Business networking events and breakfast clubs can be a great way to raise your profile and win more business. Here are the main benefits of business networking:
- Benchmarking opportunities against competitors and similar sized businesses
- Comparing and discussing ideas of common interest e.g. legal and regulatory developments, staff retention, supplier networks, customer service and computerisation
- Developing ideas, innovation and knowledge of best practice
- Staff exchanges and secondments, e.g. an expert from an association or business network may join your business to oversee a specific project or you may second a graduate joiner to a supplier to learn about the supply process
- Joint skills development for staff in your business sector can save costs across the board because of economies of scale
- Raising your business profile by becoming an established and regular networking member, getting your face (and the business name) known and being an active networking partner
- Expanding markets by generating business contacts such as customers, suppliers and partners
No relationship happens overnight, in business or in your personal life:
- Take time to get to know members of the group
- Don’t expect too much too soon. People will need to get to know and trust you
- Don’t sell, HELP. If your intentions at a networking meeting, or anywhere else for that matter, is purely selfish, then things won’t work for you
- Network at every opportunity (even socially)
- Networking should be used to share experiences and ideas… what does and doesn’t work etc. not just an opportunity to plug your business
- Don’t spend the whole time talking about yourself:
- Talk to members and guests and ask specific questions about what help they need
- Be a really good listener, don’t waffle on about yourself
- People love talking about themselves
So much to say, so little time:
- You don’t get much time to chat with members/visitors, so always follow up and make an appointment. You never know what it could leave to
- Make sure you have a good supply of business cards with you all the time
- Speak to visitors and guests and get their business cards and FOLLOW UP!
Referrals:
- Be very careful when passing referrals, always ask permission before you pass on someone else’s details
- If you get asked for a contact and you can’t help, there will almost certainly be someone else in the group who can, so ASK
- Make a note of what people have to offer and keep it in a notebook – you never know when you will come across someone who needs their products or servicesLast but not least… KEEP IN TOUCH