I was speaking with someone today that I had recently connected with on Facebook, an online social networking site. She said that since we connected lots of other people that she knew had found her & got in touch. Social networking sites are great for connecting and then building your visibility and reputation, an essential part of networking. They are also a great way of finding the connectors in your area. Those people with a large network that can connect you quickly to someone.
I regularly use, enjoy and recommend social networking sites like Facebook, Ecademy, Linkedin and Xing.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Social Network for Business Networking Professionals to market their business, press, blogs, events and networks.
Networking groups save time
I network for advocates, those people that will recommend me unreservedly. I find that building trusted relationships and becoming an advocate for others first is the best way of doing this. I look for networking groups where the members have a similar outlook.
A couple of months ago I had the opportunity of hosting a meeting for a group I belong to. I decided to give people an exercise in becoming an advocate quickly. Before that I shared some numbers about my experiences in building relationships within the group;
I have subsequently calculated that to achieve this result without belonging to the group I would have had to have attended at least 12 times as many 'open' networking meetings. That would almost certainly have taken me an extra 3 years.
If you're not sure about joining a group then maybe you need to do some sums of your own.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
A couple of months ago I had the opportunity of hosting a meeting for a group I belong to. I decided to give people an exercise in becoming an advocate quickly. Before that I shared some numbers about my experiences in building relationships within the group;
- Total group members 320
- Members I had met 179
- 121s with members 129
- Furthering relationship 84
- People I advocate 26
I have subsequently calculated that to achieve this result without belonging to the group I would have had to have attended at least 12 times as many 'open' networking meetings. That would almost certainly have taken me an extra 3 years.
If you're not sure about joining a group then maybe you need to do some sums of your own.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
The value of peer support
If you run your own business you often come across challenges that are difficult to see a way through. One of the added benefits of building trusted relationships within a network of people with similar challenges is being able to share your issues. To have a sounding board for ideas and problems.
We facilitate some small meetings (NRG Xtra) where a small number of peers share their issues. They then question & challenge each other, and offer the benefits of their experience and insight. Most people get an answer to their problem during a focused 15 to 20 minute session on their issue. There are very few things that a group of 5 to 8 business owners have not had experience of at what time or another.
Sharing these issues and really listening to each other is also a great way of building relationships. Are you tapping into the experience and wisdom in your network?
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
We facilitate some small meetings (NRG Xtra) where a small number of peers share their issues. They then question & challenge each other, and offer the benefits of their experience and insight. Most people get an answer to their problem during a focused 15 to 20 minute session on their issue. There are very few things that a group of 5 to 8 business owners have not had experience of at what time or another.
Sharing these issues and really listening to each other is also a great way of building relationships. Are you tapping into the experience and wisdom in your network?
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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