Mastering Networking as an Introvert, Strategies for Success in Property Investing

Now some people can go out and network and not have any problems whatsoever , and other people will struggle with networking , don't really like to go out there and talk to people . I've even heard of people going to the bathroom hiding when there's networking breaks at networking events , just so that they don't have to speak to people .

Of course , it can be quite uncomfortable as well . If you're stood in a networking break , everybody's chatting and you're not . That's normally when you tend to see people just start to look at their phone or even pretend to have a phone call and we hope that doesn't ring while they're chatting away to themselves .

If you see that at any networking events , go over to that person , include them in your conversation or start a chat with them , because you just do not know who you're going to be talking to .

So what we're going to be covering is why you need to be networking , the importance of that , things that you need to think about before you go to any networking events .

Of course , what you need to do when you are there , because there are some fundamental things that you really you need to do when you are there , because there are some fundamental things that you really want to make sure that you are optimizing when you're at these events .

I'm going to also cover the mistakes that people make and what you must do after a networking event as well . Why ? Because it's your time . At the end of the day . We only have so much time , so we need to be out there and we need to be making sure that we are getting the most from our networking .

So why you need to be networking in the first place , you need to be building up connections in your property business . You need to be talking to people . You need to be out there actively showing people that you are a property professional . Now , if you're completely new to property , this is a perfect opportunity for you to be going out there .

We never tell any lies . We just say I'm starting to get involved in property . I wanted to come network and I wanted to meet people who are already out there doing it , because networking can open up new opportunities to you .

When I first started networking , I went to some of the events and strategies that I wasn't really even paying attention to , like rent to rent , and things weren't even on my radar at the time .

I saw and I spoke to people who were telling me that they were actively doing that , that strategy , and they were making good money from it as well , and that opened my eyes to the opportunities then to be able to go out there and build a rent to rent business for myself .

Now , if I hadn't gone networking and spoken to people who were actually doing it then and there would I have started a business up or would I have got out of my corporate job , who knows , but at the end of the day , I did . So it can open up a lot of opportunities for you as well .

There could be investors there that can help you , of course , fund your deals , maybe want to work with you and things like that . But of course , also another great thing and why you need to be networking is it will help your education .

It'll help you gain more knowledge from seasoned property professionals who have been there , who are doing it actively at the moment . So talking to these guys and girls can really help super track your progress when building your own property portfolios .

Of course , business as well can be a lonely place , so do go out there , connect with like-minded individuals and push yourself forward . And , of course , networking can be a great place to find solutions to any property problems that you have . Why ?

Because the more people you speak to , the more knowledge you can gain from people , the more support and help and chances are , any problem that you've had somebody has probably already faced a very similar challenge to that one and can point you in the right direction , and that can , of course , save you a lot of time and a lot of money in the long run .

And , lastly , you need to be networking to build up your credibility and to build up your reputation in the property investing area that you are working in . So things that you need to think about before you get out there and start going to your networking events are does the event fit your schedule ? What do I mean by that ?

Well , let's say , for argument's sake , you're a very , very busy person . There's a lot of very , very busy people out there . You know we've all got busy lifestyles and things .

Are you having to run the kids to karate lessons , to football lessons , to things like that Is the networking event on a Wednesday night , and you know for a fact that's when you go and play tennis or you go and do something else , or there's no way in hell you're ever going to be able to make it . You set yourself up for failure if it's not successful .

A networking event that suits the time and schedule of your life . Now I would say make time , do you know what I mean ? But do it in advance . So get somebody else to cover whatever it is that you're doing . You don't necessarily have to do this forever , but it is very , very important to do this .

So make sure that you're picking events that fit your schedule and your needs . Make sure you carve out the time for these so that you can arrive early and stay a bit later . You haven't got to rush in once it's all started and you haven't got to leave as soon as it's finished .

Some of the best deals will be done at the bar afterwards , so you're missing great opportunities . Okay , make sure as well , when you go , you have a clear and easy to understand elevator pitch . Now , an elevator pitch is predominantly 20 to 30 seconds of you telling people who you are , what you do and how you can help . So make it very , very easy .

Mine is hello . My name is Mark Fitzgerald . I am the director of MRF Property Solutions . That is your hassle-free property management company . We take care of HMOs and serviced accommodation properties and we give the owners of those properties a hassle-free time . If this is of interest to you , then come and speak to me at the break . That's it , nice and easy .

Don't really have to think about it . So don't have complicated words . Don't have words you're going to stutter on or you've got to think about . Just keep it nice and simple . And if you have no properties and you are brand new , still have an elevator pitch . Hello , my name is Mark Fitzgerald and I am just starting out in my property investing journey .

I'm looking at HMOs or I'm looking at SA , but these are strategies at the moment that I'm really , really interested in , and I'm here today to meet new people and also to see if I can help anybody in any way . So please feel free to come and say hello to me and I look forward to meeting you . There you go Elevator pitch .

Why is an elevator pitch so important , because if you're in a room full of people and you do get the opportunity to introduce yourself to everybody , take it . You're going to feel uncomfortable , you're going to feel nervous , you're going to feel scared we all do when we first do these things . You might even fumble and bumble your words , have it on notes .

Even reading it off of your own telephone is better than not doing it at all , because if there's 50 , 60 , 70 , 80 people in a room , you're not going to get around and meet them all . Yet you standing up and doing this 20 seconds means that you've introduced yourself to everybody in the room and people will be more inclined to come and speak to you .

It sort of breaks the ice . So force yourself to do that . Another thing that you want to make sure that you've worked out before you go is having a clear set of goals , something that you want to achieve from that networking event . So you could say to yourself I want to meet 10 new people at this event .

What we tend to do is we go to an event a couple of times , we speak to a couple of people and then every time we go back , we speak to the same people all the time . Don't do that . Yes , we can check in with them and everything . But set yourself some targets .

I try to meet five to 10 new people , get their details , a business card , the phone number , something that I can reach out to them after the event every time . If I do that , I win . I make a game of it . So make sure that you've got clear goals . If it's your first time going , you're not 100% sure , just go .

But then start to make sure you're going with a purpose . Another thing is to dress appropriately . Okay , that doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be all suited and booted and everything . No , no , no . But make sure that you're smart . Remember , we judge a book by its cover . We shouldn't , but most of us do so .

Make sure you're looking smart , you're dressing appropriately for what you're doing and of course , that will also be easier for people to break the ice with you and things . But dress appropriately for it .

If you are in your work clothes and there's no other way of doing it and you can't take a spare change of clothes which I highly doubt that you can't do that then go for it . But if you can just get changed , freshen up , make sure that there's no body odor , smells or anything like that . Make sure that it's all good .

Even have a mouth spray if you need to , because maybe you've got coffee breath or maybe you're a smoker , or something like that . A couple of squirts from a mouth spray happy days , you're in the game . Do you know what I mean ? Let's make it as nice . You don't want to be remembered for the wrong reasons , okay .

And , of course , make sure you have a way to share your details . Now some people come up to me with a phone or a flappy card or a QR code . I'm an old school . I like a business card . Why ? Because the next day when I have that networking event , I pull out my business cards , go through them , I start emailing people .

If I haven't got that and I've just got your details in my phone , chances are I might struggle to find it . So make sure you've got a pad and a pen . You can write things down . You can rip pages off if you haven't got a business card , but make sure you just get some business cards . Nice and simple your name on your phone number and email address .

That's all it needs to have , and it can be very , very cheap and cost effective to do so , okay . So make sure that you have these things in place before you go to it . Now don't let that stop you . I can't go tonight . I wanted to go tonight , but I haven't got any business cards . Just go , just take a pad and pen .

Even take some post-it notes or something . You can write it on a post-it note and give it to people . But don't let it stop you . But , of course , get out there and think about these things beforehand . So what you need to do when you're there , when you're at the actual events themselves , is to be relaxed , talk to people , but be yourself .

So make sure that you talk a bit about yourself , but also make sure , massively , that you're asking questions about them . Chances are they're going to turn around if you say to them so what is it you do ? Where are you in your property journey , or what are you up to at the moment ? What are you investing in ?

They're going to do all of that , and then they're going to say and tell us a bit about yourself . Well , I'm just new , I'm just starting out and everything , but I'm really keen on . They don't . Oh , why don't you then ? Is that not something that you've been interested in ? Get those conversations going , keep them flowing nice and easy .

But you don't have to be with that person all night long . You can have a conversation with them . You could say can I exchange details with you , because I really would be interested in buying you a virtual coffee or maybe even a real coffee . Would that be something that you're interested in ? If they say yes , boom , put it in your notebook .

So I just spoke to Jessica . She's happy to have a coffee with me . She's got a couple of bite-a-lets at the moment . Let's see if there's any synergy there , if there's anything that we can help each other with . Move on to the next person . Okay , don't systematically just be doing that , but do make sure that you don't stay too long with the same people .

Remember , if you've got mates there , you can talk to them anytime . Just say I'll catch up with you next week or I'll catch up with you tomorrow . I'll give you a call . Get to the people in the room , because you don't know who's going to be there and you don't want to miss somebody that could really help you on your property investing journey .

Be approachable . Don't be stood there on your phone pretending to talk to people if you're not actually talking to people or just texting things . Listen , it is awkward , but if you are stood there , the most natural thing for us to do is to pick our phones up and start looking at our phones .

Okay , just look around , look for people , look for conversations , most property networking events . If you go and walk over and just say excuse me , you don't mind if I come in on this , most people will say no , no , no , no problem , and we'll include you in the conversation . Okay , you just have to be approachable .

You just have to be able to do that sort of thing . Okay , and push yourself out of your comfort zones . To make sure you can do that , make sure , as I say before , you exchange details and always make time in your diary maybe it's a lunch break or something the next day to follow up with people that you've spoken to .

Don't leave it a few weeks and then follow up , because chances are they've forgotten about you . Try and make sure that you follow up with them straight away and , as I say , make sure that you're following up and you have a system to do so . So how do you get the most out of the events ? Well , listen and take notes when you go there .

So do make sure , as I said before , you have a pad and pen when you're going there , something to write with , because you will learn things , you will hear things and don't rely on your memory .

Of course , you can use notes on your phone as well , but make sure also that you take the time to review those notes and go over what you've learned , what you've heard and who you've met . Make sure that you arrive early and you can stay late . Okay , as I said to you before , that really is so , so important for your property investing journey .

If there are any speakers at the events as well , listen to what they have to say , take their details , see what they're up to as well . Take down any details of people that are in the room that you think are need to reach out to afterwards Mortgage brokers , potentially letting agencies , architects , builders , anybody .

You'll have a whole host of people like that . You just need to make sure that you're getting these people's details and , of course , build a list of their specialist subjects . Maybe put them into a spreadsheet or something , but start keeping people's details . Put them into a list , because you never know when you might need those .

Okay , but keep it all obviously in a safe place and commit , if nothing else , to go regularly to whatever networking events you're doing . And I say go to property networking events , go to business networking events as well , because you just don't know who you're going to meet , who you're going to find and , of course , have fun . It's all about networking .

It's all about building relationships . It's all about how you can help people point in the right direction and potentially work together as well . Have a networking journal . I have an actual journal that I take with me and , of course , I write names down and things . Everything's in one place . It's nice and easy .

But again , if you're into your phones I'm more old school , I like a pad and pen Keep it all in your phones , okay . The mistakes that I see people make when it comes to networking is they talk about themselves too much . That is a mistake .

Obviously , people will ask you questions but tell them what they need to know , but don't be the one that's talking the most . If you're at a networking event and you're talking more than everybody else , then you're not doing yourself justice , ok , and chances are these people are just happy to be listening to you because they they're too polite .

They're not going to say to you right , I'm off . Or they might do and it might do , but chances are you need to be finding out about other people . You don't need to talk about yourself that much you already know about yourself . You need to find out about other people

. Not asking other people questions is also another mistake that I see . It's just maybe keeping your mouth shut . Maybe you've got a burning question .

You're thinking I've got a question , I've got a question , but I'm not going to answer it , and then you don't do it and then you regret it afterwards because you never got the answer to it or you didn't find out something that you should . So make sure that you're asking a question .

If , a bit like me , you can sometimes forget , just jot that question down in your journal and then , when they've got a minute , Just say I had a question before you leave tonight . Can I just ask you this question please ? I'd love to get the answer . Brilliant stuff . Make sure you're getting the information , the knowledge that you need .

Okay , overindulging and being more interested in the refreshments or potential snacks and food can be a mistake as well . Please don't go to networking events starving , and if you do try raining in a bit , think I can get something to eat after this . Obviously , you can eat , you can drink and things , but that's not the real reason that you're there .

And if you're more interested in the coffee machines and potentially the cakes or the biscuits that are there , then really should you be there in the first place . That is a question that I might start asking myself , and only talking to people that you already know Touched on this one already .

If you already know the people , it's a hi , yeah , how's everything going ? Brilliant stuff . I'll tell you what . Let's catch up next week and move on . Find new people , okay , and follow up , follow up . Follow up with the people that you meet maybe potentially the builders , maybe architects and things . Just check back in with them .

I met you at that networking event . I've got your details and hopefully I'll be able to work with you in the future . Just let them know that you are serious , that you are going to follow up with people and , of course , have clear goals . A mistake I see is people don't . They just turn up and they just get on with it . So have clear cut goals .

This is what I want to achieve from my time at this networking event , and if you are taking time out of your busy schedule , out of your life . Maybe you're even missing something with your family or something like that . Make sure it's time well spent , because networking can be so , so profitable .

It can be absolutely brilliant , but you have to make sure that you're consistent and persistent in it , as you will be with your property business . You have to regularly turn up , you have to get on with it and you have to practice these things as well . And we're not all natural networkers from the word go .

Even I quite good at meeting people , talking to people and things like that , but I've had to work at it so you can use networking events to really help you streamline and find your goals . I love the saying the more hands you shake , the more money you make . Trust me , that is so , so true .

All the money that you have in life will come from relationships , okay , relationships . So make sure that you're out there building the know like and trust You're building those relationships . Okay , you need to meet new people all the time . Unless you have all of the money to invest that you need or you have all of the deals at your disposal that you need .

If you don't have either of those , you need to meet more people . Why ? Because that is where those deals and that investment money will come from . So set targets , set goals at all of your networking events that you attend and be ready to enjoy yourself . I have quite a rigid schedule now in my life .

I also try to go to everything and have at least a goal and a mission , make a bit of fun out of it and play a game , so to speak , in meeting five to 10 new people , depending on how big it is . If it's a small group , maybe five people . If it's a big group , I'm going to challenge myself to 10 people and things .

But as long as I've done that , give it a tick , I've won . I've won what I was trying to do . I've achieved something . Now all I've got to do is make sure that I follow up with people . So start small . You don't have to do all of this and incorporate all of what we've talked about in this session straight away .

Set , know , set your goals , make a game of it , have some fun , find people with a common interest , people with common ground that you like , that are doing maybe similar things that you want to be doing . Find out how they've done it and then just basically , you can copy it at the end of the day . Obviously , practice your active listening .

Two ears , one mouth . For a reason , we should be listening twice as much as we are talking , and that is very , very important at networking events and , of course , make sure that you get out there on a consistent basis , you have fun and enjoy your time networking .

So if you need any further help and assistance on your property investing journey , then please do check out thepropertyunleashedcom . Thepropertyunleashedcom . We have free tools and resources there . We have deal analyzers , serviced accommodation , hmos . We have rent-to-rent training , free training .

We have serviced accommodation , training and guides and a deal sourcing guide as well that can help you . Check out thepropertyunleashedcom for free tools and resources . Of course , make sure you check out episodes and if you do want to reach out to me on social media , you can do . I have the little tick by my name , so you do know that it's me .

Feel free to DM and message me if you need any further help and assistance that we can offer you . We do have coaching . We do have training , one-to-one training as well . So there you have it . Everything is there in a nice , tidy package for you . Thank you for joining me today and I look forward to you joining me again very soon . Bye for now .