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New Year, New You, New Networking

This month, Howard Feather, business advisor looks forward to a successful 2022 with the help of some effective business networking. Here he shares his top tips for getting the most from your networking. 

Q: What’s your New Year’s resolution?
A. Grow my business of course!

Q: Sounds exciting how are you going to do that?
A: I am going to go to more networking events and project/present myself better than ever before, but I’m busy now so I’ll do it in February or March…

The new year is often the opportunity for a new start but after the break the work has piled up and we can’t see the wood for the trees.

Networking is an amazing form of marketing but like all forms, it is difficult and takes practice to get correct.

I never used to like networking!

I was self-conscious; I hated introducing myself to strangers; What if I didn’t live up to their expectations?; What if they asked me a question I didn’t know the answer to?;  More importantly what if they didn’t like me?; What if I didn’t get any business?

People who know me won’t believe it but five years ago I genuinely disliked it, the truth of the matter, I didn’t understand it.

Fast forwards five years and here I am, I’m well known in Oxfordshire, I’m running two successful networking events, with over 2000 local connections on LinkedIn.

What Changed?

I stopped thinking about what I wanted and started listening. As I listened, others listened to me, we formed relationships, trust was formed, business started to happen, we introduced each other to other people, our networks started to grow.

Networking is relationship building, it is a chance to talk directly to potential clients, potential referrers and even potential suppliers. It is an opportunity to do market research as well as a brilliant opportunity to test run adverts, pitches and much much more. It is an opportunity to build a team around you that will challenge you and support you.  It is a way to make lifelong friends and to create a business of your dreams.

But where is the sale?

Yes, some of your network will buy from you or invest in you but it’s the trust you build in your network that encourages you to make introductions outside of the network that grows your business further.

How hugely successful is the Pay It Forward campaign of sharing happiness, people that have been bought a coffee on a bad day then went to share that same feeling when they are able. Networking is exactly the same. The person you have just listened to and has shared all their ideas will normally finish with ‘so what is it you do’, you have just been given permission to talk. The person you just introduced as a potential partner to fix their problem will probably say ‘is there anything I can help you with’, again you have just been given permission to ask for help if you need it.

Preparation is key

The final idea I would love to share with regards to networking is preparation. Many of us just show up at networking events and maybe even squeeze it in between ‘real’ work. We are the experts of what we do so why would we need to prepare for it. The reason we need to prepare is if we don’t we will come out with nothing. The preparation comes in the form of deciding what you want from this investment? Do you want to make follow up conversations within the room or make new contacts?

The other side of preparation is thinking about the image you want to show? I can remember plenty of squeezed in events that led me to rushing. I was hot and bothered and if I am truthful, not looking my best. This is not the image I wanted to share but also not a great way to network as I was more self-conscious. Give yourself the best chance by preparing before you arrive. Do you feel confident and comfortable in your appearance? Are you showing your best self as if you were about to go into a meeting with your best customer? Have you given yourself enough time?

So in summary, if networking has appeared on your list of New Year’s resolutions for your business, enjoy it and hopefully, these three little tips of listening, helping and preparing will take your networking to the next level and you will see better returns from your investment moving forward.

I look forward to meeting you out there!

I am Howard Feather, a business advisor supporting sole traders, start-ups and business owners growing their business and succeeding in their chosen fields. I have worked with 1000s of businesses in my corporate history and now bringing this experience to local business owners.

Contact Howard on 07836 237431 or visit http://www.howardfeatherbusinessadvisor.co.uk to find out more.

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