6 ways to be more memorable when networking

1. Be genuine.

When you meet someone for the first time, focus on earning their trust by starting a genuine conversation. Be concerned about them as an individual, not just as a business interest. If you can create trusting relationships with people you encounter you can build their trust and become more memorable.

2. Body language is critical!

If you hide your face/look down/away, your introduction will become a waste of time. It is okay to be shy and introverted – but be proud of who you are and OWN it with pride, confidence, and dignity.

3. Find out how you can help each other.

Everybody has a special competence from which other people can benefit—you just need to identify it and communicate it so that people can remember you. Describe your unique talents and skills in a way that brings value so they can quickly get an idea about who you are, what you can do, and your professional goals. People remember you better if you replace “My title is …” with something like “I help people with …” And always ask, ” How can I help YOU in the future?”

4. Relatability.

Can people relate to you? Find something where you have a similar interest or connection, whether it’s a restaurant, music, travel destination, or a TV show.

5. Your open-mindedness.

Never be judgemental, keep an open mind, even if you don’t agree with the other person’s opinion or view. You don’t have to agree with everything, but show the other person that you are open to listening.

6. Be a good conversation starter.

When you meet someone for the first time, start a genuine conversation with them and focus on earning their trust. No one remembers those who play it safe with “small talk.”

Bonus Tip: Use the 70/30 rule

The 70/30 rule simply means that 70 percent of the time you should talk about professional matters such as a project, a problem, a sale, etc. The remaining 30 percent, you should talk about something that is personal, but not too private—something that you are pondering, considering, something that interests you, bothers you, worries you, or pleases you. Give something of yourself so that you become informal and personal.

And pay attention to the short personal stories that people share with you. If you remain too professional, formal, and distant, you may miss out on a valuable opportunity to establish the kind of trust that is the foundation of a fruitful professional relationship.

Dana’s Bonus Tip: Always follow up

Within 24 hours, connect on LinkedIn with those you meet and request a follow-up meeting to begin building a long-term, 2-way relationship.

Being memorable is essential for every ambitious person, after all, people don’t know you exist if they can’t remember you.

By Thunderbird School of Global Management Alumna Dana Manciagli '84 who is the author of "Cut the crap, Get a job". With her 'Career Mojo' column, Dana is the sole syndicated career columnist for the Business Journal nationwide. Her remarkable profile includes a career in global sales and marketing for Fortune 500 corporations like Microsoft, IBM, and Kodak.