The Wedding Pro CEO Podcast: Episode 171

With Brandee Gaar and Becca Pountney

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of successful networking?

Becca Pountney is here to show you how to reach out, ask questions, and build relationships with 6 simple yet power steps. As a child, Becca learned from her dad the importance of networking and building relationships and she has since used her wisdom to craft her own successful career in the wedding industry.

Becca Pountney is a passionate advocate for the power of networking and connections. From her early days of watching her dad attend networking meetings, to her own experience of using connections to get her first job in television, to starting her own wedding videography business, Becca has seen first-hand the power of relationships in business.

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Becca now helps people in the wedding industry to understand the importance of networking and how to use it to grow their businesses. Her tips and advice come from her own personal experience and can help others to build meaningful connections that will have a lasting impact on their businesses.

Hear Becca’s story and learn how the power of intentional networking can help you create meaningful relationships that will bring your business to the next level.

I’ll outline how Becca Pountney did it in detail. In this blog, you’ll learn what are the key elements of successful networking?

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Successful networking is key to succeeding in any field and can provide networkers with many advantages that can help them to reach their career goals.

Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Reach out to the event organizer before you go.
2. Hang around the “watering hole“ to start conversations.
3. Ask questions and build meaningful relationships.
4. Be vulnerable and be yourself.
5. Do research beforehand to know who to meet.
6. Talk to as many people as possible.

1. Reach out to the event organizer before you go.

The first step in networking is to reach out to the event organizers before attending.

This is especially important if you will be attending on your own and are feeling a little bit nervous.

By letting the organizers know that you are a new face, they may be able to introduce you to someone or provide a point of contact for you.

Hang around the “watering hole“ to start conversations.

2. Hang around the “watering hole” to start conversations.

Hang around the “watering hole” to start conversations. Hanging around the drink station is a great way to start conversations at a networking event.

No pun intended, but this is a great way to break the ice and get to know people.

Drink stations are purveyors of social lubricants. It allows you to engage with other people who are also there to network and make connections.

Plus, it gives you something to talk about like, “What kind of tea or coffee you’re drinking?” This can help to make the conversation more natural and relaxed.

3. Ask questions and build meaningful relationships.

When networking in the wedding industry, it’s important to remember that everyone is in the same position. Everyone is looking to make connections and create relationships, so it’s important to be welcoming and open-hearted.

Becca recommends smiling and showing genuine interest in the people you meet, as this can go a long way in establishing a connection.

It’s also important to remember that networking and building relationships is a two-way street. While you may be looking to make contacts and find new opportunities, the other person is likely doing the same.

Be sure to give back to the people you meet and offer your help or advice in any way that you can. This is a great way to show your appreciation and create lasting relationships.

“When networking in the wedding industry, it’s important to remember that everyone is in the same position. Everyone is looking to make connections and create relationships, so it’s important to be welcoming and open-hearted.“

4. Be vulnerable and be yourself.

Being vulnerable and being yourself is an incredibly important step when networking in person.

It can be intimidating to walk into a networking event and you may feel like you need to put on a facade, but this can actually be detrimental to the relationships you can form in the long run.

Instead, it is important to be honest, open, and vulnerable. You should be willing to share your story and be genuine about your struggles, successes, and goals.

Doing this can help to build trust and foster meaningful connections. It also helps to be prepared with questions to ask the people you meet. Asking questions about their business, what inspired them to start it, and what they do differently can help to break the ice and start a meaningful conversation. 

5. Do research beforehand to know who to meet.

Doing research before a networking event is a great way to make sure you get the most out of your time. Knowing who will be there in advance can help you come up with a plan on who you want to meet and start conversations with.

This can be done by researching the event online to see who is attending or by reaching out to the event organizer to get more information.

Once you know who is going to be there, you can do some research on them and their business. This can help you come up with questions to ask that will spark meaningful conversations and help you build relationships.

It can also help you come up with ideas on how to help them and what you can offer them.

Knowing who you want to meet and having an idea of how you can help them before you even walk in the door will make it much easier to start conversations. 

It’s also important to come up with a plan for after the event. Having a plan for how to follow up with the people you met and how to stay in touch is essential in making sure you are able to build relationships.

Make sure to send a follow-up email or connect on LinkedIn with the people you met. Networking is an important part of building relationships and growing your business.

6. Talk to as many people as possible.

It’s important to remember to talk to everyone at the event, not just the people you did research on beforehand. You never know who might be able to help you or who you can help.

Being open to new conversations and opportunities will help you make the most out of your networking event.

Once you have identified who you would like to meet, you can start conversations by asking questions.

People love to talk about themselves, so try to start the conversation by asking them about their business and how they got started.

This will help you to build a deeper connection and get to the reality of the conversation quickly.

Networking is an essential part of growth in any industry and is especially important in the wedding industry.

By following Becca Pountney’s advice, you can learn how to reach out, ask questions, and build meaningful relationships that will help you succeed in your business.

Remember to be vulnerable, be yourself, do research beforehand, and talk to as many people as possible.

With intentional effort and dedication, you too can unlock the secrets of successful networking and reach the next level of success.

I’d love to hear how you applied these 6 networking tips to your process. Which was your favorite?

DM me on Instagram or post your thoughts in the facebook group! (links are below)

Thank you so much for dropping in and we will see you next time CEO! 🙂

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