What is Networking all about?
Business Networking is connecting your business to potential clients in a face-to-face environment. It works best when participants adopt an attitude of abundance and seek to connect people as opposed to simply focusing on seeking out their own business leads. It is particularly important for soloists - people who work for themselves, most often by themselves.
Networking is as much an attitude and a way of thinking as it is a skill. It does involve an investment of time and energy, but it doesn't have to be as daunting as some people fear. You can rest assured that that room full of strangers is littered with people just like you, who may also be feeling a little nervous. So, the key is to fake it til you make it! Here are some top tips:
The Keys to effective Networking
- Have an attitude of abundance, not competition
- Visit before joining any specific group
- Make a commitment to attend - be seen to lift your profile and aim to build genuine relationships
- Always carry a plentiful supply of current business cards
- Appear confident (fake it till you make it!), introduce yourself, have a few current topics prepared to talk about
- Don't hard sell! Once a relationship has been established the business will come
- Use a persons name several times when you're first chatting, listen intently, ask questions and be sincerely interested in what the other person has to say (don't look over their shoulder for a better prospect to speak to!)
- Ask for others cards and make notes for yourself - perhaps one personal, one descriptive and one business interest. That way you will always have something to draw on when you meet or talk to them again that is relevant
- Turn off your mobile
- Follow up if you say you will. Consider sending a handwritten note rather than an email
- 95% of people at a Networking function will be asked "what do you do" so be prepared with a succinct "elevator spiel" that focuses on what you do for others (the outcomes) rather than simply describing your business
- Look for ways in which you can connect other people and don't keep score - this is networking karma!
Always remember that people do business with people they know, like and trust so networking is all about building a profile and relationships. A relationship which might not seem to be initially good for your business may lead to you being referred on, one of the strongest marketing tools used to generate more business. To finish, here are some of the key benefits that you can enjoy when you include Networking in your business activities:
The benefits of networking
- Having social contact as a soloist that keeps you in touch with the marketplace
- Building a support network and an instant database of people to call for information, help and/or products or services
- Gaining customers/clients from your particular group
- Sharing customers/clients through building relationships
- Opportunities to build strategic alliances/partnerships with other members
- Increasing product awareness in the marketplace
- Learning from speakers and presenters
- Building awareness of competitors operating in your market
- The opportunity to create advocates for you circulating within the marketplace
- Getting to know the needs of potential customers
- Discussing and solving common problems with other businesspeople
- Gaining insights into other members marketing and business techniques
One of the top priorities of The Working Women's Network is to ensure our members and guests feel welcomed and included - when you attend one of our events, we will take the time to introduce you to new people and you're sure to quickly discover how easy networking with a group of like minded women really is!
