Before I forget: I love black tea when networking. I just do.

• It freshens your breath, quite unlike its darker counterpart. The tannins make the bad guys go away. (This trick only works if you don't have sugar in it). 
• It has lower caffeine than coffee but enough to make your eyes track a little clearer. 
• It's cheap and everywhere.
• You can have it as zero calories and it is uniformly better than tap water in just about every city except Portland.

Networking is the practice of creating community. Creating a business requires creating teams of people. When you're a small business, many of the people on your 'team' are other businesses and professionals you meet in your daily adventures.

• Offer value when you network—don't just look for where you can take something for yourself.
• Listen for people’s commitments and how to acknowledge them and serve them.

• Friends and family—make sure that you know what they’re up to, too. 
• Can your friends and family articulate what you do and identify other people you’d like to help?
• Neighbors and acquaintances: are there people you know who don't know what you do?

• Handwritten notes are your best bet
• Phone calls and emails, if personal enough, are a distant second
• Send referrals to people you do business with, or want to do business with

• Always ask people if they would like to have coffee or lunch to continue your conversation. 
• Carry a calendar, and ask to set a time right then.
• Have times & places in mind already so that you can cluster-book and become a regular at a cafe or restaurant—another potential new community.
• Confirm the appointment if you are unsure that they’ll make it

• There’s an truth in business which applies particularly well to networking: If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. 
• Track your leads and connections, and more importantly, track what you’ve done for them recently.

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