The most difficult element in networking is getting those you’ve met to remember you.

In your initial networking meeting, besides sharing your targeted role and background, you want to establish a reason for that person to take a vested interest in you.  (Even if you already received three more names to contact).

Why?  Welcome to the 4 Week Window – This is the two weeks prior and the two weeks after your networking meeting.

• Two weeks prior: Chances are when you meet your networking contact will not have any recent opportunities through their network.

• Two weeks after:  After the meeting, your networking contact heads back to meetings, deadlines and their blackberry.   If you made a good impression, they are likely to remember you for about two more weeks and forward something they hear about.

Unless you get lucky on your timing, most network contacts will not have any opportunities for you in that 4 week period.  Building that vested interest is critical to help them remember you and your goal beyond the window.

Ideas on how to establish/build a vested interest

• Pre-meeting homework: Find out what you can about your contact (work history, college, home town, boards, etc.).  Even the smallest connection can help start a conversation that will help them keep you in mind.
• Practice the 80% rule at your networking meeting:  80% of your networking should be figuring out what you can do for the other person.  A two-way conversation helps tremendously in building a relationship.   You might be looking for a new role, but don’t forget that your network might help them.  

• Develop your connections:  Keep your common interests or their business needs in mind and reach out to them with items of interest (e.g. alumni events for college, business opportunities, etc.)
• Make introductions that help their business:  As you continue to network, make mutually beneficial introductions within your network.  Bringing people together to grow their business is a great way to become a valuable resource.