What would you bring to the party?

By BETTE DAOUST, Ph.D., Southwest Bureau Chief          Bette's Bio

Business is always at hand, even during the holiday season. I have always done well in business during this time because most other people think that business is slow. Nothing could be further from the truth. With all the parties and celebrations, you can conduct more business than ever. People at these events are far more relaxed than they are during the remainder of the year and often have something to celebrate other than the holidays.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, there are numerous holiday events, from mixers with candy canes to house parties with turkey dinners. If you are lucky enough to be invited to some high-level networking events for potluck, go. Just receiving an invitation means that you’re “in” with that group.

Bring something to the party besides yourself—bring a gift for each attendee, something that will drive them to your website or your business door. For instance, if you own a chocolate shop, bring a truffle for everyone with a card for a discount to buy more. People will appreciate the gesture.

Don’t go overboard by making your gift a true sales pitch; tread carefully, and you will win every time. If you think your gift is too tacky and “sales-y,” it probably is. Give only gifts that will benefit the attendees. You are there to have fun, celebrate, and make new connections. If you overdo it, you will not be invited to the next event. Your goal should be to stay on the invitee list; getting business connections is secondary.

By the way, party attendees love to talk about themselves. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the people around you. You might be surprised at the information you are given. Use that information as a starting point for a business meeting at a later time.

I was lucky enough this year to be invited to an exclusive “Magic of Christmas” event—a private party for entertainers. I am honored to be invited and will do my best to gain new business relationships with those in attendance. So what will I bring for everyone? My gift will likely be a copy of my book plus a coupon for my bookstore. What would you bring to the party?

 

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Contact Bette at BetteD@TheNationalNetworker.com or via TNNW Blog.