When someone asks you at Networking - What do you do? What do you say?

A bit of a by the way....

I was recently at a talk by Andy Lopota (author of "Recommended: How to Sell Through Networking and Referrals" and it seems asking the "What do you do?" question as your opening line seems to be seen in the same way as the person that thrusts business cards in to everyones hands.

He suggests that opting for more natural openers to the conversation such as talking about the event your at and leaving what each person does until further in to the conversation. It is supposed to allow a more natural link build between two people rather than a forced link between 2 businesses.

Sorry for my earlier flippancy - here's my attempt at a serious reply:

I unlock the magic of your unconscious mind to help you do what you want to do - and stop doing the things you don't want to do.

Hi Carl, interesting response and I have also both met and seen Andy Lopata present on Networking... I wasn't suggesting this is my opening line when meeting someone for the first time, nor that it should be either, just that it is a question that inevitably gets asked during the conversation.

It is the simplest question to ask because we are all there to Network, so at whatever point... maybe a nervous, timid start to the conversation, or later on when an awkward silence decends on a discussion which was flowing nicely, suddenly this question can fill the void... at any moment... and it is at that point that the question needs an answer, whatever that answer might be.

I've not been to a networking meeting since seeing his speech or reading his book to put this in to practice yet though. I shall be experimenting over the next few events I go to.

Mind you a find wearing a t-shirt with "I Love Spreadsheets" written across it in 6" high letters sort of gives my game away LOL. So rather than getting what do you do with spreadsheets I normally get asked things like "Oh great I have problem X with my spreadsheet, what do I do?", "So what do you do with spreadsheets?" or even the jokey "How sad are you?"

If a child asks me I say I fix computers.

At a network event its more like "we work to proactively prevent IT problems, saving clients lost time and money due to downtime". Tends to mean people then ask how, which kinck starts a conversation about what makes us differant.

I would say that I help people to keep their customers rather than drive them away, and help people and businesses to achieve their goals.

One of the most asked questions and you need a good answer I tell people I help companies grow their online visibility through the power of search and social media.

Thanks for all your posts so far folks... interesting to actually connect with some people and hear their answers as I am genuinely curious... Also Carl your T-Shirt is an interesting one as well... Thanks Stella... you are so right... people are more than what they do...  getting to know people is very important!

Hi Chris,

When I'm aske dwhat I do I generally say......

Well, you know with the recession and economy going through a slow recover.  I help businesses to reduce their overheads and ultimately put more money on their bottomline. As a result a good many are able to continue trading! 

I usually get far too excited and say I do those pesky cold calls that you hate and I love doing.... then I mention my inner geek...... and that I can clean up their databases and make much more revenue in their business.

Yes I know... I really shouldnt love what I do so much......

Great stuff Penny and .... haha Helen... I can imagine the conversation as you describe it and your excitement about what you do... we should also have a chat about your stuff at some point now you've gone it alone so to speak :-)

That would be lovely Chris, would really like that..... oooh the fun I could have selling SME7 

There is so much great stuff happening in 2012... I am fairly convinced that our paths will cross for a good many reasons... I will defo be in touch after the festivities and we should absolutely hook up!! Looking forward to it already already... x