[Let me preface this article by saying that I am all for networking, sharing ideas, and meeting new people. A strong network and community are sure to help your business grow and develop. This is more of a personal rant about the things I have encountered in the past 60 days during various networking events...]

Me: “I’ll trade you this nifty, mint-condition, business card for one of your cards AND a brochure.”

Contact: “Okay. What if I gave you my card, my brochure, and a branded pen, and in return you give me your card and I get to email you my weekly newsletter?

Me: “If I get to send you my monthly newsletter then we got a deal.”

Yup… networking events seem to have turned into some kind of awkward “Business Card Trading Club” where your goal is to either collect as many business cards as you can or hand out your card to every single person in attendance. Needless to say, it’s been discouraging and this is why networking sucks (to me):

1) The “What-Can-You-Do-For-Me” People

These type of contacts go to networking events with the sole intention of connecting with people that will only benefit their business. You usually have only 30-60 seconds to explain what it is you do and how you can help them. Within that short period of time, they will decide if you are a potential “asset”, a potential sale,  or simply a waste of time. If you’re deemed a ‘waste of time’, expect the conversation to be quickly dropped.

2) The “Lead-Generators”

These contacts are the quintessential ‘business card traders’ that you’ll encounter at an event. They quickly enter/exit conversations looking to swap contact info and seem to have no interest in general social topics. Within 2 days of meeting them, you can expect to receive a generic email that attempts to further sell you on their product or service.

Hey Chris,

It was great meeting you at (event) the other day. You expressed some interest in our product/services so please be sure to let me know if I can help you in any way.

You can visit our website at (website) for more information. Please feel free to forward this on to any one you think may be interested.

P.S. I attached some info about our product from the website.

Talk to you soon,
Mr/Mrs. Lead-Generator

3) The SPAMMERs

Another business card collector that just wants your email address. They’ll have 30 second conversations with everyone in the room and quickly hand out their card in exchange for yours. Expect to receive SPAM type newsletters each week.

4) The Room-Scanners

These types are a variation of the “What-Can-You-Do-For-Me” people, but rather than quickly drop a conversation they find no interest in, they will instead pretend to be listening and look around the room for other potential targets as you speak.

5) The Partiers

I understand that network events are meant to have a ‘social’ environment, but these people like to throw back more than a few drinks. Often times, they’ll render themselves useless to any type of conversation or even rudely interrupt one.

6) Debbie-Downers

Yes… I know the economy is bad and that it has negatively affected many businesses, but do you have to constantly remind everyone?

7) The Exaggerators

They’re apparently the next best thing since Facebook, Google, AND the Internet…

If you fall into one of these categories, please stop. You’re not doing any good for the people that are trying to make genuine connections.

Networking is about building relationships and creating a community. Individually we may be limited in our capabilities, experiences, and/or education, but as a group we stand to gain so much by simply sharing ideas, tips, thoughts, and advice with each other.

I’m always looking to connect with like-minded individuals so feel free to shoot me a message or add me to your social networks.