Networking Links

Links

Links: Business Card Tips Roundup

Double Your Approachability by Next Friday
Building a Strong and Extensive Network
Networking Business Cards - useful for students/job hunters
Business Card Best Practices - inaccessible in China, real URL is here
The rCard -- interesting new business card idea, but probably not economically viable for handing out to just anyone

How to win friends and influence people -- cut down to a five minute summary -- some useful tips in there
Networking Your Home Business
MIT Entrepreneurship Center -- loads of links to networking articles
Business Networking Advice -- new blog, interviews with networkers
CNN - Tricks to Remembering Names

Phew! Quite a bit to read through...

Businessman
If you are dealing with an international contact but don't know if they are a man or a woman, try typing their first name into a image search engine like images.google.com (e.g., "Priti"). Watch out for unisex names, though.
Mingler
Always enter a conversations with a drink you are about to finish.

If things don't go well, all you need to do is take one last gulp from your drink and excuse yourself to get another, never to return.

If the conversation is going well, finish your drink and ask the other person if you can get them anything when you go to get another. They will appreciate the gesture even if they decline, and it impies that you'll be returning for a longer conversation.
Sales
Young people often think the secret to making a good first impressions is to talk about themselves. They couldn't be more wrong.

Remember to ask questions of new acquaintances. Ask follow-up questions to indicate you are listening. Avoid chiming in with your own "stories". The person will remember you as someone they know and like, even if you have shared nothing about yourself. Everyone appreciates a good listener.