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Although not for everyone, networking is central to the development and growth of many businesses, particularly in the SME and B2B sectors. This might be for purely lead generation but also for support and friendship among like-minded individuals. Running your own business – even if you employ staff- can be a very lonely experience.
Networking can also be an area of
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marketing which can easily be a waste of valuable time. So if networking is for you – what are some key hints and tips from those who are recognised across the South West for being experts?
John Raine, owner of office and business products company Tarka, was recently named Networker of the Year at the South West Business & Community Awards. He’ s
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also launched a programme of professional support for those who want to network effectively and fear they are not making the most of the opportunity.
John, 76, was one of the first members of the national organisation 4Networking – which as its HQ in Taunton, Somerset and now has 5,000 active groups around the UK. The organisation has thousands of members
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from sole traders running an enterprise from home through to corporates who want to engage with other businesses in their communities, large and small.
John joined 4Networking in 2006 and is well known throughout the network. He is now a senior regional leader supporting other leaders across the UK to effectively manage their groups and local membership.
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JOHN RAINE’ S TOP 10 NETWORKING TIPS |
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1. Mindset – make sure you look happy and friendly, be positive and ready to engage immediately with everybody in the room.
2. Friendly but business-like – make smart decisions about who you want to talk to in the room. If possible, find out who’ s going to be attending beforehand and make a plan of who to make contact with.
3. Business cards- some people say they’ re old hat now, but that’ s not true – they are a necessary tool.
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4. Be present – look into people’ s eyes directly and have a firm and friendly handshake.
5. Summarise – give a concise summary of your business, not a lecture and let them know how networking has worked for you.
6. Listen – be interested and ask open questions such as‘ how’ s business been lately?’, or‘ what are your successes?’, or‘ what have your challenges been?.’
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7. Plan – if you exchange business cards, do it with a purpose. For example, ask if it’ s okay to follow each other on social media or can I call you tomorrow( and make the call).
8. Email – only email if that’ s been mutually agreed between you. Make a judgement about if they’ re serious about receiving your email or they’ re just trying to get rid of you.
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9. Relationship – remember it’ s always relationship first, business second. The 4Networking mantra is‘ meet, like, know, trust’ and it works.
10. Connect – look for business opportunities between other businesses outside your own which you see as obvious. People will thank – and remember you – for it.
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