While you should always be wary of "gimmicks" in networking
, when done right many can bring positive attention and work well. On step you can take in networking is to use some sort of marketing gimmick for your business which can help you get through to people and so many potential clients can have a connection with your business.
One easy way to bring in more people and enhance business networking is to create a free contest which promises people some kind of return or reward. A free contest will make the potential customer trust you more because they will know that you are not charging them any money for now. The kind of contest you hold depends entirely on what kind of business you have. You can have a testimonial or review writing contest if you are looking for a good review for any kind of business you have. For family oriented sites you can have children coloring contests or even contests like cutest baby model. For catering businesses or restaurants they can have a recipe writing contest. That part of the deal is relatively easy to figure out once you have decided who your potential audience is.
The next important step is where to find prizes to give to the customers who take part in the contest. This can be items for promotional opportunities from any other business you know. You can also talk to sales reps and manufacturers and explain to them that their product will receive additional publicity. You can also offer them free service if you are a service related business. For instance salons can offer free facials and weight loss websites can offer a few days of free weight loss membership.
There are many ways to get people to connect with your business through the process of business networking. The ideal way to do that is to join an association like the National Association of Professional Women or the NAPW which can benefit you by increasing your business contacts and provide you with business networking advice. Once you are a member, consider using a giveaway idea to make friends, have fun, and network like crazy!