Thursday 7 April 2011
Business Referral Networking; 1 Cost, 3 Benefits
It's all too easy to evaluate the benefits of referral networking by measuring the bottom line: How much have I made from leads and referrals? In reality there are three benefits to your membership of a networking group. Follow the link to this article on Business Networking Now, website of East yorkshire BforB.
Friday 18 March 2011
Networking tips, Networking or Hard sell?
Sometimes the line between networking and selling is blurred. Follow this business networking now link to BforB Hull and East Yorkshire to see.....
Friday 4 March 2011
Speed Networking On Old Territory
A few months down the line and it was back to the KC stadium in Hull for another round of speed networking. As I did the rounds I was reminded of a conversation I had with a BforB colleague who said: "These chamber events are all well and good but after a while you meet the same people."
Sure enough, there were a number of familiar faces there but rather than feel frustrated I actually enjoyed today's experience more. Today I was a shifter, moving around the room rather than a sitter so it actually helped when on about 4 occasions I could sit down and say, "nice to see you again", rather than launch into my elevator pitch. The second reason is that it was a real pleasure to greet people, who I had spoken to for only 3 minutes in the past, and have them greeting me like a trusted colleague, rather than some bloke who once tried to sell them something in two minutes flat. We asked how things had been going what our plans were and what we hoped to achieve, in one instance giving and receiving advice.
Certainly speed networking has a basic purpose, meet a large number of people in a short amount of time. But today's experience reminded me what BforB is really all about. Those Know Like and Trust relationships really can be formed in two minutes flat and rediscovering that today gave me at least as much pleasure as meeting new faces.
If you want to develop longer lasting relationshipss in business, then follow the link for details about business networking now in East Yorkshire
Sure enough, there were a number of familiar faces there but rather than feel frustrated I actually enjoyed today's experience more. Today I was a shifter, moving around the room rather than a sitter so it actually helped when on about 4 occasions I could sit down and say, "nice to see you again", rather than launch into my elevator pitch. The second reason is that it was a real pleasure to greet people, who I had spoken to for only 3 minutes in the past, and have them greeting me like a trusted colleague, rather than some bloke who once tried to sell them something in two minutes flat. We asked how things had been going what our plans were and what we hoped to achieve, in one instance giving and receiving advice.
Certainly speed networking has a basic purpose, meet a large number of people in a short amount of time. But today's experience reminded me what BforB is really all about. Those Know Like and Trust relationships really can be formed in two minutes flat and rediscovering that today gave me at least as much pleasure as meeting new faces.
If you want to develop longer lasting relationshipss in business, then follow the link for details about business networking now in East Yorkshire
Thursday 24 February 2011
Value Added Networking
I'm going to blow BforB East Yorkshire's own trumpet here. Last Friday we launched a our first open training event for members and other colleagues from the business community. The event ' "Climb the Google Rankings" took place at the ever popular networking venue The Pearson Park Hotel.
This event was free to BforB members and Mike Jones spent two hours showing colleagues and guests how to get their websites as high up the page rankings of Google as possible. Mike, who has been a BforB man for two months is one those rare breed. A IT and internet expert who speaks normal English and can explain things in a way that does not make you feel thick. At the very least anyone who attended this course and who is thinking of asking someone to promote their website , either in a one-off campaign or on a long term contract, will know exactly what questions to ask and how to ascertain that your SEO specialist is giving you value for money.
Real value for money is what you get at BforB, events such as this can only enhance members' networking experience. Let's not forget, in spite of the web, twitter and all the gizmos you can think of, people do business with people. For better business networking now, look us up.
Wednesday 23 February 2011
BforB gives value added network membership
I'm going to blow BforB East Yorkshire's own trumpet here. Last Friday we launched a our first open training event for members and other colleagues from the business community. The event ' "Climb the Google Rankings" took place at the ever popular networking venue The Pearson Park Hotel.
This event was free to BforB members and Mike Jones spent two hours showing colleagues and guests how to get their websites as high up the page rankings of Google as possible. Mike, who has been a BforB man for two months is one those rare breed. A IT and internet expert who speaks normal English and can explain things in a way that does not make you feel thick. At the very least anyone who attended this course and who is thinking of asking someone to promote their website , either in a one-off campaign or on a long term contract, will know exactly what questions to ask and how to ascertain that your SEO specialist is giving you value for money.
Real value for money is what you get at BforB, events such as this can only enhance members' networking experience. Let's not forget, in spite of the web, twitter and all the gizmos you can think of, people do business with people. For better business networking now, look us up.
This event was free to BforB members and Mike Jones spent two hours showing colleagues and guests how to get their websites as high up the page rankings of Google as possible. Mike, who has been a BforB man for two months is one those rare breed. A IT and internet expert who speaks normal English and can explain things in a way that does not make you feel thick. At the very least anyone who attended this course and who is thinking of asking someone to promote their website , either in a one-off campaign or on a long term contract, will know exactly what questions to ask and how to ascertain that your SEO specialist is giving you value for money.
Real value for money is what you get at BforB, events such as this can only enhance members' networking experience. Let's not forget, in spite of the web, twitter and all the gizmos you can think of, people do business with people. For better business networking now, look us up.
Thursday 17 February 2011
SEO Training at BforB in Hull This Friday Pearson Park Hotel
This is the first such event BforB has launched with our partners in referral networking. More will follow,
Here are the details sent out to 500 members of Hull Chamber of commerce, contact us or leave a comment if you are interested in future events.
Here are the details sent out to 500 members of Hull Chamber of commerce, contact us or leave a comment if you are interested in future events.
Is your website really working for you? Boost your Google ranking by attending the BforB “Climb the Google Rankings” Training Event.
As part of the BforB ethos of developing our members’ skills and capacity to grow their business, we are holding a training event on Friday 18th February at the Pearson Park Hotel, 2pm to 4pm.
In this two-hour session we will show you:
1. How to analyse the competition’s website, see what it is they do that pushes them up the Google rankings. You will get access to a simple plug in application that cracks open the secrets of sites and shows exactly who is looking at them!
2. A list of High PR sites to submit your site to for free. This will put your content all over the web and bring you customers
3. The easy steps to take to make Google friendly pages that rank themselves. This is a page structure tactic that SEO agencies are afraid to tell you.
We offer this training to our members as a benefit of their membership and today I’d like to extend this invitation to you for £50.
When you consider that a half-day course can cost up to £250 this represents real value for money.
Why are we offering this?
· At BforB we are passionate about adding value to our colleagues’ networking experience and business.
· We want you to enjoy the same opportunities our members get.
· By meeting our members and other like-minded colleagues you will be able to get a feel for how Business Referral Networking can grow your business.
If you would like to attend the phone me, Mark Luscombe on 07837038157, send me an e-mail at mark.luscombe@bforb.co.uk or send the attached fax back form to the number given.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Successful Business Networking Now In Hull
I had an interesting meeting in Leonardo's Cafe, Hull yesterday with Tom Salter. Tom runs the Best of in Hull and Beverley providing on line networking and marketing services. Essentially he runs an online business networking site. After discussing how we might help one another we had a general conversation about business networking in Hull and the Humber.
We have a plethora of networking opportunities in Hull and the East Riding, speed networking events organised through the Chamber and referral networking through BforB. There can be no doubt that more and more businesses are realising that social media marketing, Facebook, HTML e-mail shots, cold calling or flyers are all good in themselves, but all they do is compliment the fundamental, people doing business with people. The bottom lie about my meeting with Tom was I wanted to meet him because of hs good personal reputation, he appeared to be a person with whom I could develop a Know Like and Trust relationship and requested an introduction through LinkedIN.
So here is a checklist of things to look out for if you are looking to involve yourself in professional networking:
1. Professionalism. No good getting involved in a networking group that is like some kind of social club. Without a professional structure cliques can form and the opportunities for successful networking can elude new or less assertive members.
2. Access to advice on networking tips and skills to develop best practice.
3. An agenda that is driven by a recognition of the fact that people do business with people. A networking organisation that promotes relationships will ultimately produce better long-term business. This depends on the attitude of members, "What's in it for me now?" attitude will only get short term limited returns. Check out this link on the Ten Commandments of Business networking.
You will find all these 3 key markers at your local BforB group. Check us out at the Pearson park Hotel, 23rd February.
We have a plethora of networking opportunities in Hull and the East Riding, speed networking events organised through the Chamber and referral networking through BforB. There can be no doubt that more and more businesses are realising that social media marketing, Facebook, HTML e-mail shots, cold calling or flyers are all good in themselves, but all they do is compliment the fundamental, people doing business with people. The bottom lie about my meeting with Tom was I wanted to meet him because of hs good personal reputation, he appeared to be a person with whom I could develop a Know Like and Trust relationship and requested an introduction through LinkedIN.
So here is a checklist of things to look out for if you are looking to involve yourself in professional networking:
1. Professionalism. No good getting involved in a networking group that is like some kind of social club. Without a professional structure cliques can form and the opportunities for successful networking can elude new or less assertive members.
2. Access to advice on networking tips and skills to develop best practice.
3. An agenda that is driven by a recognition of the fact that people do business with people. A networking organisation that promotes relationships will ultimately produce better long-term business. This depends on the attitude of members, "What's in it for me now?" attitude will only get short term limited returns. Check out this link on the Ten Commandments of Business networking.
You will find all these 3 key markers at your local BforB group. Check us out at the Pearson park Hotel, 23rd February.
Sunday 13 February 2011
The Ten Commandments of Networking
- 1) Thou shalt drop the "what is in it for me?" attitude.
- 2) Thou shalt listen.
- 3) Thou shalt build a relationship.
- 4) Thou shalt give the first referral.
- 5) Thou shalt not tell others of the referral you require; thou shalt "show them" with a story.
- 6) Thou shalt be specific of the type of referral.
- 7) Thou shalt reciprocate when appropriate.
- 8) Thou shalt participate in the network executive, functions, and network time.
- 9) Thou shalt thank the person who gave a referral.
- 10) Thou shalt follow up on the referral within 24 hours.
This useful set of hints comes form this article by Mark McGregor.
Check out business networking now in Hull.
Check out business networking now in Hull.
Friday 11 February 2011
Hull Chamber of Commerce Dinner
Round off the week with a quick account of last night's Hull and Humberside Chamber of Commerce dinner last night. The keynote speaker was Michael Crick who gave a witty and passionate account of the state of British Politics.
I took as my guest Russell McGrath who runs Tandem Marketing in Bradford. Russ had previously invited me to the Bradford Chamber Dinner in November, having been an invaluable source of business advice as well as top class provider of mailing and telemarketing services.
A pity in some respects that the dinner was held on a Thursday, I still had to get up this morning and write my blog send my tweets and meet two BforB members later today to discuss aspects of social networking.
By the end of the evening Russ had met two new colleagues and I managed to talk face to face with somebody with whom I had only had dealings by e-mail. Events such as these are, quite rightly, a celebration of the work of a body that has been around for nearly two centuries. But from a small business owner's perspective the money spent on a dinner was a marketing investment. Putting faces to names, exchanging views on a range of topics and enabling a friend and colleague to boost his connections was worth more than a tweet, Yellow Pages ad or a mail shot.
Any form of networking is the best value marketing strategy.
I took as my guest Russell McGrath who runs Tandem Marketing in Bradford. Russ had previously invited me to the Bradford Chamber Dinner in November, having been an invaluable source of business advice as well as top class provider of mailing and telemarketing services.
A pity in some respects that the dinner was held on a Thursday, I still had to get up this morning and write my blog send my tweets and meet two BforB members later today to discuss aspects of social networking.
By the end of the evening Russ had met two new colleagues and I managed to talk face to face with somebody with whom I had only had dealings by e-mail. Events such as these are, quite rightly, a celebration of the work of a body that has been around for nearly two centuries. But from a small business owner's perspective the money spent on a dinner was a marketing investment. Putting faces to names, exchanging views on a range of topics and enabling a friend and colleague to boost his connections was worth more than a tweet, Yellow Pages ad or a mail shot.
Any form of networking is the best value marketing strategy.
Monday 7 February 2011
Pleasure To Meet You: How Not To Follow Up
Following from a previous post Pleasure to Meet You. In it I wrote about the simple networking practice of sending an E-Mail to someone after you have may them at an event or networking meeting.
So what next? Well not a lot. What is really tempting is to get your new contact's e-mail address and stick it on a list of requests on your LinkedIn account to boost your connections. This is to be avoided. Social networking sites are a tremendous way of keeping touch with contacts, I use Facebook as an alternative to email to keep contact with my friends and family, but unlike others I don't have 399 "friends''.
Whilst not everyone shares this view, I think that LinkedIN and Facebook are tools for keeping in contact with genuine colleagues and friends, if the relationship has no basis in real world then you have no business making "friends " with someone on line.
It follows therefore that requesting a LinkedIn arrangement from someone you have met once and who is yet to write back to you might be seen as bad manners. Like I say, not everyone takes this view, but it is best to be safe and not be seen as too pushy, by waiting for a reply to an e-mail before beginning to tie the virtual knot.
So what next? Well not a lot. What is really tempting is to get your new contact's e-mail address and stick it on a list of requests on your LinkedIn account to boost your connections. This is to be avoided. Social networking sites are a tremendous way of keeping touch with contacts, I use Facebook as an alternative to email to keep contact with my friends and family, but unlike others I don't have 399 "friends''.
Whilst not everyone shares this view, I think that LinkedIN and Facebook are tools for keeping in contact with genuine colleagues and friends, if the relationship has no basis in real world then you have no business making "friends " with someone on line.
It follows therefore that requesting a LinkedIn arrangement from someone you have met once and who is yet to write back to you might be seen as bad manners. Like I say, not everyone takes this view, but it is best to be safe and not be seen as too pushy, by waiting for a reply to an e-mail before beginning to tie the virtual knot.
Wednesday 2 February 2011
East Riding Business Network
Spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening at The East Riding Business Network last night. I was invited by a member Neil Edlin and enjoyed the company of the people I met.
Highlight for me was the presentation given Rob McPhun. Rob is a retired police officer who rose to senior rank in the Humberside force. Rob's experience of managing teams of people in what must often be pretty stressful circumstances is now being turned into a benefit for the business community. Rob has set up a successful personal and business coaching business.
On Thursday March 10th he is running a free seminar entitled Are You Ready for the Fallout. Rob will be advising senior managers on the best way to get the best out of colleagues who may be left in the workplace after a round of redundancies. People in this situation are often said to be suffering from "Survivors' Guilt" and may often be demotivated and fearful for their jobs.
The event takes place at South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding on the 10th March 9.00 am -11.00 am. A second seminar takes place at the same venue the same day at 1.30pm.
Rob also ran through some very useful self-evaluation techniques he encourages his coaching clients to employ. Above all he stated that the prime goal of any ethical coach is to encourage clients to be able to self-coach.
A great evening and very informative.
Highlight for me was the presentation given Rob McPhun. Rob is a retired police officer who rose to senior rank in the Humberside force. Rob's experience of managing teams of people in what must often be pretty stressful circumstances is now being turned into a benefit for the business community. Rob has set up a successful personal and business coaching business.
On Thursday March 10th he is running a free seminar entitled Are You Ready for the Fallout. Rob will be advising senior managers on the best way to get the best out of colleagues who may be left in the workplace after a round of redundancies. People in this situation are often said to be suffering from "Survivors' Guilt" and may often be demotivated and fearful for their jobs.
The event takes place at South Hunsley School, Melton, East Riding on the 10th March 9.00 am -11.00 am. A second seminar takes place at the same venue the same day at 1.30pm.
Rob also ran through some very useful self-evaluation techniques he encourages his coaching clients to employ. Above all he stated that the prime goal of any ethical coach is to encourage clients to be able to self-coach.
A great evening and very informative.
Monday 31 January 2011
Member Training, Guests welcome
Just a quick note to say that BforB east Yorkshire will be holding a member training event on SEO on the 18th February at the Pearson park Hotel 2 till 4.
In this two-hour session we will show you:
1. How to analyse the competition’s website, see what it is they do that pushes them up the Google rankings. You will get access to a simple plug in application that cracks open the secrets of sites and shows exactly who is looking at them!
2. A list of High PR sites to submit your site to for free. This will put your content all over the web and bring you customers
3. The easy steps to take to make Google friendly pages that rank themselves. This is a page structure tactic that SEO agencies are afraid to tell you.
We offer this training to our members as a benefit of their membership and today I’d like to extend this invitation to you for £50.
When you consider that a half-day course can cost up to £250 this represents real value for money.
Why are we offering this?
· At BforB we are passionate about adding value to our colleagues’ networking experience and business.
· We want you to enjoy the same opportunities our members get.
· By meeting our members and other like-minded colleagues you will be able to get a feel for how Business Referral Networking can grow your business.
Pleasure To Meet You
After attending any business event, open networking, conference or anywhere where you meet people for the first time it would be a crime not to follow up. Yet so many people do not. Last week I went to a business forum event where I met someone for the second time. The first occasion had been at a speed networking event two months ago.
So I said hello and in return I got that slightly embarrassed but friendly look you get form someone who thinks they ought to know you. After we chatted for 5 minutes I was asked; "How come you remember me and I can't place you? It's really embarrassing."
Well I gave two reasons. Firstly I used to be a teacher and therefore had to train myself to learn 240 names at a time at the start of a school year.
The second is the pleasure to meet you e-mail. Any time you go to a networking event as soon as you get back, sit down with a pile of business cards you collected. Go through them and split them into two piles. In the first pile put the cards of the people who you can definitely remember something about. n the second put those cards where you are struggling to remember anything. Go back to the second pile later something will always crop up in your memory bank.
Then write an individual pleasure to meet you e-mail. make sure its not template, include a detail that you remember about the person and leave it at that. This is not the time to ask for a follow up meeting ( unless agreed in principal at the event). Nor is it the time to say "Please join my LinkedIn network". Just say "Nice to meet you", leaving the door open to who knows what may happen
So I said hello and in return I got that slightly embarrassed but friendly look you get form someone who thinks they ought to know you. After we chatted for 5 minutes I was asked; "How come you remember me and I can't place you? It's really embarrassing."
Well I gave two reasons. Firstly I used to be a teacher and therefore had to train myself to learn 240 names at a time at the start of a school year.
The second is the pleasure to meet you e-mail. Any time you go to a networking event as soon as you get back, sit down with a pile of business cards you collected. Go through them and split them into two piles. In the first pile put the cards of the people who you can definitely remember something about. n the second put those cards where you are struggling to remember anything. Go back to the second pile later something will always crop up in your memory bank.
Then write an individual pleasure to meet you e-mail. make sure its not template, include a detail that you remember about the person and leave it at that. This is not the time to ask for a follow up meeting ( unless agreed in principal at the event). Nor is it the time to say "Please join my LinkedIn network". Just say "Nice to meet you", leaving the door open to who knows what may happen
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Some People Are Total Bankers
Last month a I met a fellow who really was a total banker. I went visiting various places around Hull City centre to see if there was any interest in BforB. Now the Hull business community is always unfailingly polite and the vast majority of the visits I made drew a courteous response but no interest. Fair enough.
The banker in question was an exception. I was asked to come back another day and when i came he gave me a nice cuppa and told me straight away that he would not, for contractual reasons be able to participate in a BforB meeting.
He then told me that he had given some thought to BforB and suggested that start-ups might be good place to network. He then told me that his bank had close associations with City Works. Now City Works offers support guidance and training to people in Hull. It is concerned with employment, ensuring that Jobs are available to Hull folk and supports new businesses.
He offered to phone the two guys that run it and promised to get back to me when he had done so. He did just that and as a result I met Nick and Phil. Now Nick and Phil are two really nice people who gave me free coffee cup after a friendly chat. Nick may come to a BforB meeting soon.
All this stemmed from meeting an employee who was on the ball about local business and employment needs, has strong links to the business and public sector and put a great deal of thought into how my work could offer benefit to, and benefit from, his connections.
Like I said, total banker. To meet like mined business colleagues, check the BforB website for Business networking now
The banker in question was an exception. I was asked to come back another day and when i came he gave me a nice cuppa and told me straight away that he would not, for contractual reasons be able to participate in a BforB meeting.
He then told me that he had given some thought to BforB and suggested that start-ups might be good place to network. He then told me that his bank had close associations with City Works. Now City Works offers support guidance and training to people in Hull. It is concerned with employment, ensuring that Jobs are available to Hull folk and supports new businesses.
He offered to phone the two guys that run it and promised to get back to me when he had done so. He did just that and as a result I met Nick and Phil. Now Nick and Phil are two really nice people who gave me free coffee cup after a friendly chat. Nick may come to a BforB meeting soon.
All this stemmed from meeting an employee who was on the ball about local business and employment needs, has strong links to the business and public sector and put a great deal of thought into how my work could offer benefit to, and benefit from, his connections.
Like I said, total banker. To meet like mined business colleagues, check the BforB website for Business networking now
Time for a cuppa
Just got off the phone after chatting to one of the BforB members here in Hull. He told me about a meeting he had with a colleague in the same sector that he had after BforB.
He has been a member since December and his take on things went along these lines:
"This networking stuff works. I went to see colleague over in Leeds, just phoned him up for a cuppa and a chat. Any way there are some interesting possibilities I found out after talking with him."
"I can't see why more people don't do it. I can see what you mean when you keep banging on about Know Like and Trust".
To be honest this bloke is a top BforB man who brings at least if not more to each meeting than he takes away.
But by taking time for his business, away from working in his business and buying into KLT the personal as well as business benefits are accruing.
Its simple: make time for a cuppa, people like meeting people and when you offer something as nice as good company you lose no more than a quid (or more if you are into one shot lattes with chocolate on top).
He has been a member since December and his take on things went along these lines:
"This networking stuff works. I went to see colleague over in Leeds, just phoned him up for a cuppa and a chat. Any way there are some interesting possibilities I found out after talking with him."
"I can't see why more people don't do it. I can see what you mean when you keep banging on about Know Like and Trust".
To be honest this bloke is a top BforB man who brings at least if not more to each meeting than he takes away.
But by taking time for his business, away from working in his business and buying into KLT the personal as well as business benefits are accruing.
Its simple: make time for a cuppa, people like meeting people and when you offer something as nice as good company you lose no more than a quid (or more if you are into one shot lattes with chocolate on top).
The BforB Cross-Country Ethos
Somebody I have never met was provided with a lead by someone who I have only met 4 times , via somebody I have only met twice simply because of the BforB ethos of developing Know Like and Trust relationships. What was that? Well here's what happened:
A good friend of a BforB member in Hull who lives on the other side of the Pennines has particular need of specialist Legal Advice.
The BforB member phoned me up and asked if I knew of any solicitors over in that part of the country.
I put him in touch with the Manchester BforB Regional Director, who gave him a contact number, someone who is a member of his BforB group.
Sorry if the thread seems a bit convoluted. It does involve 5 different people but the end result is simple. A professional colleague has obtained a worthwhile lead because BforB is a network of referral clubs. It was easy for our member in Hull to help locate a suitable solicitor for a friend on the other side of the country.
But more important than that, because BforB teams focus on developing Know Like and Trust relationships this lead came about because people know that they are adding value to their membership by simply talking to one another.
A good friend of a BforB member in Hull who lives on the other side of the Pennines has particular need of specialist Legal Advice.
The BforB member phoned me up and asked if I knew of any solicitors over in that part of the country.
I put him in touch with the Manchester BforB Regional Director, who gave him a contact number, someone who is a member of his BforB group.
Sorry if the thread seems a bit convoluted. It does involve 5 different people but the end result is simple. A professional colleague has obtained a worthwhile lead because BforB is a network of referral clubs. It was easy for our member in Hull to help locate a suitable solicitor for a friend on the other side of the country.
But more important than that, because BforB teams focus on developing Know Like and Trust relationships this lead came about because people know that they are adding value to their membership by simply talking to one another.
Thursday 13 January 2011
I know a Bloke: Marketing for your Network Colleagues
So you've been a member of BforB for a couple of months, been to 4 meetings, like your colleagues and get on with the group owner well, even if he does bang on about Know Like and Trust a bit. You've met a couple of the guys for a one to one and you've got some business out of it. Your BforB fee is paid for and even in early January when its still dark and you barely got going last week because of the flu, you had no problem getting up in the dark to go to BforB. All good. That's about as good as it gets, right?
Well no actually. When life looks like easy street there is danger at your door. There is a kind of danger period for business networkers if they get too comfortable. There may come a time when the leads are not so hot. You might even get to a point where you seek out another a group, after all if the essence of your business is meeting new people why not?
The essence of a business referral club is that is a just that, a club and as such people share their skills to make the club grow. Bringing guests is certainly one thing but so too is marketing your colleagues and their businesses. The "I know a bloke" technique is the simplest and best.
Small talk leads to people talking about aspects of their lives that does not have a direct on what you and they may be trying to sell one another. Two weeks back I was able to tell a new contact (graphic designer) "I know a bloke" who could fix his gutter. And he did, then my bloke asked him if he could sort out an advertising leaflet for him.
It was all a simple matter of having a chat but also having in the back of my mind the fact that I know a lot of blokes. If your networking club does have a Know Like and Trust ethos (there it is again) then you'll have no trouble mentioning your colleagues once you form a relationship with someone. Like all good things its an easy habit to pick up once you start.
So if you've reached your network group comfort level time to take the lead in marketing. Just remember " "I know a bloke, keep " I know a bloke" in your mind when your of to meet someone. I'd bet the mortgage that if you do and your one of the first in your group to do it, twelve months your group will not be static and you'll bag more business. And you'll know lots of nice blokes! Follow this link to our business networking site
Well no actually. When life looks like easy street there is danger at your door. There is a kind of danger period for business networkers if they get too comfortable. There may come a time when the leads are not so hot. You might even get to a point where you seek out another a group, after all if the essence of your business is meeting new people why not?
The essence of a business referral club is that is a just that, a club and as such people share their skills to make the club grow. Bringing guests is certainly one thing but so too is marketing your colleagues and their businesses. The "I know a bloke" technique is the simplest and best.
Small talk leads to people talking about aspects of their lives that does not have a direct on what you and they may be trying to sell one another. Two weeks back I was able to tell a new contact (graphic designer) "I know a bloke" who could fix his gutter. And he did, then my bloke asked him if he could sort out an advertising leaflet for him.
It was all a simple matter of having a chat but also having in the back of my mind the fact that I know a lot of blokes. If your networking club does have a Know Like and Trust ethos (there it is again) then you'll have no trouble mentioning your colleagues once you form a relationship with someone. Like all good things its an easy habit to pick up once you start.
So if you've reached your network group comfort level time to take the lead in marketing. Just remember " "I know a bloke, keep " I know a bloke" in your mind when your of to meet someone. I'd bet the mortgage that if you do and your one of the first in your group to do it, twelve months your group will not be static and you'll bag more business. And you'll know lots of nice blokes! Follow this link to our business networking site
Monday 10 January 2011
Lucky 13
Found this link this morning to Susanne Roanne's website where she highlights her "lucky 13" networking tips. Only thing is I can only find twelve of them, here they are:
1. Shift your attitude. Networking is merely helping others; it's a lifestyle and it's reciprocal. It's the way the world works and always has.
2. Assess Your Network. Know who you know. Get paper and pencil and write their names. Don't forget people in your daily lives: the cleaners, hairstylist, favorite waiter, auto mechanic, accountant, dentist and barista. When we limit ourselves to people with "titles" of importance, we forget the people we know who KNOW us and have access to others who would want to help us.
3. Hang out with people of all generations and diverse backgrounds who are good at what they do. They will be wonderful, if not informal, mentors. ASK for what you need; OFFER your help to others.
4. Establish a pre-need network. If you only show up at professional association business events, chambers of commerce and community organizations when you are in transition, that is a huge mistake.
5. Create and maintain visibility. Be seen and be known. "Work" every room. When those invitations or conference brochures or monthly meeting announcements arrive, do what the people who create their own "luck" do. Say YES, to face to face events even when you want to say NO. It's one of the EIGHT TRAITS of people who turn serendipity into their success.
6. Be a matchmaker. Introduce and help people connect with those who can do business with each other. That is the skill of the influential and powerful.
7. Stay in touch with people when you need nothing from them Stay in touch online, in social networks (facebook, linkedin) as well as in person….face to face.
8. Keep people in the loop. Let people who refer you business, ideas or job leads KNOW how the process in progressing.
9. Make small talk. While the snobs and socially inept look down their noses at small talk , the savvy networker know that it leads to BIG TALK and that the art of conversation is how we establish common bonds.
Schmooze
and win!
Schmooze
and win!
10. MIND YOUR MANNERS. Being gracious, treating people with respect and acknowledging their contributions and help form the core of savvy networking behavior.
11. "Turn-about is fairplay": support, assist and mentor others.
12. FOLLOW-UP is essential to create a supportive network that becomes your safety net.
Wednesday 5 January 2011
BusinessBalls' 8 Pointers for a Networking One to One
- Preparation - self, environment, knowledge, and who you represent
- Introduction - key phrases explaining and positioning yourself and your purpose
- Questioning - help, facilitate and enable rather than assume, sell and push
- Objectivity - the mark of an advisor - do not sell
- Listen and Interpret - do not sell
- Inform and Educate - do not sell
- Involve and coordinate - do not sell
- Keep in Touch- keep notes and keep informed - keep ultimate ownership (by now you will probably be selling
I lifted these pointers from one of my favourite sites BusinessBalls. Actually the advice in this section, which is very detailed relates to cold calling. However it struck me that these 8 bullet points are entirely appropriate for networking
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