News & Tips

Business networking can be a very under-rated way to build new relationships with would be clients and referrers.    Making it work for you could form a crucial part of your marketing mix...  

As all successful sales people will tell you, people buy from people.    So why then as a nation, are we reducing the time we invest in business networking events? Business networking can be a very effective sales tool, provided you are prepared to put in the effort and are determined to make it work for you.

The Right Group
Probably the most important step is finding the right networking events for you, and since most are breakfast groups, ask yourself the question “am I a morning person?” ... if the answer to that question is no then look for groups that either meet for lunch or after hours if you can fit this around your lifestyle.    The next step is to learn a little about the members of that group and the size of the organisations that attend.

The Right Pitch
Walking into a room full of strangers can be a very difficult thing for many people, however one of the best kept secrets of networking is that almost everyone is nervous; many people in the room will feel just the same as you!   Aanother is that it’s not just about selling ... it may take many weeks to come away from an event with a client or even a warm lead.   Networking is about establishing and maintaining long-term contacts who could potentially refer business to you, and you in turn to them.

Follow-Up!
Don’t just collect business cards; it’s crucial that you follow-up within 2-3 days, reminding that person of the topic you were discussing and why not send something useful, such as a link or attachment that may be of further interest?   This is a great way to stay on a prospects radar.    Help your fellow members, this is a great way to build-up good will, trust and a solid foundation for future recommendations and rich networking experience.

Little Black Box is a member of 4Networking and North East Chamber of Commerce.