Hello there again, networkers! Isn't it great to see some nice weather approaching, after the miserable winter we've had? There's nothing like a few sunny days to put the spring back in our step! I've been busy networking and meeting more and more people, and listening to their views and comments on their own networking experiences. One of the things I asked them was, "What would you consider to be a good networking event?" and as expected, there were a number of different responses. Some people thought it was more valuable to attend an event where they would build up relationships with the same group of people on a regular basis....leading to a constant flow of referrals. Others preferred the "speed networking" type of event, where a more direct form of business was done on a less frequent basis. Some would only attend an event if there was a speaker or another attraction to draw them in, and still others would need to know what other delegates would be present before they committed to attending.

However, there were many people who were not getting the success they deserved with networking BECAUSE THEY WERE ATTENDING EVENTS UNSUITABLE FOR THEIR TYPE OF BUSINESS.
Let's face it....when there is such a wide variety of events out there, we should all be capitalising on the potential that networking can offer us. If we know that the average business will gain 68% of its work through networking and recommendations, then it makes sense to choose events that will enable us to achieve this end.

When choosing an event for your particular type of business, ask yourself the following three questions:
1. What do I want to achieve from each event? (Be as specific as possible...e.g. two contacts who could be good regular sources of business, one direct client...)
2. How much time am I able to devote to networking? (If you have decided that a weekly or fortnightly event would be most suitable for your type of business, it is essential that you are able to attend every meeting or send a representative to gain maximum benefit, for example.)
3. Are there any other elements of the event that would be of particular benefit to my business? (e.g. a motivational speaker, a promotional offer given by the organisers or another member of the group...)

And speaking of offers, First 4 Networking have got a very exciting offer coming up for you! On May 14th, at the David Lloyd Health Club in Trafford Park, we are presenting our one-day course called Networking with Confidence, which enables all participants to thoroughly benefit from any of their future networking experiences, sharing with them the tools and techniques used by top networkers! Your investment for the full day is £99.00

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
If you get a friend to book onto the course, you get a £25 discount on your own place.

OR...if you wish to book onto the half-day Kickstart your Business course (full details can be found on our sister site: www.adamscoaching.co.uk) in addition to Networking with Confidence, you will get 50% off the Kickstart course!

I'm really looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the course, and helping you achieve your full networking potential!

Hi there blog readers...thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my blog. First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Helen and I'm a Tart. But not just any old tart...a Networking Tart. Over the years I've attended many different networking events, so you could say I'm quite experienced. And now, as more and more people are turning to networking as a means of marketing themselves, I want to share seven of my top tips with you. There's a vast amount of business to be gained from networking, and stats show that the average business will bring in 68% of its revenue by this method. So read on!

1. Try all kinds of networking events. There are so many different events out there, so which one do you choose? The only way is to try different ones until you find those that suit you and your business. Some people prefer a more structured meeting, whilst others find a more relaxed approach more appealing. Breakfast, lunch or evening? It's up to you...at the end of the day, you have to pick the ones that are going to make you feel your best!

2. Be confident. When you're new to networking, it can be very daunting to walk into a room full of strangers. But don't forget, we've all been in the same boat. There are many great confidence boosting techniques you can use to overcome this initial fear. One of my favourites is to visualise yourself walking into a room, looking happy and positive, and everyone being pleased to see you. Brighten up the colours, make the sounds clear and intensify the feelings of that experience. If you run this "movie" over and over in your head before attending the event, you will send a powerful message to your subconscious, and achieve some great results when you get there.

3. Go with a giving attitude. We all love to be tuned in to our favourite radio station, WIIFM (What's In it for Me?) We wouldn't be normal if this wasn't the case. However, if you want to get the most out of networking, you need to focus on the other person, take an interest in what they have to say, and find out exactly how you can help them. How many times have you been put off by someone coming up and trying to sell to you? Keep focused on the bigger picture...your aim is to begin to create a relationship where the other person will trust you enough to start giving you contacts.

4. Be specific. Make sure the other person knows exactly what it is that you do, and who it is you are looking to make contact with. A name of a person in a particular company will be a far better memory jogger than a phrase like, "who do you know who is not happy with their current bank..." for example.

5. Build up a greater rapport. This is something we all do naturally, but did you know that taking it to a deeper level will give you far more powerful results in a much faster time? Using techniques like mirroring or matching a person's body language and speech patterns will get you a much quicker connection with them. There's nothing "fake" or "dishonest" about using these methods, after all, we do them subconsciously among friends, and at the end of the day, people will do business with those they like and feel comfortable with.

6. FOLLOW UP. I've put this one in capitals because it's SO important. Vital, in fact. Ever heard the saying, "The fortune is in the follow-up?" It's true. If you tell someone you are going to email or phone them after the meeting, make sure you do it. Thousands of pounds of business are lost because people do not follow up effectively. Make a conscious effort to do it and you will certainly reap the rewards.

7. Get your face out there. Nowadays, with so much competition in the business world, you need to have a permanent presence. Go to as many networking events as you feasibly can. And don't underestimate the power of social networking sites...they are becoming an increasingly popular way of doing business. Get signed up on Ecademy, Twitter and Facebook if you're not already. Your aim should be to get as much exposure as possible. Top networkers network face to face and online. Look for any opportunities for free publicity...and make the most of them. You need to be "seen!"

Good luck...enjoy your networking...and let me know how you get on!