Next Tuesday I'm hosting my first evening networking event, Business Boost Lewes, so not surprisingly my mind has been on business networking lately. I'm definitely not a networking 'natural' and can feel as shy as anyone. But I think it's like most things - the more you do it the easier and more enjoyable it gets.
I asked three friends of mine who I know to be successful networkers, what three quick tips they could offer to anyone looking to get better results from networking.
Jo Munro is a super-organised freelance VA and runs the networking group Sussex Big Fish. She had these tips:
1. It takes time to build a relationship - when you're at an event it's better to try to get to know a few people, then keep in touch via Twitter, rather than try to meet a lot of people in one go.
2. After a meeting, enter the details of those you've met into a contact list as soon as possible, with a note of where you met them, what you spoke about. Write on their business card as well.
3. Rather than just giving your job title, tell people what you can do to help them. Explain the benefits and tell them the kind of clients you have.
Tony Murrell runs Chauffeur Monkey, a Sussex-based service that 'drives you home in your own car'. Tony is a regular at networking groups and I love his four succinct top tips:
1. Always arrive early
2. Pay attention to what other people say
3. Never do a hard sell
4. Be yourself!
I've known Julia Chanteray for many years - she's a business adviser and President of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce, and a champion of networking, with many great resources on her site. Three tips from Julia:
1. If you work for a firm, don't send someone in your place - relationships are built on face-to-face contact between individuals.
2. Build your reputation within a group for being reliable and 'a person who can'. Or in other words, 'reap and ye shall sow'.
3. Sit with strangers - it's tempting to stick with the familiar faces but try to seek out and talk to those you don't know.
So there you go - all excellent advice. Networking is more popular than ever these days - when the economic going gets tough, it seems we all want to work with people we can trust or who have been recommended. Positive word of mouth is the marketer's holy grail, and networking is a cost-effective (and enjoyable) way to generate it.
PS if you're within travelling distance of Lewes, do come to Business Boost next Tuesday - very relaxed and informal and lots of great networking to be had...you can buy tickets online. Maybe see you there!



