The sweetest sound to a person — in any language — is the sound of his or her own name, according to Dale Carnegie’s 1936 bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Chester Santos, a memory expert and international speaker based in San Francisco, agrees: “Everyone’s favourite subject is themselves.”

The key to networking is building rapport, and that’s hard to do when you have forgotten the name of the person you’re talking to — or, worse, when you call the person by another name. Remembering names can be a challenge, but Santos offers five tips to make it easier:

1. Use people’s names
Whenever you’re introduced to someone, immediately repeat their name while you shake their hand, Santos says.

For example, if you meet a man named Tom, say, “Nice to meet you, Tom.”

This habit forces you to pay attention when people say their names. Often, names go in one ear and out the other because we’re too distracted by our own thoughts.

2. Repeat the person’s name with a question
Early on in the conversation, ask a question using the other person’s name. For example, you might say, “So, Tom, how long have you worked in the financial services industry?” Repeating the person’s name early in the conversation will help cement the name in your mind.

3. Build a mental link
“Think of a connection between the person’s name and anything at all that you already know,” Santos says. “And I really mean anything.”

For example, Tom might remind you of the cartoon Tom and Jerry, singer Tom Petty, actor Tom Selleck, or a family friend.

4. Repeat names when you are saying goodbye
Whenever you’re leaving a meeting or a networking event, make it a point to try to say goodbye to as many people as you can, using their first names.

For example, “It was great to meet you, Tom” or “I hope to see you again sometime, Tom.” Again, repetition increases your likelihood of remembering names.

5. Add a visual component
Combining the previous four memory techniques with a visual component can help you store more names in your memory.

When meeting someone for the first time, identify a physical characteristic that make this person unique, and that you’ll likely notice again. For example, if you’re quick to notice Tom’s full-bodied, wavy hair, you can imagine Tom, of Tom and Jerry, playing around in his hair.

The visual-based technique takes a bit more practice, Santos says, but is remarkably effective.

This is the second part in a two-part series on improving your memory. Click here for part one.