Nobody goes to a networking event to be SOLD something. To the contrary most people attend networking events with the hope that they will meet a potential prospect or client. They want to make a sale!
How many times have you attended a networking event or business function only to find yourself cornered by a zealous “salesman” recounting the incredible value of their products and services and trying to persuade you that, even if you are not currently in the market for what they have to offer, you should take their card and call them when you, or someone you know, is in need of their particular brand of widget!
Perhaps you have even found yourself – with your Yellow Pages AD firmly fixed to your forehead touting the worth of your products and services to anyone willing to listen.
It is this “sales pitch” mentality which has given Networking such a bad reputation. Nobody likes being on the receiving end and most small business owners also dread doing it. After all most small business owners also hate to sell.Worse still if everybody is there to sell and nobody is there to buy then the likelihood of achieving a WIN WIN outcome is slim indeed.
But what if - instead of looking for potential clients at networking events, you were to start looking for other business owners who share your target market and who might be interested in working with you on a WIN WIN referral program, joint venture or other strategic alliance?
Which would you prefer to meet -
1. A potential client
2. A potential strategic alliance which may result in tens, hundreds or even thousands of potential clients for your business?
If you answered the second one you are on the way to becoming a SMART Networker and the people you meet will be happy to network with you because a good strategic alliance means a win for everyone.
To learn which businesses would make great strategic alliances, where to meet them and how to go about identifying ways that you can work together visit Networking World today so you can start networking SMARTer, Not Harder..
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Maximise Your Networking Group Membership
Many business owners and business development managers start their networking strategy full of enthusiasm. They join a number of networking groups, show up a few times, perhaps even get a few leads, then they get busy and their networking falls by the wayside.
SMART networkers join two or three groups and then implement a consistent plan to ensure that they maximise the benefits from each membership.
Here are our 10 top strategies for maximising your networking group membership.
1. Show up – be reliable
2. Arrive early and leave late
3. Invite guests and introduce new people to the organisation
4. Volunteer – help the organisers
5. Take on an official role
6. Help connect other people who may be able to help each other - be a yellow pages not a yellow pages ad
7. Donate products and services (door prizes, raffles etc)
8. Offer to be a speaker or at least an MC
9. Offer to write articles, reviews etc
10. Send thankyou gifts and notes of appreciation.
Want to find networking groups to join and networking events to attend? Networking World has over 1400 groups listed around Australia and a comprehensive calendar of networking and business education events.
SMART networkers join two or three groups and then implement a consistent plan to ensure that they maximise the benefits from each membership.
Here are our 10 top strategies for maximising your networking group membership.
1. Show up – be reliable
2. Arrive early and leave late
3. Invite guests and introduce new people to the organisation
4. Volunteer – help the organisers
5. Take on an official role
6. Help connect other people who may be able to help each other - be a yellow pages not a yellow pages ad
7. Donate products and services (door prizes, raffles etc)
8. Offer to be a speaker or at least an MC
9. Offer to write articles, reviews etc
10. Send thankyou gifts and notes of appreciation.
Want to find networking groups to join and networking events to attend? Networking World has over 1400 groups listed around Australia and a comprehensive calendar of networking and business education events.
Monday, July 7, 2008
SMART Networkers Join the Right Networking Groups for their Business Needs!
How many times have you attended a networking event where you had absolutely nothing in common with anyone there? Perhaps you service the corporate market and you've found yourself in a room full of home based business owners (or vice versa). Perhaps everyone is there to socialise and you want to make business connections. Or perhaps there were just too few opportunities to meet other people at the event. Read on for 5 top tips for finding and joining the right networking groups for you…
Here are our 5 top tips for joining the right groups:
1. Know what you want to achieve - what are your goals and objectives? - Different types of groups will suit different goals.
2. Be aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses - if you are a self confessed introvert avoid cocktail party type events and look for groups that run events with a structured process.
3. Know what you can commit - what is your budget? How much time can you commit? Do you have restrictions on when you can attend?
4. Research a number of groups thoroughly before making a decision.
We suggest that you ask the following questions:
a. Where do they meet?
b. When and how often do they meet?
c. What is the cost?
d. What are the time commitments?
e. Are there any membership requirements?
f. What kinds of businesses/people attend?
g. How many people attend?
h. What happens at a typical event?
i. What are the group's objectives?
5. Before you commit to joining a group attend at least twice (if they won't let you do that then perhaps you shouldn't join them). Ask other people in your profession or with similar goals to your own what benefits they have gained from membership. Make sure that you feel comfortable with other group members.
Looking for networking groups to join or events to attend?
Networking World is Australia's most comprehensive directory of networking opportunities for small business owners.
Here are our 5 top tips for joining the right groups:
1. Know what you want to achieve - what are your goals and objectives? - Different types of groups will suit different goals.
2. Be aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses - if you are a self confessed introvert avoid cocktail party type events and look for groups that run events with a structured process.
3. Know what you can commit - what is your budget? How much time can you commit? Do you have restrictions on when you can attend?
4. Research a number of groups thoroughly before making a decision.
We suggest that you ask the following questions:
a. Where do they meet?
b. When and how often do they meet?
c. What is the cost?
d. What are the time commitments?
e. Are there any membership requirements?
f. What kinds of businesses/people attend?
g. How many people attend?
h. What happens at a typical event?
i. What are the group's objectives?
5. Before you commit to joining a group attend at least twice (if they won't let you do that then perhaps you shouldn't join them). Ask other people in your profession or with similar goals to your own what benefits they have gained from membership. Make sure that you feel comfortable with other group members.
Looking for networking groups to join or events to attend?
Networking World is Australia's most comprehensive directory of networking opportunities for small business owners.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Where in the World is Networking World - Monash Business Incubator Learning Lunch
If you are located within reasonable travelling distance of the Monash Business Incubator these Learning Lunches are definitely worth checking out.
What do you get?
As the poeple who attended my session there last week were quick to inform me number one on their agenda was the free lunch - but seriously you also get the opportunity to listen to an informative speaker and network with a variety of small business owners.
The speaker last week was me so I won't spend time raving about the information provided. The sandwiches were delicious and the networking opportunites were fantastic with a very interesting range of businesses.
If you would like to be kept up to date with Monash Business Incubator Learning Lunches and other networking opportunities around Melbourne Networking World provides a comprehensive directory of networking groups and a calendar of events (typically more than 5o events from a variety of different organisations every month)
What do you get?
As the poeple who attended my session there last week were quick to inform me number one on their agenda was the free lunch - but seriously you also get the opportunity to listen to an informative speaker and network with a variety of small business owners.
The speaker last week was me so I won't spend time raving about the information provided. The sandwiches were delicious and the networking opportunites were fantastic with a very interesting range of businesses.
If you would like to be kept up to date with Monash Business Incubator Learning Lunches and other networking opportunities around Melbourne Networking World provides a comprehensive directory of networking groups and a calendar of events (typically more than 5o events from a variety of different organisations every month)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Network Central and Business Chicks
Well looking back over the past seven days my time management has take a bit of a backslide - two networking events last week and no entries in the Blog.
So before this week catches up with me I thought I should remedy the situation and tell you about High End Networking at Network Central and Musical Chairs at Business Chicks.
The speaker at this month’s Network Central Breakfast was Julia Palmer from BConsulted. Julia is a business relationship specialist and an engaging speaker with a number of insights on effective networking plus some entertaining stories to share.
One point Julia stressed which is often forgotten is that you don’t have to share business cards with everyone you meet. Networking is about building relationships not becoming a serial card giver or card collector.Business cards are a way of sharing contact details with people you have met that you want to stay in touch with. They should not be treated like confetti and thrown at every stranger you meet. Similarly you don’t have to become a serial card collector with a bottom draw full of business cards from people you will probably never speak to again. The other point Julia made which really stood out for me was to do with building a network of mentors and advisors – people you can turn to for advice, encouragement and support .For small business owners this is particularly important as they are often alone and the benefits of being part of a team are something they often miss out on. (Plus remember don’t just be a taker – who could you help and encourage?)
I am sure we have all played Musical Chairs at sometime or another and Business Chicks Musical Chairs variation on Speed Networking was an excellent innovation. I have attended a variety of Speed Networking events over the past couple of years and this was definitely the best. (Unlike traditional Musical Chairs nobody was out and I got to meet a wide variety of interesting women.) What made it better than other Speed Networking Events? Firstly there was plenty of time for reasonable introductions – certainly time enough to decide whether or not to exchange business cards (no need to become a card giver or card taker). Secondly, and this has been lacking in most Speed Networking Events I have attended, there was plenty of room so quiet conversations were possible without the need to shout over the couple sitting next to you. Thirdly is was well managed by friendly staff who made sure that no-one wasted precious networking time hunting for a partner to talk to.
Overall well done Business Chicks for putting an excellent new slant on the Speed Networking Concept!
Now I have to dive off and do the follow up which also fell by the way side over the past 7 days. It is an alarming statistic that 90% of connections made networking events are never followed up on and I don’t want to become a statistic!
You can find Network Central, Business Chicks and hundreds of other networking groups and opportunities around Australia listed in the Networking World Group Directory. Plus get hints and tips on networking strategies to help you grow your business.
So before this week catches up with me I thought I should remedy the situation and tell you about High End Networking at Network Central and Musical Chairs at Business Chicks.
The speaker at this month’s Network Central Breakfast was Julia Palmer from BConsulted. Julia is a business relationship specialist and an engaging speaker with a number of insights on effective networking plus some entertaining stories to share.
One point Julia stressed which is often forgotten is that you don’t have to share business cards with everyone you meet. Networking is about building relationships not becoming a serial card giver or card collector.Business cards are a way of sharing contact details with people you have met that you want to stay in touch with. They should not be treated like confetti and thrown at every stranger you meet. Similarly you don’t have to become a serial card collector with a bottom draw full of business cards from people you will probably never speak to again. The other point Julia made which really stood out for me was to do with building a network of mentors and advisors – people you can turn to for advice, encouragement and support .For small business owners this is particularly important as they are often alone and the benefits of being part of a team are something they often miss out on. (Plus remember don’t just be a taker – who could you help and encourage?)
I am sure we have all played Musical Chairs at sometime or another and Business Chicks Musical Chairs variation on Speed Networking was an excellent innovation. I have attended a variety of Speed Networking events over the past couple of years and this was definitely the best. (Unlike traditional Musical Chairs nobody was out and I got to meet a wide variety of interesting women.) What made it better than other Speed Networking Events? Firstly there was plenty of time for reasonable introductions – certainly time enough to decide whether or not to exchange business cards (no need to become a card giver or card taker). Secondly, and this has been lacking in most Speed Networking Events I have attended, there was plenty of room so quiet conversations were possible without the need to shout over the couple sitting next to you. Thirdly is was well managed by friendly staff who made sure that no-one wasted precious networking time hunting for a partner to talk to.
Overall well done Business Chicks for putting an excellent new slant on the Speed Networking Concept!
Now I have to dive off and do the follow up which also fell by the way side over the past 7 days. It is an alarming statistic that 90% of connections made networking events are never followed up on and I don’t want to become a statistic!
You can find Network Central, Business Chicks and hundreds of other networking groups and opportunities around Australia listed in the Networking World Group Directory. Plus get hints and tips on networking strategies to help you grow your business.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Where in the World is Networking World - American Chamber of Commerce
Delicious lunch at the Crown River Room. Plus a fantastic and extremely interesting speaker - John Fleming Ph.D. is a Principal at Gallup and Chief Scientist for Gallup's Customer Engagement and Human Sigma Practices. What does that mean? Basically it's all about how you can improve your bottom line 2.6 times more than your competitors if you combine your focus on maximising both customer AND staff engagement! Engaged employees X engaged customers = increased profits. And who doesn't want to do that???
Like to find out more Fleming is the co-author of the Harvard Business Review article "Managing Your Human Sigma".
However the other interesting thing I picked up at this lunch was to do with how small business owners need to behave when they are networking with bigger businesses. I had a chat to a couple of bigger business owners and this is the feedback they gave me.
1. Don't talk about yourself - listen, listen, listen and when you do speak - focus on the issues and problems the other person has been discussing. Makes sense huh? This particular person mentioned two examples - one with the sixty second infomercial about themselves - they got absolutely no-where. And another person who spent the whole lunch quietly listening to the conversation - then rang later to discuss the possiblilty of a solution to the problem under discussion. They got the contract.
2. Follow up! the other person I spoke to mentioned someone they met at a lunch. Rapport was built. The person I was talking to was genuinely interested in exploring what the small business owner had to offer. Guess what? He never heard from the other person again!
Really no different from how you should behave wherever you network.
Listen and follow up! What more can I say!
Want to know more about how to network effectively and what questions to ask to make the follow up easy? Visit www.networkingworld.net.au where we help you network SMARTer not harder!
Like to find out more Fleming is the co-author of the Harvard Business Review article "Managing Your Human Sigma".
However the other interesting thing I picked up at this lunch was to do with how small business owners need to behave when they are networking with bigger businesses. I had a chat to a couple of bigger business owners and this is the feedback they gave me.
1. Don't talk about yourself - listen, listen, listen and when you do speak - focus on the issues and problems the other person has been discussing. Makes sense huh? This particular person mentioned two examples - one with the sixty second infomercial about themselves - they got absolutely no-where. And another person who spent the whole lunch quietly listening to the conversation - then rang later to discuss the possiblilty of a solution to the problem under discussion. They got the contract.
2. Follow up! the other person I spoke to mentioned someone they met at a lunch. Rapport was built. The person I was talking to was genuinely interested in exploring what the small business owner had to offer. Guess what? He never heard from the other person again!
Really no different from how you should behave wherever you network.
Listen and follow up! What more can I say!
Want to know more about how to network effectively and what questions to ask to make the follow up easy? Visit www.networkingworld.net.au where we help you network SMARTer not harder!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Where in the World is Networking World - Australian Businesswomen's Network
Last night I was inspired and awed by three amazing women who have all deservedly been awarded Telstra Business Woman awards over the past 3 years.
Linda Sorrell - Chief Executive of Melbourne Health and National winner of the 2007 IBM Community and Government Award and 2007 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year.
Diana Williams - Founder and Chairman of the Board of Fernwood Women's Health Clubs and 2005 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Amy Sznicer - 2006 Panasonic Young Women’s Award Winner. Amy is now the National Retail Manager for the fashion brand WITCHERY.
The evening was MC'd by Margot Spalding - 2006 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year - Co-Owner and Co-Director, Jimmy Possum Furniture Pty Ltd.
This event was presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network and sponsored by the Telstra Business Women's Awards.
Watch out in the NetworkingWorld calendar of events for other events presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network.
Linda Sorrell - Chief Executive of Melbourne Health and National winner of the 2007 IBM Community and Government Award and 2007 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year.
Diana Williams - Founder and Chairman of the Board of Fernwood Women's Health Clubs and 2005 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year.
Amy Sznicer - 2006 Panasonic Young Women’s Award Winner. Amy is now the National Retail Manager for the fashion brand WITCHERY.
The evening was MC'd by Margot Spalding - 2006 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year - Co-Owner and Co-Director, Jimmy Possum Furniture Pty Ltd.
This event was presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network and sponsored by the Telstra Business Women's Awards.
Watch out in the NetworkingWorld calendar of events for other events presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)