The best networkers never sit on their contacts like misers hoarding gold. Instead, they are constantly evaluating who they know who would benefit by being connected to others in their network.

Your network can now net many more opportunities because of online networks like LinkedIn and others. Therefore, take time to build more effective processes into your networking for introducing and getting introduced.

Here, we’ll focus on getting introduced. Don’t be afraid that you don’t have anything to offer today. You don’t need to:

• have an in-depth knowledge of another’s industry.
• have any current leads or referrals to give.
• feel as though you’re pushy.

Today, the introduction is the new referral. You do not have to be referred to carry additional influence or klout with a solid introduction. A simple process I suggest is to create an “introduction script” to have someone introduce you to one or two good connections they know and then you do the same for them.

For example, if I ask someone to introduce me, I send them the following script. I would like you to meet Melissa. Melissa is the author of thirteen books, four that have been on best-seller lists. Her greatest strength is helping thought leaders grow themselves and their organizations through publishing and follow-up social media marketing, pr and speaking. She and her firm, Networlding, have helped more than 100 top thought leaders grow their platforms through book publishing.

Now I would do the same for you. I would offer you to share a script I can send others about you to get them interested in connecting with you. Send that script to your networking partners and ask them to send one of their own to do the same for them.

Again, create a pre-written introduction of you, by you, as if someone else wrote it about you. This way your networking partners and you can “cut and paste” your respective introductions into your emails and send them to  a couple of excellent connections without a lot of effort. Think simple and powerful when it comes to creating better ways to get more and better leads faster.

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