Do you own a business or do you want to get that promotion in your company? If you can answer yes, to either of these two questions, then you must become an expert at networking! How-you probably don’t realize it but you actually network everyday, you pass along information to your friends and colleagues regarding experiences about services and products that you have tried and liked or did not like. The fact is that as soon as, you provide information to another person then you have in fact networked. If you are networking for a business then introducing  a new person to the services and products that you offer is appropriate thing to do. You can provide quality referrals, information regarding products and services to another company this is another form of networking. Remember when you meet new people to relax, smile, provide a firm handshake and hand out your business card. You can hand your card to a new prospect, a colleague from another company or to someone that you have not met in your present organization in a more senior management level. Have your elevator pitch ready but make sure that you have a couple of different versions depending on what this person may be interested in. Ask the other person about what they do or their products and services. By practicing this simple step you will be able to make new contacts and meet people that can benefit from your services or products. Why- it is important to network is quite simple it raises the awareness of you, your brand, product or service. I believe that we all start to network to increase our profile or product and service. The people that we connect with may not have a need for what we are offering although, they might know someone that does require our product or service or that lead to your next career move. Develop a relationship with a new contact to establish trust and then perhaps to your next sale or promotion. When- it is important to know when to network and when it is not. If you are at a information networking event, support network event or a referral network event then these are definitely the times to put your networking skills into action. Be careful about networking at some social events where you have been invited as a guest and the focus is totally on fun and not what they do for work. Some clubs, meetings are structured this way because people spend a large amount of time either at their business or at their place of employment. Respecting the rules of this organization will gain you the opportunity to create and cultivate some new friendships that at a later date may lead to business or your next move.  These types of groups are more focused on the work-life balance and not the life-work balance. These are some tips on the how, why and when networking should be done, for more information contact Donna Wilson, President, Focused Networking Ltd. (604) 328-2290. First Services Hospitality (778)988-9440 is happy to provide this quality referral.