This holiday season, there’s a lot going on in Pasco County. The Holiday Card Lane and Christmas Boogie are just a few of the exciting events slated for the coming season.

As you probably already know, these events can provide a great way for you to network and drum up new business, whether directly (by sponsoring or vending at an event) or indirectly (by simply meeting new potential clients or customers).

Are you prepared to make an impression this holiday season? Below, take a look at our ideas for successful holiday networking.

Always carry business cards

Throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season, it’s a smart idea to carry a handful of business cards with you wherever you go. You never know when you might run into a potential client or customer while at a holiday event or while simply out and about running errands—so be ready to hand off a card that provides others with a chance to contact you and your business. (Many business owners will dutifully bring a stack of business cards to business networking events, but often forget to prepare themselves for spur-the-moment meetings throughout the city!).

Of course, if you don’t have business cards yet, now is a great time to invest in some. For little cost, you can have a professional, attractive collection of information that you can easily hand to everyone you meet.

Interact with the community on social media

Don’t forget to take advantage of social media this holiday season! Head to Twitter and Facebook to share news about discounts, special events and other important information that can get people in the door. Even if you’re not hosting a specific event, you can still interact with followers and invite them to stop by your shop/restaurant/office this season. An active social media presence can help to keep your business relevant in community members’ minds now and throughout the year, so be sure to make good use of your accounts!

Have talking points ready

This holiday season (and throughout the year), always be sure to have a few talking points ready should you meet a potential client. Do you run a store that sells unique gifts that might appeal to holiday buyers? Or are you the head of an online services company that’s offering holiday specials? No matter what your “niche” is, be ready to talk about it and promote it!

Get involved

Finally, one of the best things you can do this holiday season is to simply get involved. Whether it’s a county-sponsored event or a local school fair, you’re always sure to meet someone who may benefit from your business—so get out there and find them!

We hope that these holiday networking tips may help you in the upcoming season and throughout the year. Business cards, social media and good old fashioned networking are all great ways to supplement your Pasco County bench ad campaign.