackjack dealer at a Vegas casino.

“There's no connection. It’s horrible and you just feel nasty after it happens,” he says.

Dave knew there had to be a better way. So he started a community for like-minded people who wanted to master the art of networking in a way that felt genuine and, well, nice. But more than just feeling good, he wanted to help people make networking work for them, not against them – especially on social media where people have the tendency to think that it's OK to behave differently just because it's a digital medium.

“I use the analogy of being at a cocktail party and you go over to a group of people and say, ‘Hey, you wanna buy these?’ Even the worst sales person wouldn’t go over and interrupt people. But that’s what [people] do on Twitter,” Dave says.

Rather than interrupting or spamming people, Dave recommends getting to know someone. He created a simple, four-step system to engage with people after you meet them that is more friendly, approachable, and kind. In this episode, we talk about:

· What to do when you meet someone at a networking event.

· The right way to follow up with that person online and what to say.

· The most important thing to do when wanting to connect with someone on LinkedIn or other social media sites.

· How I (Ian) respond to spammers.

“It’s the people who just solicit, solicit, solicit that don’t get anywhere," Dave says. "It’s about building relationships first and foremost.”

Tune in for all of these nuggets of wisdom, and more, on today's Grow My Revenue with Dave Delaney.

For full show notes and other resources, please visit: http://www.ianaltman.com/podcast/dave-delaney/