Most articles about networking tell you the same things over and over again. Not this one, not me, and not here. I don’t like to regurgitate other people’s content, and I believe in always writing an article with the intention of being valuable and helpful.

Without further ado, here are six secrets, or common sense things people don’t mention, that you need to know about winning your ROI for networking.

Change Your Address

No, not your P.O. box; I’m literally talking about moving. Whoa, that is too extreme! No, no it’s not, especially not if you’re serious about being around successful, like-minded folks. Given, not every successful entrepreneur or small business owner lives in the Hamptons; some choose to stick to humble abodes and that’s fine (likely they have like-minded friends and co-workers to keep them motived).

Say, for example, that you’ve started your business, and you’re doing pretty well, but your surroundings are far from inspiring. Maybe that part of town isn’t very clean, or it’s better known for drugs than it would be for entrepreneurial gatherings and events. Move to a place where you can easily access other like-minded folks, attend networking events or workshops, and build your business reputably.

Be In Constant Exchange Of Ideas

When you own a small business and your goal is success (whatever that might look like for you), you should often be interacting with people: listen to them, how can what you offer help them? Even if it’s not your product or service, what knowledge in their area of need can you help with? If you give and it touches them, you will not be easily forgotten.

This doesn’t mean that you pitch your product to every Joe or Jane you meet; it means you try to see how you can add value to their life. If it so happens that your product or service solves their problem or eases their pain point, then go for the dive! If not, look at how your expertise, life experience, or other knowledge can help them. Even referring them to someone that could legitimately help them will earn you brownie points because they’re likely to get in touch with you to say thanks! Just ask for their email or social media handle and message them after the event with the name of the person you were talking about.

“You must seek ways to offer solutions to other people’s problems. If you’re not transacting and making decisions at one point or another, you’re simply not networking.” – Daniel Ally, Self-Made Millionaire

Follow-Up Properly

Okay, this is a tip that you often see when reading about networking. What I want to expound on is that even though it’s a legit tip, too many people ditch it for several reasons. They forget, they didn’t get the person’s info, they don’t have time for social media, etc.

The Real Tip Related To Networking: If you can’t follow up properly and respectfully then hire someone who will! Hire a virtual assistant to schedule a follow-up call into your week, hire someone to write a follow-up email for you and add in your personal tidbit to make it genuine. It is rare that you go to an event, shake hands with someone new and metaphorical fireworks go off. A follow-up is about touching base, about recapping that moment you shared with a fellow business person, and about leaving a lasting impression. Follow-ups can turn into genuine friendships, too!

Hire someone, make the investment in someone who can help you further establish your relationships, and your business (if not your social life) will benefit!

Up Your Vocab

If your only word to describe your business, brand, product, or service is “awesome” then you need to expand your vocabulary. What I mean by that is that you should be able to talk about your business-related goods with a rainbow of words. If your descriptions are always the same, if you constantly pitch with the same old script, people will get tired of listening. Even if you’re only in a five-minute conversation with someone, describing your product with just one word gets old fast.

I would suggest you download a thesaurus on your phone, and actually use it in idle time (taking public transit from work, standing in line at the bank, etc.). I don’t mean read it page by page; I mean look for your brand’s words and then look for synonyms. Expand on your mind’s dictionary and people will be intrigued by your amazing descriptions and stories!

Find Your “Thing”

When you get home from an evening of chatting with tons of other folks, sometimes things tend to blur together; it becomes difficult to recall such-and-such’s name, or remember where you placed that person’s business card, or did they offer it at all?

What’s not so difficult is remembering the people who stuck out, who had something interesting or unique about them. Maybe they introduced themselves and said, “Hi my name is Pam, I’m a creative social entrepreneur who loves to can jam.” Yes, it’s random, but it’s unique enough to catch someone’s attention.

A quick example is Twitter: you have 140 characters to tell people who you are and what you do. To be memorable, someone might say they’re a business ninja (Regina Anaejionu, one of my favourite infopreneurs, refers to herself as a ninja). That is unique and humorous!

Find that memorable, interesting, unique “thing” about you or your business and use it to make an impression in your introduction, or as a lighthearted joke in conversation.

That would be a tip in itself.

Don’t Be Too Serious!

If you’re anxious, nervous, or uncomfortable just look for someone who seems like they’re in the same boat as you. Scooch up next to them and plain out say how nervous you are; they’ll likely give a muffled laugh and say something to relate. Then offer to get them a refreshment and start asking about them. You’ll both benefit!

I confess, the last tip is Gina Romero’s personal tactic and she’s a marketing guru, so it’s tried and proven!

Now, you didn’t use all that time to read these tips just so you could forget them! Let’s put them into practice; come join us at an upcoming event and network the Athena way!

Have a question? Write me in the comments below and I’d be happy to chat with you!

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

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