I was just on Facebook reading a thread on “Networking Pet Peeves.”  As you can imagine, it was really hilarious!

It’s one of those threads where everyone’s saying EXACTLY what you’re thinking when folks are ineffectively networking (but you wouldn’t dare say it out loud).

On that thread, I jokingly suggested someone compile it all into a “50 Ways to Tick People Off When You’re Network” eBook, so maybe I can hand it to anyone who commits one of these sins.  :)

We’ll it’s not exactly 50… and the best I can do is a blog post for now, but it’s still hilarious, so I had to compile all of the comments other business owners (and  myself) where candidly sharing.

Feel free to reply and add your own – maybe we’ll get to 50 and turn it into an eBook!  LOL!

1)  For the love of Pete, please don’t add me to your email list unless I ask you to do so.  That’s just rude!  Even worse when there’s no way for me to  unsubscribe from the darned list!

2)  Really, I don’t care about what you sell.  Tell me who you are and how you help people.  If I wanna hear about your products, I’ll ask.  Really, I would.  And if I don’t… you get the idea.

3)  Please don’t bombard me with flyers and post-cards – those beautiful little babies are going straight into the trash when I get home.  Please people, I feel bad, save your money.  Or at least save it for when you have a display table or booth.  OR, have it ready IF someone asks for more information about what you shared verbally.

4)  If I want your business card, I’ll ask you for it.  Really, I will.  And if I don’t… you get the idea.

5)  Ladies (and gentlemen) please, dress for success.  Do the hair and add some make-up.  Sneakers?  Slippers? Really?  This is business.  Nuff said.

6)  OK, I get that you have 9 different businesses, but do we really need to hear about all of them?  Please talk about ONE business when you’re connecting at a networking event.   Distributing 5 biz cards or worse, one biz card with with 5 businesses on it… not doing yourself any favors folks.   Hair-stylist plus lawn care plus pet-sitting on one card?  C’mon now.

7)  Yes, we know VistaPrint has free business cards, but can we up-level it a bit folks?  When the back of the card has advertising on where to get more free cards, you’re not looking very successful.  And those perforated biz cards sheets that just got printed at home – Aye! Nuff said.

8)  “Hello my name is…. and here’s my card. Can I have yours?” is not networking folks.

9)  Yes, I know you’ve got the magic product that makes me a million dollars, cures Alzheimers, grows my hair, turns my children into angels, takes out the trash and does the dishes.  I’m still not buying it so please stop trying to sell me.  Please people, no-one’s buying anything at a networking meeting so stop trying to sell.

10)  Networking is not about gathering as many business cards as you can, and stashing them on your desk when you get home.  Make some genuine connections!  Forget the numbers game for a minute and see this as an opportunity to make real connections with real people.

11)  Please don’t tell me how much I really NEED to get what you sell, and how devastating life would be for me, my family, and my pets if I didn’t get your stuff. Don’t try to guilt me into buying.  You don’t know me.   Get to know me first please.

12) OK, I get that you’ve mastered your slick elevator pitch.  It’s nice.  Really, it is.  But can we get past the pitch and just talk like human beings please?

13)  Thanks for following up after the networking meeting.  Nice to see I was one of 20 people who got the same follow-up email blast.  I feel really special.  Especially now that everyone on the list has my email address.  And thanks for all the links included to where I can buy your stuff.  Really, you shouldn’t have.

14)  Thanks for connecting on social media too, but “I ‘liked’ your page, can you go like mine back?“ or “Here’s my page – can you ‘like’ it?” isn’t exactly connecting.  Maybe if I actually got to know you, I might wanna like your page.

15)  Your response to “What do you do?” is not an opportunity for a sales pitch.   Work on articulating a BRIEF, crisp and clear message so that people understand how you can help them.

16)   It’s nice that you came with your friend(s) but why would you sit with people you already know?  Wave goodbye and go sit with people you don’t know.  Talk to people you don’t know.  Isn’t that the whole point of networking – meeting NEW people?

OK, that’s all I’ve got.  Got more?  Feel free to add your own networking pet-peeves below.  And save the link to this post… you might need to refer someone. :)

BUT, if you’re getting a LOT of people telling you they can’t afford it, it’s time to look at what may be going wrong.

Not only that, you’d want to be sure you’re not falling into the trap that too many business owners fall into when they hear those words dreaded words, “I can’t afford it.”

In this video, what NOT to do when they can’t afford it and 3 things you CAN do.  Enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts as well.

That could very well be my opening line in a support circle of entrepreneurs aspiring to overcome the info-junkie within us.

This addiction constantly compels us to seek out the next “info-fix”, and robs us of the results we truly want to experience in our businesses.

In this video I share the simple process I use to STAY “in recovery” because an insatiable appetite for information causes perpetual distractions that seriously undermine the revenue goals and success of many business owners.

To my fellow info-addicts, there is hope.