How do I get the most from business networking?
At Saratoga, Business Networking is an integral and key component of our marketing strategy. I do an awful lot of networking. Most of the time I enjoy it - although the waistline is sufering from traditional English breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
All of the team do some regular Business Netorking. Therefore we asked ourselves the question; ‘how can we ensure each staff member gets the most from the networking they do?’
It became clear that we would need to define what Business Networking is, why we do it and what we expect to get from it. So I came up with a 1 hour training session to cover these issues and a simple sheet to record planning and follow up. I have attached these documents here so that you can use them for your own purposes.
business-networking-training-notes.pdf
saratoga-business-networking-planning-and-follow-up.pdf
Business networking has 3 distinct phases: preparation, attendance and follow up. There are different networking groups that tend to focus on one or two of these, but only a few actually focus on all 3. Our belief is that if you do not do all 3 well, your Business Networking will not be as effective as it could be. If you are not prepared to invest time in all 3 you may as well not invest the money in the events either. Spend it on advertising, or another marketing activity.
How much Business Networking do you do? Does it have a positive impact on your business? Do you have a different view on what it is and how to get the most from it?
I always like to get views of others and share good practice. I’d also love to hear from you if you use the materials provided here.
Happy networking
Wayne
What a great article Wayne.
I do a fair bit of networking myself, but have done a print off so I can have a quiet sit down and assess myself.
Thanks - I hope you find it valuable.
Any other tips you have would be most welcome.
Thank you for writing the article Wayne, you raise some great points here and the PDFs make interesting reading as well.
Did you get any feedback on the training courses? Did they generally help people get to the level you were expecting?
Stephen
Thanks for taking time to read the information here.
Yes it did get them to the expected level. As always, the learning involved is ongoing, but the session has made us all think about the networking we are doing, why we do it and what we expect to get from it.
My hope is that the planning sheets will encourage the individuals to build on this as they do more networking events.
Are you planning to use the material? Let me know how you get on if you do.
Thanks
Wayne