The Business Networking Blog has a new home at https://www.nrg-networks.com/blogs.php?cat=1. Please check the new location for new posts with business networking tips, hints, advice and stories.
The full archive of posts is also available at the new site.
For new posts go the new home of the business networking blog.
EDIT July 5, 2011
A number of people still visit here so I'm going to start adding posts here too. It may take a while to catch up.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Do you know where you are starting from?
Over the last week or so my inbox has been full of well meaning advice about goal setting and new year resolutions. The same topics have seemed to dominate on blogs and social media. One thing has been missing from a lot of what I have read - the importance of knowing where you are starting from. You may be a lot nearer to your goals than you think. One of the common mistakes people make when building a business network is thinking that it is all about making new contacts. Don't forget the people who already know, like, rate and trust you.
I shared some tips on how to identify the people already in your network in a short podcast that you can listen to here:
I heard someone say once that if you don't know where you are going then any road will do as you don't know which one to follow. Equally if you don't know where you are then you don't know which road to take.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
I shared some tips on how to identify the people already in your network in a short podcast that you can listen to here:
I heard someone say once that if you don't know where you are going then any road will do as you don't know which one to follow. Equally if you don't know where you are then you don't know which road to take.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
How business networking really works
There are some people you meet who seem to 'get' networking instinctively. People seem to gravitate to them with a regular stream of opportunities for them and their business. They don't engage in the face to face equivalent of cold calling They spend most of their time with a regular close group of associates and advocates and a lesser amount of time making new contacts. They are active as participants, leaders and advocates of their networking groups.
They know that success from networking is about building relationships. Strengthening their existing ones and building appropriate new ones. They know that the best route to people they don't yet know is through an introduction or recommendation from someone they do.
It can be tempting to think that networking is about finding places and people you don't know. We can learn that is not from those who are successful through networking. As is often the case it's the counter intuitive approach that works. Network with the people you know to get to the ones you don't.
As Andy Lopata posted on Twitter yesterday "networking put simply is working with others to achieve more than we could achieve on our own.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
They know that success from networking is about building relationships. Strengthening their existing ones and building appropriate new ones. They know that the best route to people they don't yet know is through an introduction or recommendation from someone they do.
It can be tempting to think that networking is about finding places and people you don't know. We can learn that is not from those who are successful through networking. As is often the case it's the counter intuitive approach that works. Network with the people you know to get to the ones you don't.
As Andy Lopata posted on Twitter yesterday "networking put simply is working with others to achieve more than we could achieve on our own.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Monday, November 16, 2009
Everyone has something to say
Ecademy have been running a series of blogs about members to inspire others and show the power of social networking. In the 11th Community Story Steven Healey shares his story and provides great a couple of great insights into networking in general:
"To me networking is about listening... everyone has something to say.
To me networking is about doing... unless you take action nothing happens."
If you have the time read the whole story at the link above.
If you are wondering how to get started then follow Steven's challenge:
"My challenge is a simple one - Take the first step.
If you start networking online, and simply create a profile on a website then sit back waiting for the world to beat a path to your door... nothing will happen.
You need to be the one who takes the first step.
Write a blog, and interact with the people who comment... then write another blog.
Write an email, and interact with the person to whom you sent it , then write another email. Greet people at meetings , listen to what they have to say. Repeat until you know everyone in the room. Take the first step if someone needs help and you (or the people in your network) can."
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
"To me networking is about listening... everyone has something to say.
To me networking is about doing... unless you take action nothing happens."
If you have the time read the whole story at the link above.
If you are wondering how to get started then follow Steven's challenge:
"My challenge is a simple one - Take the first step.
If you start networking online, and simply create a profile on a website then sit back waiting for the world to beat a path to your door... nothing will happen.
You need to be the one who takes the first step.
Write a blog, and interact with the people who comment... then write another blog.
Write an email, and interact with the person to whom you sent it , then write another email. Greet people at meetings , listen to what they have to say. Repeat until you know everyone in the room. Take the first step if someone needs help and you (or the people in your network) can."
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mapping the Business Problems You Solve
I mentioned Grant Leboff and his seminar on how marketing has changed in my last post, 'Benefits are only benefits when someone is ready to buy'. A couple of people asked me yesterday how they can work out the real problems they solve with their business services. Grant's book, 'Sales Therapy: Effective Selling for the Small Business Owner' includes a whole section on Problem Maps.
It's worth buying the book for the section on Problem Maps alone without the other good stuff! For an example see this blog from Grant on the Marketing Donut, 'Get your sales messages right: Part 3 – Getting clarity in your sales process'. Helpful stuff for your networking and marketing in general.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
It's worth buying the book for the section on Problem Maps alone without the other good stuff! For an example see this blog from Grant on the Marketing Donut, 'Get your sales messages right: Part 3 – Getting clarity in your sales process'. Helpful stuff for your networking and marketing in general.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Friday, June 12, 2009
Linkedin for Small Business
Until recently many people I met thought of Linkedin as a network for Corporate users and recruiters. Over the last couple of years more owners of small businesses & partners in niche professional firms have started to put their profile on Linkedin, but many still say to me "I am on Linkedin, but I don't know what to do with it."
Linkedin provides a great platform for finding business opportunities and now has many more features for raising your profile. I have recently used applications in my Linkedin profile to share my blog, NRG networking events, slide presentations and polls. I have also started the NRG-networks group on Linkedin where members can post articles, take part in relevant discussions, make connections and strengthen relationships.
It's worth spending some time, say 10 minutes a day, to connect with people you already know, join relevant groups, answer questions in your area of expertise and build a better profile. It all helps build your reputation and strengthen your networking relationships.
If you are on Linkedin connect with me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/daveclarke
You can also join the NRG-networks group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=133989
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Linkedin provides a great platform for finding business opportunities and now has many more features for raising your profile. I have recently used applications in my Linkedin profile to share my blog, NRG networking events, slide presentations and polls. I have also started the NRG-networks group on Linkedin where members can post articles, take part in relevant discussions, make connections and strengthen relationships.
It's worth spending some time, say 10 minutes a day, to connect with people you already know, join relevant groups, answer questions in your area of expertise and build a better profile. It all helps build your reputation and strengthen your networking relationships.
If you are on Linkedin connect with me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/daveclarke
You can also join the NRG-networks group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=133989
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Networking with your competitors
There's a great story in Andy Lopata's latest 'Connecting is not enough' newsletter. Andy recently shared a platform as a speaker with former State President of South Africa and Nobel Laureate F W de Klerk. He relates how the 2 political opponents, de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, collaborated in raising electoral funds. It's a great story and you can read the full story at the link above. (There is more about the pair's relationship in Andy's blog at 'The Art of Relationship Building - F W de Klerk and Nelson Mandela').
In my experience people who think of themselves as competitors often find more in common to collaborate on than they think. I remember meeting an accountant who expressed some trepidation that he may encounter other accountants at an upcoming NRG business networking event.
I asked him where most of his referrals came from. He paused for a minute, smiled and said "other accountants!"
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
In my experience people who think of themselves as competitors often find more in common to collaborate on than they think. I remember meeting an accountant who expressed some trepidation that he may encounter other accountants at an upcoming NRG business networking event.
I asked him where most of his referrals came from. He paused for a minute, smiled and said "other accountants!"
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Monday, March 30, 2009
What should you blog about?
At a recent seminar after the monthly NRG-networks lunch at Marble Arch in London Internet Psychologist, Graham Jones, was talking about 2 simple ways to double your website traffic. One of the questions he posed was what was common to the websites we all visit regularly? The answer being content, content and more content.
In my recent article 'top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks' tip 7 is that your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & you build your reputation by sharing your expertise. The important thing is that you are sharing content that is relevant to your intended audience.
I was talking about this last week with the owner of a printing company and he asked me what he should blog about. I asked him about the problems that his customers are looking to solve when they use his services. All of the examples he gave me were about how his business customers were looking to improve the ways they communicated their marketing messages. As a marketer he had a clear understanding of their issues and many practical examples of where he had helped. My reply to him was that those were the things to blog about. The stories, hints, tips, & insights from his clients' issues and problems are great content to add value to others with similar issues.
If he regularly generates that content and communicates that through his network he will build an audience of interested readers. Many of them will know people with the issues and problems that need an expert like him.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
In my recent article 'top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks' tip 7 is that your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & you build your reputation by sharing your expertise. The important thing is that you are sharing content that is relevant to your intended audience.
I was talking about this last week with the owner of a printing company and he asked me what he should blog about. I asked him about the problems that his customers are looking to solve when they use his services. All of the examples he gave me were about how his business customers were looking to improve the ways they communicated their marketing messages. As a marketer he had a clear understanding of their issues and many practical examples of where he had helped. My reply to him was that those were the things to blog about. The stories, hints, tips, & insights from his clients' issues and problems are great content to add value to others with similar issues.
If he regularly generates that content and communicates that through his network he will build an audience of interested readers. Many of them will know people with the issues and problems that need an expert like him.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
How do I use Twitter & Social Networks?
Quite a few people have asked me recently about using Social Media & Social Networking sites to promote their business. As I result I wrote an article for our website on my top 10 tips for building business with the effective use of offline & online networks. I have also developed a seminar on this to present at our NRG monthly networking lunch groups in the UK.
Social media and social networks provide great tools to help build your profile and develop relationships alongside your offline activities. It is important that you consider this strategically otherwise you may waste a lot of your precious time.
To help on deciding where to invest your time and effort strategically ask yourself a question.
"On which social media & social networks will I find those people with access & influence in my market?"
Once you decide which are right for you then you can then share the stories, hints, tips, & insights that you blog about. As I say in my top 10 tips article your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & is the place you build your reputation.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Social media and social networks provide great tools to help build your profile and develop relationships alongside your offline activities. It is important that you consider this strategically otherwise you may waste a lot of your precious time.
To help on deciding where to invest your time and effort strategically ask yourself a question.
"On which social media & social networks will I find those people with access & influence in my market?"
Once you decide which are right for you then you can then share the stories, hints, tips, & insights that you blog about. As I say in my top 10 tips article your blog is the cornerstone of your online presence & is the place you build your reputation.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
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