Who is really in the room?

I was in a training session yesterday with a new franchisee. Part of the session was about a seminar that we run on effective business networking and the questions that crop up from attendees. A colleague, Kim, related a story from a seminar in Gloucestershire.

One of the attendees at the end said, "That's all very well, but I need to talk at Director level in Financial Services Companies. Nobody here will be able to help"

Kim challenged him to name a Company and ask who had contacts. He named the largest insurance company in Cheltenham. 30 out of the 40 people there knew Directors either personally or professionally!

It was down to him then to connect with people and form relationships that would lead to an introduction.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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How to make an impact in 60 seconds

Someone asked me today for any tips on making an impact during a 60 second introduction at a networking event. I hear a lot of 60 second (or more!) presentations and so I thought about the most effective ones I had heard.

They are the ones where the person is clear and enthusiastic about who they are, the problems they solve, their target market, and what they are looking for. Spoken in language that we can all understand, and they are being themselves, genuine and authentic.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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When creating a good impression pays dividends!

I was at a lunchtime networking meeting the other day and my neighbour, Richard, told me a great story. He has a successful web design business and was bidding recently for a medium sized company's redesign. It was a competitive bid and he was one of a number showing their wares. He was not hopeful, especially as the Managing Director was reputedly a 'toughy' and feared by his employess. The presentation was going to be difficult.

The Managing Director walked into the room, espied Richard and exclaimed "I know you!" It happened that some 18 months earlier Richard had presented for 5 minutes to a local IoD networking meeting. The Managing Director was also a member of the IoD and had seen Richard present. They didn't meet but the Managing Director had a good memory.

Richard was welcomed as a member of the same club, breezed through the presentation and, guess what, he got the business.

The moral of the story is not to join the IoD (unless you want to), rather it is to take the opporunity to 'put yourself about' whenver you can. You never know when a future client may be listening!

Martin Davies
NRG Business Networks

How not to network

I was at an event last week and engaged in conversation with someone I had just met. A third person came over, interrupted our conversation and thrust literature in both our hands! Then he moved on to distribute more amongst the other attendees.

Where do you think the rather expensively produced leaflet ended up?

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Do you connect or just collect?

When you meet someone networking do you really take the time to engage in conversation? To really listen to what they tell you about themselves and what they do. Do you ask questions that reveal more than just business stuff? The kind that really bring the other person to life. That's the way to start a mutually beneficial business relationship.

I meet people who just collect a business card and move on. Sometimes they just give their card!

Make sure you take the time to connect and not just collect.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success