Link to infograph: http://blog.assetmap.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Secretof...

Actually it's even simpler than that.

Express interest

That's all you need. Go up to a person and say Hi. Then express genuine interest in what they have to say, or at least fake it well enough.

Then don't make the mistake I usually make, don't stop being interested. Everything a deep and long-lasting networking connection is, is the fact you actively kept in touch.

Yes, we're engineers, no this isn't easy. But you just have to do it.

/me should really start making a habit of keeping in touch

When someone I've never met seems overly interested in me for no particularly obvious reason I'm suspicious.

I meant more along the lines of actually listening to what they're saying and responding in a proper manner.

Rather than the usual "Ahuh, ok great, here's what I do and what my startup is talks for 10+ minutes without stopping"

I think you could also say it as "Be friendly"

and?

This is totally true. I actually wrote about a tech CEO who I noticed doing exactly this in an earlier post. Great points - thanks for commenting

http://blog.assetmap.com/2010/10/networking/secrets-of-netwo...