Monday, December 8, 2008

The business world seems to close down from Thanksgiving through mid-January. But, holiday time is not the time to stop networking. If you plan to kick off your wing tips as soon as you take the turkey out of the oven, lace them back up and get out there. Don't miss opportunities to build relationships that will pay off in 2009.

If you are job hunting, don't hide. Put on your cheery face, prepare to answer the question, "Haven't you found a job yet?" and mingle, mingle, mingle. Here are a few ways to turn holiday time into gold.

1. Reconnect. The holidays give you the perfect excuse to call people you haven't talked to in years to wish them "Happy Holidays." Find out what they are up to and fill them in on your life (the abridged version, please). Follow up with a note. Stay in touch. Reconnect with three people every day from now through January 7. That means you will have reconnected with 100+ contacts.

2. Stay visible. Attend every holiday party and networking event you can get your hands on. Look in your local newspaper's business section. Check your newspaper's website, too. There are often many more opportunities to network listed there.

3. Check university activities. Many universities have conferences that are open to the public. Your own alumni group may be having an event. If not, gather alums in your city.

4. Look at every event as a networking event. Concerts, art gallery openings, book signings, religious services, volunteer activities are all networking opportunities.

5. Don't give out business cards at holiday parties unless asked. You need a softer approach at social functions even if the function is sponsored by a business. Ask for someone else's card and then you can follow up with a brief note.

6. Add something creative to your e-mail signature. Offer something for free that will require a response. Now you've given something of value that entitles you to build a relationship.

7. Send season's greetings cards after December 25. Your card won't get lost in the slew of cards that arrive before December 25.

8. Go to events where your clients, customers and future employer hang out. Contact your market's associations on the local and national level and see where and when they meet. Look under "Associations" in your local yellow pages. Surf over to ASAEnet.org to find association websites for every industry and interest.

9. Call now to set up appointments for after January 1. If someone you call sounds hassled, ask when you should call back. Write that date down and follow up. Remind him or her with a brief e-mail or note that he or she asked you to call back on that date.

10. Give your services as a door prize. When an organization seeks door prizes, donate your product or services. Put the dollar value on the prize. Your name and service will be announced over and over again, you'll do something valuable for the organization and the person who wins your prize may become a customer and lead.

11. Think outside the gift box. A local chamber of commerce recently held a holiday mart. The chamber solicited members who would like to display their wares. One vendor wannabe signed up so he could display his books and tapes among the tables of ornaments, candles, picture frames, candy, etc. The chamber organizers questioned that the potential vendor's products were gift worthy. The vendor persisted. Not only did he sell several books, but also he had a legitimate reason for handing out promotional materials and hawking his services. He also collected business cards and followed up with brief notes.

12. Use December to strategize for 2009. Devise a marketing plan for yourself just as if you were a business. (Even if a company employs you, you are still the CEO of your own career.) Plan how and where you will network in 2009. Join associations this month so you'll be ready to attend meetings in January. Develop promotional ideas. Write an article. Create a tip sheet that would benefit your contacts and establish you as an expert. Generate speaking engagements based on the information in your article or tip sheet. Get a mailing ready to go out on January 7.

When January 2009 arrives, you want more to show for December than credit card bills and ten pounds of extra giblets around your middle. December networking can give you a head start on a new year of success.

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Karen Susman speaks, trains and coaches internationally on Communication and Wellness topics. Her programs on Networking, Communication Styles, Presentation Skills, Stress and Resiliency, Humor and Life Balance are essential topics if you want to boost productivity and your bottom line.

Check out Karen?s guidebooks on Networking, Time Management, Humor and Building Community Involvement at www.karensusman.com/products.htm. Contact Karen at karen@karensusman.com or call toll free 1-888-678-8818. You?ll like what you hear.