Networking in Sioux Falls

By Caliber Creative

Networking. Some people love it. Some people hate it.

The goal is to advertise yourself, or your business, by building relationships with people at an event or function. This can be hard to do without sounding like a sales person. One thing to keep in mind is that the person you are talking to might not be your ideal customer, but they likely know someone who is.

Instead of giving every person you meet your sales pitch, start by asking them questions and leading the conversation in a direction where you both have something in common. This can be talking about family, hobbies, or other personal interests. When you know enough about the person to tell if they would be interested in your services, that’s when you decide to say, “Hey, I think my business could be of use to you.” Or, if you think they might not be the best fit for your business, leave the conversation with an ask like, “If you know anyone who is just out of college looking for financial advice, send them my way.” By making your ask specific to a type of person, the other party will best be able to identify someone they know.

Some networking events in Sioux Falls that I enjoy are 1 Million Cups Sioux Falls, Speed Networking at the Bakery, and Innovation Expo. 1 Million Cups was the first event I went to when I moved to Sioux Falls a year ago, and it informed me of more events I could go to to meet people. Speed Networking was the first opportunity I had to meet professionals in a variety of businesses, I got great advice and job referrals from this event. I attended the Innovation Expo last Fall and it turned out to be a great opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs in the area.

There are tons of other networking opportunities in Sioux Falls. What’s your favorite?