Network for Growth

Networking Tips

Business Networking Tips

Why should you want to Network?

To find more business
To build relationships with potential customers and suppliers
To solve business problems.
To work together with companies in the same industry to form a consortium.
To gain more knowledge of local businesses
To know your competition.

But most important of all, to help each other. Just think!

Most business people have at least 50 contacts – 30 people in the room.

That’s 1500 potential new business contacts - that's more contacts than an average sales person will meet in a year!

Before the event

Prepare an easy to understand short introduction to your business.
- Who are you? What are you selling?
Keep the message simple and economical with minimum jargon
Can you give a special offer to your fellow members? Anticipate questions so that you can answer them easily and fluently.
Consider an objective for the meeting; this might be to learn more about a business sector or to find a supplier to enhance your product
Think about the products and services that you might wish to purchase. Prepare questions for any potential suppliers

At the event

Keep your objective in mind throughout the event. Without an objective you will find it difficult to analyse whether the function was a success.
Remember to bring a plentiful supply of business cards, brochures and your diary.
Try not to spend too much time with one person. Decide on a form of wording with which you feel comfortable in order to excuse yourself before moving on to another potential customer.
Circulate to meet as many other participants as you can
When asked to summarise your company’s activities, use comments made by potential clients to highlight what your company could do for them
After meeting a new contact, jot down a few notes on the back of their business card to remind you of where you met them, who they are and what you talked about.
Everyone has friends, colleagues, relations and contacts, and one of them might be just the person you need to speak to.

After the event

Make an honest appraisal of how successful the event was for you
Prepare for any appointments you have made
Follow up the accumulated business cards with a letter, enclosing more details of your company’s activities. Create a response mechanism they can easily return to you, or suggest that they ring you if they wish to pursue the matter further

Networking really does WORK

Finding a new supplier?

Look in Yellow pages
Look for adverts in newspapers
Ring a number from a Flyer

You have probably tried all these but what is better than acting on a personal recommendation?

Extend your sales team

Members of Network for Growth who you meet regularly become a source of personal recommendations for you and your business and you can confidently recommend your fellow members to your network of clients, friends and colleagues.

Networking involves WORK

With preparation, effort and enthusiasm, you'll get a great deal out of it.

Remember you have 1 mouth and 2 ears. Use them proportionately and you'll be well on your way to being a successful networker.

Network for Growth Ltd

Focus on Profit & Growth through
- New customers
- New suppliers (including national rates for utilities, telephones etc)
- Solve business problems
- Help to find grants and funding
- Organised exhibitions
- Meetings either early morning or late afternoon.

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