Interesting question isn’t it?
January is the month for asking questions and reviewing what you are doing in your business. It’s the time when we are all thinking about new ideas, new strategies, new directions. Your networking plan should be part of that.
I’ve been networking for a long time, and have written several blogs about it – this is just one of them - https://www.kapowme.com/if-you-network-you-need-to-read-this/
Things I hear a lot about networking sound like this:
Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t get any sales from it.Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t meet big businesses.
Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t have many meetings near me/it’s too expensive/want to travel
I also hear these things a lot too:
Networking is brilliant for my business, I get loads of leads from it.Networking is brilliant for my business, I get loads of referrals from it.
Networking is brilliant for my business, I can network anywhere I want, anytime & budget for it
So what’s the difference? The difference is mindset, approach & process. Let me explain.
Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t get any sales from it.
If you approach networking as a sales activity, it’s unlikely to work for you. If you go networking purely to sell, and have that ‘buy my stuff’ approach, it’s unlikely to work for you. Everyone in that networking meeting is there for their own business, not yours. If you go networking to make connections & build those relationships, networking is very likely to work for you. If you go networking to meet new connections and actively follow up, nurture & build those relationships, rather than just looking for the sale, then networking is very likely to work for your business. Don’t be the twonk who turns up, leaves early, doesn’t engage & then follows up with an immediate sales pitch. Be the one who engages in the meeting, listens, follows up by adding value and continues the conversation. Be that business owner – and networking is very likely to work for your business.
Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t meet big businesses.
Hello? What are your expectations? That your local face to face networking meeting in Chudley-Under-Bucket is going to have the CEO of Microsoft there? The COO of Tesco? The Chairman of the British Racing Drivers Club? Get real. What exactly do you mean by ‘bigger businesses’? If you dismiss the solopreneurs and micro business owners in your community, then networking is unlikely to work for you. If you have the mindset of ‘small businesses are not proper businesses’ when you network, then it is very unlikely that networking will work for you. Don’t be the twonk who does this. You are not going to make friends and connections that way, which means networking is very likely not going to work for you. Be the one who sees through the room, who makes it really clear when you do your elevator pitch about the businesses you are looking to be referred to, and why you are looking for those connections. Be the one who uses that local network to extend your reach with a clear proposition. Be that business owner – and networking is very likely to work for your business.
Networking doesn’t work for me, I don’t have many meetings near me/it’s too expensive/want to travel
Here it is. Excuses Central. All the reasons why networking doesn’t work, that boil down to the basic fact that you can’t be bothered.
Everyone of these points can be turned around – if you want to. If you don’t make networking an integral part of how you market yourself & your business, then it won’t work for you. Turning up intermittently, not following up, choosing to stay in your comfort zone, not budgeting to network – all of these are things that mean networking won’t work for you – because you are letting them be that factor.
No face to face meetings near you? Open one. Go networking online. There are plenty of opportunities to network virtually & to network with organisations that offer hybrid networking. You have the power to decide to do this. It’s not networking that doesn’t work, it’s your attitude towards it.
It’s too expensive? If you can’t afford £15 a week to promote your business then you need to look at why that is . If you won’t afford £15 a week to promote your business then you need to think about if you have a viable business at all. There are plenty of networking organisations that offer free networking, pay as you go networking, as well as great value membership options. It’s not networking that is too expensive, it’s your attitude towards it.
If you want your business to grow, if you want your business to succeed, networking should be a major part of how you market it.
So why do you network? Bob on over & share your views