10 Commandments of Networking a Mixer

1. Have your networking tools with you: your business cards and a name badge. Always wear a name badge and include your profession, if you can.

2. Set a goal for the number of people you'd like to meet. And who you'd like to meet. your networking activities will feel much more productive if you meet the people you'd actually like to meet.

3. Act like a host, not a guest. The guest role is fairly passive in nature, but the host role is very active. As a host, you'd make sure that everyone was comfortable, had a beverage and you'd introduce them to others. It doesn't matter is it's your event, act like a host anyway. It's an attitude that will make you a networking master.

4. Listen and ask. Dale Carnegie advised showing genuine interest in other's businesses to build rapport. Ask questions and then listen actively to the answers.

5. Offer help. Displaying an authentic "how can I help you?" mindset shows that you are attending the networking event to create true connections, not to "sell".

6. Describe your product or service in a memorable way. This takes time and planning. Develop your introduction to include a short, well-crafted description of what you do. Be creative, anyone can be boring.

7. Exchange business cards, but only with the people you'd like to be in touch with again. business cards aren't wallpaper, they're a next step tool.

8. Spend 10 minutes or less with each person you meet. Don't linger with friends. Remember you're here to meet new people.

9. Jot notes on the backs of cards. It's important to remember what you've learned about someone and also what you may have promised to do. If you're uncomfortable doing this ask the person if it's OK.

10. FOLLOW-UP. You just spent effort to meet new contacts, build rapport and then....do NOTHING? You may as well not have attended the event in the first place. this is the early stages of building what might become a mutually beneficial relationship. Don't blow it by not following up.

If you'd like to learn about the 10 Commandments of Networking a Mixer from the one who wrote the book, click here for Dr. Ivan Misner's World's Best Known Marketing Secret. He wrote the book on business networking.