Aakash Patel, president of Elevate, Inc, revealed the methods and strategies that coined him Tampa Bay’s “Master Networker” by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The presentation was held at Bonefish Grill Carrollwood with Carrollwood Area Business Association (CABA) and attracted professionals from a wide variety of industries. Attendees learned that networking is an art anyone can master and implement into their business; it’s a skill that should not be undermined or overlooked, especially in a city like Tampa. Strategic networking’s positive impact is worth the effort.

Aakash shared the Do’s and Dont’s of networking. Always having business cards on hand topped the Do list. Patel underscored the importance of working the room. Talking with as many new contacts as possible is key. A precise elevator pitch is essential. In order to make connections tangible, a follow up strategy is needed. Follow up with contacts within 24 hours and detail both the pleasure of meeting them and how your business can serve them. Logging new contacts in a spreadsheet promotes organization, and contacts’ names, contact information, and status of follow up should be included. If new contacts don’t reply within 24 hours, it’s important to reach out again.

Patel reminded participants not to underestimate the power of social media. Profiles should be complete. Sites like LinkedIn offer services to evaluate user profiles. Being affiliated with non-profits and charities opens opportunities for both online and face-to-face connections. Community service should be featured on a LinkedIn profile.  

Aakash closed by discussing networking mishaps. While confidence is a good attribute, humility is too. It’s important to share the talking space. Successful people don’t enter networking opporutunities blindly; have a strategy and set goals. Always research to get a sense of who else will attend specific events. Networking can lead to great success: use limited time wisely and meet as many people as possible.