The most successful networkers do not attend events to promote their businesses; they go to build relationships.

Make contact within 24 hours
If you got on well with people you meet, and felt a connection, call them to reintroduce yourself. If you feel uncomfortable about telephoning, send an email to say that you enjoyed meeting them.

Making contact again will make you stand out from the other people they met at the event. You will be the one who comes to mind if they need the services you can provide. They are also likely to recommend you to their contacts, too.

Arrange one-to-one meetings with people with whom you connect
This should be an informal chat, perhaps over coffee, when you learn about each other and start to build a business relationship.

The aim of this initial one-to-one meeting is not to sell your services or products; it is about building a relationship. So, keep it relaxed and just ask questions to learn more about the person and his or her business. This achieves the best results.

Introduce people to your network
When you attend an event, keep in mind those in your network who could be of help to the people you meet. You can then introduce them at a later event or by email. People will think that you have a wide range of valuable connections, and you will gain a reputation as a worthwhile contact.

If you follow this advice, you will be raising your profile in the local business community and promoting your business at the same time!