Will you still be networking over the holidays? It's a sure bet that if you belong to any local organizations, are using social online networking or have family events, that your answer is "Yes." And maybe you said, "Yes, and how can I get that WOW factor: truly and honestly wow my business networks over the holiday season?" Let's explore three categories of how you can impress and influence the people you want to attract more of, through the "give without stings attached" strategy.

Good Impact: * Add a holiday special offer at the end of your elevator pitch: One that leaves your networks wanting more from you. * Ask your networks for their advice regarding something they can easily answer: directly, or indirectly via a referral. It could be something small and personal like where to find the best pumpkin pie to take to a party. * Give your networks something like an audio CD or a PDF download from a 2009 event that would be relevant to their New Year's business and/or personal needs. A CD costs as little as $1.00 and you likely already put your time and effort into the making of this gift. This offer also gives you a valid business reason to follow-up.

Better Impact: * Provide a take away, as in a one-page handout of your Top Ten Ideas or share your one best tip about your product or service. Give only ideas and information that will be valued and appreciated by your networks. * As you listen to others' elevator pitches, think of who you could introduce them to and then make the introduction, on the spot. Be a connector. Remember, people network to meet others for a variety of reasons. * Dress for the occasion. In the spirit of the holidays, wear a pin that flashes, a necktie that plays music, or a festive-looking purse. I've even heard of a Virtual Assistant wearing pink slippers to an event! This tells your networks that you're "unique": a powerful thing indeed!

Best Impact: * Spontaneously call the people you meet within 24 hours of your last connection. Focus on showing sincere interest in them, instead of impressing them. This will make you readily stand out amidst your competition, as a whopping 80 percent of business people don't even follow-up with their prospects! * Send people you'd like to do further business with a small gift, as a means to express "Nice to meet you". Avoid foods that might cause allergic reactions. A box of tea bags or a small basket of fruit are usually safe options. Stay with choices that state the items are free from particular allergens. * Send an invitation to your own after-holidays appreciation event. Partner with someone to hold a strictly "let's meet" event that features just some light hors d'oeuvres -- and no elevator pitches and no business card exchanges. In 2006, four of us teamed up to host such an event at a local comedy club during one of their days off. Almost 50 people showed up, enjoyed mixing and mingling, and the four of us paid for the entire affair, including a headline comedian. What fun!

BONUS Impact Action: If you are meeting someone for the first time, ditch your canned elevator pitch. Do just this one thing differently if nothing else: Take an interest in new people who you meet by having just two or three open-ended questions about them. 'Tis the season to give others a break from sales spiels!

You can make your networking stand out from the typical everyday, verbal diarrhea conversations. Add to the already-hectic holidays an expression, a conversation, or a message that makes you stand head above the crowd and that reminds people why they might want to choose you instead of your competitors. Since you'll both be taking advantage of the season to meet new friends and reconnect with current ones, invest your time in pre-planning your WOW networking now!

*Patricia Weber is the co-author of this article with Monique MacKinnon.

Written by: Patricia Weber,
pweber@prostrategies.com
http://www.prostrategies.com
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