It doesn't matter if you are a "professional" network marketer or a newbie, this article is for you. If you are new to network marketing, refining your skills or getting back into it, you can guarantee yourself success if you follow the following tips:

1. Attend a MeetUp in your area and bring lots of business cards. This sounds like a no brainer, but I've been to several MeetUps where some individuals did not have a business card. If you're in between jobs or you simply don't have a company business card, make one up that is branded to you. Mention some of your skills in a slogan to make yourself memorable.

2. Prepare your elevator pitch, which is a 15 second introduction to what you do, for whom and why you do it. It's your value story and you should be able to deliver it in the same amount of time that it takes to ride an elevator.

3. Understand the purpose of a MeetUp. It's unlikely that you are going to sell anything at the MeetUp. You are there to collect business cards, identify which people you might make a connection with and build your list of names so that you can prospect them later.

4. Not everyone at the MeetUp is going to need or want your product or service right away. Thus, as soon as the networking event ends, take those business cards that you collected and add the names to your contact management system or email marketing system. Then, on the back of the business card or somewhere else, write if you think you can do business with this person and if they need your product or service right away i.e. prioritize your leads.

5. Call each of your contacts within 5 days after the event. Exchange pleasantries, repeat who are and your value story if necessary and ask for the business. If the prospect does not need your product or service, ask if you can follow up with them periodically. If they say yes, put that person on your drip mail campaign, which might send your prospect a piece of industry news or more details about your product or service once a month so that you can show your expertise and develop a relationship with that person.

6. You haven't officially followed up with someone until you've made telephone contact or face to face appointment. Some people communicate well with emails, but try to get that person on the phone.

7. Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up.It's ok to contact someone 3 times (1 voicemail, 1 email, etc.) within a one month period if you are unable to reach them. Sending an email is a passive way to follow up. Telephone calls are more direct. If you're going to leave a message, say something that makes the caller want to call you back. "Hey Bill, I was thinking about your business and I think I have something you need. At your convenience, give me a call back soon."

8. If your prospect is not interested in your product or service, offer alternatives i.e. offer to help them brainstorm or edit or what whatever other skill you might have to build a lasting business relationship. They may not need you now, but if they have someone in their sphere of influence that might benefit from you, he/she are more likely to refer you business if you've made a connection, either personal to professional.

9. If you've failed to follow up with a 1 week period, the lead has gone cold and more than likely, your new business contact has forgotten about you. Don't fret. Attend the next networking event and reconnect.

10. If you were more than one hat, i.e. you're a software engineer by day and a small business owner by night, only promote one thing. You have to brand yourself to what it is you want that person to remember you by. If you send out 3-4 messages, you'll likely to confuse your prospect. Networking is not an exact science and it takes some trial and error to find what works for you.

Networking events are fun and depending on the speaker or the program, your time is well spent if you've learned something new or at least made a connection. I'm interested in some of your networking stories and you can share some of your networking successes, connect or reconnect with new or old contacts at Bizintros.com, which is now open for business.