garnish.com.au - Networking

Networking

Marketing is not all about advertising, spending huge chunks of cash on brochures or mass marketing campaigns.

In fact you can run a successful company without doing much of the above at all.Networking is a great way to promote your business.

You know your business, as the owner/manager of your business you are passionate about what you do (or you wouldn't be doing it right??)...

Why not take your passion, knowledge and vision one step further and start "telling people about it". There are a number of organised clubs that meet with this sole purpose of "building networks". You just need to attend, be able to tell the group what you do (30 seconds - 1 minute max intro) and listen to the rest of the group. Then have a think about how you can use that person in your business, or how you can help that person with their business. You will develop trusted relationships that surpass any special promo you could ever offer and you will get referral work from the contacts own personal network as well.

It's true that everyone knows at least 30 other people in business - imagine one person telling their network who tell their network who tell their network (and so on) about your business. That's networking!

Speaking for any amount of time in front of a group may sound horrifying, but it doesn't have to be. If you truly are passionate about what you do - it should come naturally to you. As a key stakeholder in your business it is up to you to lead the way. If you don't tell people about it - why do you think that your staff might? They won't.

Not all networking groups are the same and it's not about group hugs and Americanised systems. It's actually about getting your company some real recognition by basically having a chat and passing on your business card. Simple!

They key to networking is

I believe the follow up is the most important part - and remembering who you've met when someone else is talking to you - once you network one company to another you are not only networking effectively but building up your own reputation as a "resource" and someone to do business with.

Top tips to networking successfully

Walk into a room knowing that you are going to talk to at least 3 people during the time you are there.

Take Business cards and use them

Listen to who you are speaking to and see if you can help that person market their business to your network.

Find out who the person you are talking to is, what they do, where and who would be their target market.

Be confident, not do not oversell yourself

Let the other person speak- no one wants to be spoken AT.

Be polite and end the conversation naturally and move on to the next person

Do not be afraid to join a conversation half way through - it's normal to intermingle.

Follow up on all contacts made by phone or email the very next day.

Be yourself - the contact must be natural to start a business relationship that forms a trust bond - you wouldn't trust a person who was pretending or being false.

If you get stuck and have no one to talk to- grab a drink, watch the room and smile -you will attract people who will come to you in a few minutes.

DO Find out

The persons name - and remember it

Get their card

Give them your card

What do they do?

What industry are they in?

Who would be their primary target market?

What do they do outside of work?

Do they have kids, family, and pets - work this into natural conversation - you might start the conversation by telling them something that happened to you today on a personal level.

DON'T