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