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Growing your network

Step 1: Think about networks PART 3 OF 3

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6 tips for effective networking

  • Join business organizations and attend business events. By attending business events in your community, you can get advice from other business owners, CEOs, and your peers that can help you operate and grow your business more efficiently and effectively.
  • Bring plenty of business cards. Make sure that these cards have your title, phone number, e-mail address and web site if applicable. When appropriate write a small note or message on the back pertaining to your conversation so that the person will remember whom you are when they are going through their cards.
  • Be a good listener. Sometimes the best net worker is not the most talkative or social person in the room but the person who actively listens. Listening to other people can lead to great business leads or allow you to gather information that you apply to your own business.
  • Don't be a wallflower. Do not spend the entire event talking with people you already know. Set a goal to try to meet at least five new people at each event. Building relationships is the key to expand and growing your client base and your business relationships.
  • Use your existing relationships. Ask people you know to introduce you to others who have similar business interests. People tend to do business with people they know and trust. A referral from a client, peer or business associate could be the key to opening a window of opportunity.
  • Dress for the occasion. Be sure that you know the nature of the networking event and dress accordingly. If you are unsure it is best to wear a suit. You can always take the jacket off if you are overdressed.

Have fun

An Excuse to Celebrate

December 2

cocktails

Today is St. Bibiana's Day. Don't know who she is? You probably just forgot because St. Bibiana is a the patron saint of drunks and hangovers. What better way to honor her than by heading to the bars? Bars and clubs guide »

Best of Dayton

You Decide What's the Best

Best Cup of Coffee [poll]

Best Dayton Ohio Cup of Coffee

Here's where you get to tell the world what you think. Every week you get to vote on the best that the Dayton area has to offer in entertainment, restaurants, recreation & and a few other bizarro categories.

Voting in this category ends on Dec. 8.

We have REVISED our official rules »

Things to Do

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Holiday events to get on your radar … and we're not just talking Christmas lights here [things to do]

Holiday events

There's never a shortage of holiday events in the area to occupy your time until the New Year rings itself in. This year, all the usual suspects are present — Woodland Lights, RiverScape ice skating, Lebanon's Carriage Parade — with a couple of brand new additions to the mix, including 50 Under $50, a collaborative collection of area artists, getting together for a Friday/Saturday shopping and entertainment experience at 20 N. Jefferson St. downtown this weekend, the same place the recent Dayton LadyFest made its mark; Sandstorm Middle-Eastern Dance Company's Ho Ho Hafla — a holiday show like no other; and a pub crawl for a good cause. More »

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Restaurants

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Food & More

Local Dining

Wine & Dine: More local restaurants are offering wine tasting/dinner pairings [review]

Wine glasses

Some are searching for new customers. Others are looking for a test market for new appetizers or entrees. Others want customer feedback on which new wines to add to the wine list. Whatever their reasons, more restaurants in the Dayton area are using wine tastings and wine dinners to try to get new, fresh faces to cross their doorsteps. A decade ago, diners could easily count on one hand the number of restaurants that held regular wine events. Now, the number exceeds a dozen and is growing. More »