What are your best tips for networking in person?

So I'll give you my personal input and what's help me build 7 companies. You can go out and have business cards and brochures and all that great stuff. And I think that's valuable. But I'm always in the business of collecting friends and when you start a relationship off in the collection of Friends Business you will always be successful there are still people today that I talk to on the phone I've never done business with they take my calls because I was in the business of collecting friends.

Again, this is down to always being the Best Version of yourself, always being approachable, friendly, personable, professional. Most importantly you need to be sincere and genuine - to me there is nothing worse than talking to people at 'networking' events who are easily distracted and are not partaking in a genuine conversation - people who look over your shoulder to see who else they 'should/could' be talking to - the "what's in it for me?" mentality. I don't like the term networking per se as, to me, it suggests an ulterior motive. I meet and chat with people, I make friends and acquaintances and relationships because I genuinely like people and if my business grows, that's a bonus. People first, business second.

@Laura Taylor - those event ideas sound very interesting!  

I have a few ideas:

What about giving free talks in the community? Doing "lunch and learn" at locals businesses who many not be an obvious referral sources( eg. maybe at bank/school/fitness gym/hardware store/anything!!!?!?) you bring snacks and chat for 1/2 of their lunch hour about what good mental health is. Keep the focus off of your specific business, and focus on adding value to the audience.

Can you be part of high school career days?

I am in a Women's entrepreneurial group that I have found very valuable. (This is not to say I have gained customers from the group.) I find value in the relationships that have been formed and the budding friendships. I know that if I had a friend who needed the products or services offered by one of the group members, I would be quick to refer, and I am confident they would do the same. We focus on business growth and personal growth at our meetings.  

Well there are many ways to network and get cross referrals: I find having a decent website is helpful, recently I find that I am getting clients from my website or from google ; finding a niche in the mental health field where you become a specialist is a plus; exposing yourself to as many medical professionals not just other therapists who are competing with you for patients; it takes time to develop a base but you maintain your vision things should work out. Lots of luck.

Here's one I haven't seen yet. One of the best ways to network in person is to BE the Networking Venue! Anyone can start a meetup.com group, come up with a topic to base your group around, and start networking event to attract people you want to work with. A few years ago, I started a weekly networking-while-skiing group. Every Wednesday morning during our 6-month ski season, we would meet just outside Denver in a big parking lot and pile into each other's cars like a bunch of giddy high school kids and head to one of the popular ski mountains. We would network in the cars on the way up, ski our brains out, ride the chairlifts up with someone we hadn't met yet (that was the rule), and then we'd leave the parking lot in different cars than those we arrived in. Only did that for one season but we had nearly 100 members in the group and I got lots of clients from it. Another thing you can start is a "live video" online networking event. Did that too for six months every week where we all practiced our live video presentation skills in a supportive and secured environment. Got lots of clients from that too. 

A lot of old personal interpersonal skills are still well done most of it is on a body language thing look the person directly in the face, give a good firm handshake. Maintains eye contact smiling introduce yourself and then how many times you met them tell them again your name. And always always always always have lots of business cards and or a brochure with you and be sure everyone gets one you want to be knowledgeable appear friendly you're not lecture to them always always always be friendly person remember your goal the better you get them to like you the more often they will be to refer to you. This builds credibility.

There are some wonderful tips in the other comments .  I believe the best way to make personal networking successful is in the follow-up.  Everyone has either a physical or virtual business card.  It is what you do with the cards after the meeting.  Are you reaching out after the meeting? Are you thanking someone for the connection?  Are you putting time into the possible business relationship?

I've attended a number of networking groups/events. My most memorable and profitable was a business owner group that met weekly...early morning so everyone could get to their business...one member per category (e.g., one financial advisor)...each gave a 15-30 sec infomercial...one member gave a 15 minute presentation of biz...plus mix and mingle before and after.  Most networking events, like Chambers which have value, are missing one or more of these parameters and you don't have the consistent class room/seminar repetitive contact, which builds relationships over time.

Using LinkedIn in your local area can be productive with a first touch…looking for common ground…leading with value, like a relevant article or asking an intriguing question…then requesting a brief phone appointment where you feel it could be mutually beneficial…finally leading to an in-person  networking event for coffee.  For busy people, over time...this can save you time. 

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Work hard at asking appropriate open questions and work even harder at being the best listener on planet earth. It is through caring and listening that you can develop honest friendships that will lead to business relationships that last a lifetime. 

Within my industry it is member meetings, which includes the business portion, some social time and a technical presentation. For public engagement, recitals are a common draw. I personally attend Chamber of Commerce events and local networking group functions. For me it is a challenge to participate in networking and still get my tremendous workload done. It becomes overwhelming at times. My goal lately has been to find ways to pare down the amount of time I have to spend on social media, networking, etc. I have been searching for a resource that can take much of this off my plate, but every attempt seems only to generate more work and expense.