With the holidays rapidly approaching and festivities on the rise, there is no better time to network. It’s the perfect time of year to start building connections that can last well into 2013 and beyond. When you consider that even one or two new connections can lead to more work and more sales, you can see it is well worth the time. We understand you are busy;but it doesn’t take long to connect and make a great impression.

Here are our best holiday networking tips:

Get busy and start signing up for holiday networking and events – There are so many fun holiday parties, events, and networking opportunities happening now and over the next two months. It’s your opportunity to have some fun and get your name and face out there. Even better are all the opportunities and events that don’t require you to leave the comfort of your own home. Online holiday parties, Twitter parties, fun blog promotions, and other fun virtual events are just a few of the ways you can connect. If you’re having trouble finding events that will provide the best value for your time, try hosting your own. Whatever you do this holiday season, make a commitment to attend as many online and offline holiday events you can. Take advantage of the Chamber’s holiday breakfast or party to connect in a more informal way with everyone you see year-round. But remember, just going there isn’t enough; you need to engage and connect, which leads us to our next tip. [Read more…]