What is Networking?
The Dictionary definition is :Using contacts made in business for purposes beyond the reason for the initial contact. For example, a sales representative may ask a customer for names of others who may be interested in his product.
In essence it is the art of talking to people with a view to making contacts or procuring business from a trusted source. It does not matter how we do this, a drink after work in the local, over the Internet on a host of reputable Networking sites or in person at a pre-arranged networking event, it all brings the same result of increased business and allegiances with other business contacts who can ‘sell’ your business amongst their contacts. Every business networks in one format or another to produce the same results of increasing business without realising that they are doing it, so, with a little structure added to the mixture, imagine the results that can be achieved.
Corporate Companies are now adding Network Membership fees into their Marketing budget, so it makes sense for the small business to do likewise. In particular, networking is effective for the sole trader, as it gives him/her the opportunity to meet people and to discuss points that they perhaps do not have the answer for, believe me this happens in the bigger Companies as well.
However, for the people who want to come away from a network meeting with a full order book on the first outing, it does not work that way. Perhaps for a printer or a florist this will work but for most businesses it is a matter of getting to know people, what they do and what they are like before the automatic referral process starts to take place.
Some people attend meetings for the simple process of being recognised, rather than to get work, so it varies business by business.
I have to ask the question, What do you get from networking?
2 comments:
What do I get from networking?
A lot of people start out by thinking that it's for trying to find new customers or clients.
Certainly you need to tell people who you are and what you do for what type of people. Maybe even what sort of business you are looking to get more of. But personally I draw the line there and ask people about what THEY do. So I suppose the short answer would be: I get a different perspective on things, some social time and I widen my circle of business friends and acquaintances.
Andy Corbett - PerfectArc - Ludlow
Thank you Andy,
proving people use networking to enforce their brand and to increase awareness of said brand and product.
It also helps to widen your circle of business friends and acquaintances as one never knows what they might be involved in, perhaps needing partners for a project that they may not have total capability for.
What do you (or anybody else) feel about the diversity of Network Groups in the area? Is there something for everybody or should there be something more?
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