Business networking can feel a little awkward sometimes. You end up in these situations where it’s all small talk and maybe some boring business talk. But, there’s a way to stand out and actually make a connection.
Souvenirs that turn into stories to be shared
It’s all about using the right tools, and I don’t mean boring old business cards. I’m talking about things like souvenirs and those free hearty meals.
Let’s break this down. Business networking is basically meeting new people in the business world to share ideas, get help, or find new opportunities. It’s like speed dating, but instead of finding love, you’re finding new business partners. And just like speed dating, first impressions — and second, too — are important. This is where souvenirs come in.
A quickly picked souvenir that was personally delivered on a long-haul flight
On my way to Discop content market in Johannesburg, I spent several days visiting former classmates and teachers in Rome. Without much scheming, I bought a Pope figurine and presented it in Johannesburg to a US TV industry veteran who I knew was to moderate a panel discussion I was a part of. Pope Francis was Pope less than a year back then.
And the American TV industry veteran spoke about himself as a Jewish boy. But he seemed to genuinely enjoy the souvenir that had freshly arrived from Rome and sat in his hotel room the whole duration of the Discop content market.
I say this because the person kept referring to the souvenir as a pleasant moment several times in our subsequent correspondence. I understand Discop hasn’t fully recovered from the Covid shock at the time of writing.
But those myriads of business networking memories and haphazard moments stay with us all as the market participants, in our memories, for years into the second decade now.
Andy Kozlov, 5,000 Cities Founder
Think about it — you give someone a little something that reminds them of you. It’s like a constant, cute reminder of that one cool person they met at that networking event.
Well-thought, branded souvenirs aren’t out of business
But it’s not just about handing out random stuff. You want to give something that’s actually about where you’re from or what your company does. That shows you put some thought into it.
Now, let’s talk about those business meals. They’re a classic networking move, but you can make them so much more powerful.
Free hearty lunch, anyone?
It’s not just about the food – although good food never hurts – it’s about showing someone you value them. You’re taking them or they take you out of the office and into a more relaxed setting. This is where you can really build trust and get to know someone on a more personal level.
On my first day in Helsinki over 10 years back, Marja Vallbacka treated me to a hearty dinner — reindeer meat included — opposite the Helsinki Cathedral (pictured), a major landmark of the Finnish capital.
Back then as well as now, the 250 euros she left at that restaurant seems too generous to be spent on someone you meet for the first time and on a relatively short notice.
Many years later, a similar sign of appreciation but thousands of miles apart: a relative of a Delhi-based business partner who drove me for six hours to Chandigarh, paid for my breakfast on our way to the city of destination, had a glass of water at destination and headed back to DelhiÂ
Months before, the recent pandemic sent the shock waves across our planet, I spent several days in Olsztyn, invited by a local social entrepreneurship development stalwart.
Free meals combined with functional souvenirs translate into long-term partnerships
On my way back to Warsaw, my international business trip souvenir collection added a Wama-Coop-branded power bank. And it still felt like the dinner voucher I got from the host and used to the full of its potential on my first night in Olsztyn kept me from feeling hungry all the way back to the Polish capital several days later.
The next time you’re on a business trip, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. A well-placed souvenir or a thoughtfully planned meal can work wonders. You’ll stand out from the crowd and make connections that last years — if not decades.
