One of the issues I hear most often from Directors and Professionals in small and medium sized businesses is how to generate business in new markets. I facilitated a peer to peer 'Boardroom' session recently where half of the issues raised were around this topic:
"How do I reach the companies I want to provide with a new service?"
"How do I get people to my networking group?"
"How do I get to relevant SMEs?"
Many people think the answer is to search for new connections on social networks or find new places to meet lots of people. The problem with this is you can very quickly run out of resources including your precious time. Stretching yourself very thinly in this way probably means getting to hardly know lots of people. Not the way to generate new business.
I spoke at an event recently on the big mistake that means networking doesn't work for many people. I asked the audience whether the best business came via recommendation and they agreed. I asked if they agreed that people recommend people in business that they know, like, rate and trust. They agreed again so I also asked whether they thought a good networking event was one with people they mostly didn't know. They agreed with that too and that is very often where the problem begins. Getting to know people takes time and the vast majority of people you meet once will remain as strangers.
The best way to get to the people you don't know is not by yourself. It is through word of mouth. It is by getting to know and supporting your close network even better than you do now. Grow advocates amongst them and they will recommend you to the people you don't know yet.
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
Showing posts with label Like. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Like. Show all posts
Your network is the biggest asset in your business
Over the last couple of years many small business owners and professionals have discovered for the first time that business is about downs as well as ups. Fortunately for the economy most of these people have a pretty positive outlook and will be helping lead us out of recession. There are those that will be doing this in an entirely different business from the one they were running three years ago. I was chatting with a few of these people last week.
One was talking about the need to meet lots of new people and make new connections for his new business. This is a common approach, but can make life much more difficult in building his new business. It ignores the most important asset he built during his previous business and those before it. His Network! People who know, like, rate and trust him because they have seen him in action and those he has made a real difference to.
Those are the people to focus attention on as they are already in a position to make those vital referrals and recommendations that produce the best new sales for any business, new or old.
Business may be temporary, but your Network is permanent!
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
One was talking about the need to meet lots of new people and make new connections for his new business. This is a common approach, but can make life much more difficult in building his new business. It ignores the most important asset he built during his previous business and those before it. His Network! People who know, like, rate and trust him because they have seen him in action and those he has made a real difference to.
Those are the people to focus attention on as they are already in a position to make those vital referrals and recommendations that produce the best new sales for any business, new or old.
Business may be temporary, but your Network is permanent!
Good Networking!Dave Clarke
Something to do with those business cards you collected
I was interrupted last week at a networking group meeting by someone who wanted to commend something to the group. Positive interruptions that enhance your message are always very welcome! He said it had been a really useful exercise to go through all the business cards he had collected over a couple years after reading the NRG workbook on developing your business networking plan.
He had separated these cards into the four categories suggested in the workbook. He uses Outlook to manage his contacts so he then created these categories in Outlook. He entered the details of any new contacts into his Outlook Address Book and then put all his contacts into those categories. This means he can now manage the interactions he has with his network more effectively. He can also see, at a glance, who he needs to focus his networking activity with.
The four categories of contacts are your Outer Network, your Resource Network, your Inner Network and your Advocate Network.
Your Outer Network is made up of the people that you have met, but have no real connection with. You don't know what you could do for them, but it is useful to have a record of where and when you met. You paths may well cross again and you make that connection.
Your Resource Network is made up of the people that you have met and you know them well enough to recognise they have a particular skill or offer a valuable service. You don’t want to spend more time in developing a relationship with them, but they are useful to introduce to other contacts when appropriate.
Your Inner Network is made up of the people that you have met, have had some sort of follow up and are building a relationship. They share a similar target market to you and probably provide a service that is complementary to yours. We will call them your Inner Network & it is spending time with these people that starts to make networking really work. One really efficient way of doing this is to ensure you belong to the same networking groups.
Your Advocate Network is the small group of people you would go out of your way to find introductions and referrals for. The people you advocate are the people you have already developed a relationship with and you know, like, rate and trust them. It is spending time doing things for these people where you get the highest networking returns.
Successful networkers have up to 30 people in their Inner Network & about 6 Advocates. Do you know who these people are for you?
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
He had separated these cards into the four categories suggested in the workbook. He uses Outlook to manage his contacts so he then created these categories in Outlook. He entered the details of any new contacts into his Outlook Address Book and then put all his contacts into those categories. This means he can now manage the interactions he has with his network more effectively. He can also see, at a glance, who he needs to focus his networking activity with.
The four categories of contacts are your Outer Network, your Resource Network, your Inner Network and your Advocate Network.
Your Outer Network is made up of the people that you have met, but have no real connection with. You don't know what you could do for them, but it is useful to have a record of where and when you met. You paths may well cross again and you make that connection.
Your Resource Network is made up of the people that you have met and you know them well enough to recognise they have a particular skill or offer a valuable service. You don’t want to spend more time in developing a relationship with them, but they are useful to introduce to other contacts when appropriate.
Your Inner Network is made up of the people that you have met, have had some sort of follow up and are building a relationship. They share a similar target market to you and probably provide a service that is complementary to yours. We will call them your Inner Network & it is spending time with these people that starts to make networking really work. One really efficient way of doing this is to ensure you belong to the same networking groups.
Your Advocate Network is the small group of people you would go out of your way to find introductions and referrals for. The people you advocate are the people you have already developed a relationship with and you know, like, rate and trust them. It is spending time doing things for these people where you get the highest networking returns.
Successful networkers have up to 30 people in their Inner Network & about 6 Advocates. Do you know who these people are for you?
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Can you do too much networking?
Someone raised the possibility that they may be doing too much networking on the 4networking business forum last week. So can you spend too much time networking?
There are many people who spend too much time attending networking groups & events because they are not really networking. They are really engaged in the face to face equivalent of cold calling. They attend loads of meetings & broadcast loudly, but don't listen. They meet as many people as they can, but never have any time for others. Their idea of following up is to add you to their database. I could go on, but you know who they are. They don't really engage, share or build long term mutually beneficial business relationships.
There are some people who are networking with the best intentions, but don't give themselves enough time for following up. They may need to improve the balance of their networking time and do more one to one interactions between larger meetings.
Those people that 'get' how networking really works invest their time in building relationships with other people they have things in common with. They know that it takes time and you have to know, like, rate and trust someone before you will advocate them. They know this time is worth it as one 'Advocate' is worth far more than lots of one off transactions. They attend meetings to strengthen existing relationships and build some new ones. They get to share business, support, knowledge and have fun doing it too. This sort of networking is legitimate and necessary work time stuff and you probably don't have the time to do enough of it.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
There are many people who spend too much time attending networking groups & events because they are not really networking. They are really engaged in the face to face equivalent of cold calling. They attend loads of meetings & broadcast loudly, but don't listen. They meet as many people as they can, but never have any time for others. Their idea of following up is to add you to their database. I could go on, but you know who they are. They don't really engage, share or build long term mutually beneficial business relationships.
There are some people who are networking with the best intentions, but don't give themselves enough time for following up. They may need to improve the balance of their networking time and do more one to one interactions between larger meetings.
Those people that 'get' how networking really works invest their time in building relationships with other people they have things in common with. They know that it takes time and you have to know, like, rate and trust someone before you will advocate them. They know this time is worth it as one 'Advocate' is worth far more than lots of one off transactions. They attend meetings to strengthen existing relationships and build some new ones. They get to share business, support, knowledge and have fun doing it too. This sort of networking is legitimate and necessary work time stuff and you probably don't have the time to do enough of it.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Are you networking with the right people?
In 'The circles (no more strangers)' Seth Godin writes "It's so tempting to seek out more strangers." He makes the point that trying to reach strangers is expensive and you may very well upset your true fans. He uses an excellent graphic (shown to the right here) to illustrate his point that delighting and overwhelming your true fans is a better strategy than chasing after strangers.Many business people and professionals give in to this temptation and concentrate their marketing efforts on strangers. Building word of mouth from the people they already know can be neglected and their behaviour in networking can be similar. Their networking is all about finding and connecting directly with the people they don't know.
The key to successful networking is to take the opposite view. Instead of looking for strangers it is about building strong relationships where you get to know, like, rate and trust each other. Instead of spending time with people you don't know try investing quality time in building the right relationships. I think it is worth repeating what I wrote last week in 'How Networking Really Works. A small number of people you get to know really really well can give you access to all the new people you want to meet.
Effective networking is about support and sharing knowledge and finding advocates who recommend and refer you. Good networking groups provide the environment for you to strengthen existing relationships & build new ones. It is much easier and more enjoyable to develop your business in an environment like that.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
How to identify the key people for your network
If you know your target market (or markets) precisely you can work out where you need to network. Some people think that this means finding people in the target market to 'network' with. This is not networking, but direct selling. In fact it is often the face to face equivalent of cold calling.
The important aspect of this in the networking context is you can then identify the key people for you who have access and influence in your target market. This is important in both finding the networking groups to join and who you should be inviting to join you in your groups.
As I wrote yesterday in 'How networking really works' you need to be building relationships with these key people. These people have access to many opportunities for you in your target market so are likely to be operating in the same market as you. They may well provide services that are complementary to yours.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
The important aspect of this in the networking context is you can then identify the key people for you who have access and influence in your target market. This is important in both finding the networking groups to join and who you should be inviting to join you in your groups.
As I wrote yesterday in 'How networking really works' you need to be building relationships with these key people. These people have access to many opportunities for you in your target market so are likely to be operating in the same market as you. They may well provide services that are complementary to yours.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
How networking really works
I sometimes meet people who run around frantically to as many events as possible. They meet as many different people as they can and deliver their 'elevator pitch' as often as possible. In my book that is not networking. It is the face to face equivalent of cold calling. It is difficult and time consuming.
The key to successful networking is building strong relationships where you get to know, like, rate and trust each other. As I have written before:
"You don't build profitable business relationships by hardly getting to know lots of different people!"
A small number of people you get to know really really well can give you access to all the new people you want to meet. Effective networking is about support and sharing knowledge and finding advocates who recommend and refer you. Good networking groups provide the environment for you to strengthen existing relationships & build new ones. It is much easier and more enjoyable to develop your business in an environment like that.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
The key to successful networking is building strong relationships where you get to know, like, rate and trust each other. As I have written before:
"You don't build profitable business relationships by hardly getting to know lots of different people!"
A small number of people you get to know really really well can give you access to all the new people you want to meet. Effective networking is about support and sharing knowledge and finding advocates who recommend and refer you. Good networking groups provide the environment for you to strengthen existing relationships & build new ones. It is much easier and more enjoyable to develop your business in an environment like that.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Did you build your network in the good times?
There may be trouble ahead...
Internet Psychologist Graham Jones wrote on his Ecademy Blog yesterday about the tough economic times ahead whoever wins the UK General Election. Everyone knows there will be some serious belt tightening whoever wins, but as he says "It's not all doom and gloom. You have your friends... It will be tough in the coming few years, that's true. But if you have friends; if you have trusted contacts; if you have people who like you, then you will survive thanks to their support."
This is when you find out that networking really isn't selling. It is about developing your route to market through trusted relationships, but it's much more than that. It is also about support and building friendships in business. That happens when you get to know, like, rate and trust others and they do the same for you.
As Graham said the economic situation we now have to face could well prove that it's never what you know that matters - it's who you know!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Internet Psychologist Graham Jones wrote on his Ecademy Blog yesterday about the tough economic times ahead whoever wins the UK General Election. Everyone knows there will be some serious belt tightening whoever wins, but as he says "It's not all doom and gloom. You have your friends... It will be tough in the coming few years, that's true. But if you have friends; if you have trusted contacts; if you have people who like you, then you will survive thanks to their support."
This is when you find out that networking really isn't selling. It is about developing your route to market through trusted relationships, but it's much more than that. It is also about support and building friendships in business. That happens when you get to know, like, rate and trust others and they do the same for you.
As Graham said the economic situation we now have to face could well prove that it's never what you know that matters - it's who you know!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Another Lesson from the General Election
I was asked a question via Twitter yesterday about my advice for someone attending her first networking event. I suggested that she smile and wrote:
"Enjoy the meeting, introduce who you are, what you do, who for & how you look forward to getting to know the others."
The main thing is to be genuine and authentic. That is how you will build relationships with others as they get to know, like, rate and trust you. This brings me on to the latest networking lesson from the General Election. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is rare for such a gaffe as this one from Gordon Brown to be caught on camera. You can see the video at the BBC website. Gordon Brown is filmed saying one thing to a woman on camera and then something completely different off camera.
The lesson for networking is not to tell people what it is that you think they want to hear. Be yourself and be genuinely interested in the people you speak to.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
"Enjoy the meeting, introduce who you are, what you do, who for & how you look forward to getting to know the others."
The main thing is to be genuine and authentic. That is how you will build relationships with others as they get to know, like, rate and trust you. This brings me on to the latest networking lesson from the General Election. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is rare for such a gaffe as this one from Gordon Brown to be caught on camera. You can see the video at the BBC website. Gordon Brown is filmed saying one thing to a woman on camera and then something completely different off camera.
The lesson for networking is not to tell people what it is that you think they want to hear. Be yourself and be genuinely interested in the people you speak to.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
How to decide where to spend time online networking
At a couple of meetings last week people asked me which online networks they should use. People tend to read the buzz about Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc & assume they need to be on them all. They can often feel daunted at the prospect of somehow incorporating all these into their networking.
I replied that the approach to networking is the same as offline. It is all about building relationships where people get to know, like and trust you. The important consideration for business networking is that the people you build those relationships with are in a position to refer you in the course of their everyday experiences. You should be networking online and offline in the networks where those people are members.
As I wrote in 10 top networking tips to increase business with the effective use of offline & online networks:
"Business Networking is about finding other business people who operate in similar markets to you. Then helping them and building relationships to earn that trust so don’t expect instant results. Like anything worthwhile, networking takes time and application. Take the time to develop relationships and create a network. Don’t expect to walk into a room of strangers or simply post a profile online and come away with business – it just doesn’t work like that!"
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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I replied that the approach to networking is the same as offline. It is all about building relationships where people get to know, like and trust you. The important consideration for business networking is that the people you build those relationships with are in a position to refer you in the course of their everyday experiences. You should be networking online and offline in the networks where those people are members.
As I wrote in 10 top networking tips to increase business with the effective use of offline & online networks:
"Business Networking is about finding other business people who operate in similar markets to you. Then helping them and building relationships to earn that trust so don’t expect instant results. Like anything worthwhile, networking takes time and application. Take the time to develop relationships and create a network. Don’t expect to walk into a room of strangers or simply post a profile online and come away with business – it just doesn’t work like that!"
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking tips
Offline Social Networking
I have just returned from a weeks skiing in the French Alps with nearly 20 other business people. All people that I have met through networking in the last 5 or 6 years. The bonds built through this sort of social activity really do enhance the building of business relationships.
As William Buist put it in his Ecademy Blog on the skiing trip:
"There really is a lot of value in getting a deep understanding of how others think and seeing how they look out for you when you need support. Everyone in the party of nearly 20 was either well known to each other or to someone in the group. There's a camaraderie that's second to none."
Last year in 'Networking on the Piste' I reported on last year's trip. I have no doubt that the amount of business eventually generated between the people on the trip this year will exceed last year's as people got to know even more about each other.
Business Networking really can be fun!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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As William Buist put it in his Ecademy Blog on the skiing trip:
"There really is a lot of value in getting a deep understanding of how others think and seeing how they look out for you when you need support. Everyone in the party of nearly 20 was either well known to each other or to someone in the group. There's a camaraderie that's second to none."
Last year in 'Networking on the Piste' I reported on last year's trip. I have no doubt that the amount of business eventually generated between the people on the trip this year will exceed last year's as people got to know even more about each other.
Business Networking really can be fun!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking tips
What are you doing for others?
The third Monday of January every year is a public holiday in the United States to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King. One of his famous quotes is very apt with regard to success in business networking:
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
The most successful networkers are not looking for people to sell to. They are constantly looking out for opportunities to connect others to what they need. They build relationships by doing that with people who get to know, like, and trust them. As I said in 'How to make your follow up productive', it is the giving of opportunities to others that will produce opportunities for you as people reciprocate.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"
The most successful networkers are not looking for people to sell to. They are constantly looking out for opportunities to connect others to what they need. They build relationships by doing that with people who get to know, like, and trust them. As I said in 'How to make your follow up productive', it is the giving of opportunities to others that will produce opportunities for you as people reciprocate.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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How to make your follow up productive
A couple of days ago in 'Why follow up is so important' I wrote about the importance of follow up in networking. You get to know people by spending time in conversation with them and others at regular networking group meetings. You get to know, like and trust them by following that up with One2One interactions.
You should treat that as an opportunity to really understand the other person rather than an opportunity to pitch. If you are not regularly finding yourself able to give referrals, connect people and share your knowledge then you need to be asking better questions. It is by getting to know, like, and trust people and giving them opportunities that will produce opportunities for you as people reciprocate.
As I wrote in 'Applying the 7 habits to your business networking' habit 5* is 'Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood'.
*From the best selling Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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You should treat that as an opportunity to really understand the other person rather than an opportunity to pitch. If you are not regularly finding yourself able to give referrals, connect people and share your knowledge then you need to be asking better questions. It is by getting to know, like, and trust people and giving them opportunities that will produce opportunities for you as people reciprocate.
As I wrote in 'Applying the 7 habits to your business networking' habit 5* is 'Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood'.
*From the best selling Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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business networking | business networking events | business networking tips
Why follow up is so important
I ran a business networking seminar this week when I asked 2 questions.
1. Do you agree that all things being equal people do business with and refer business to the people they know, like and trust?
2. Do you agree that all things being unequal people STILL do business with and refer business to the people they know like and trust?
The answer to both was a resounding yes, so I asked another.
"Why then do you spend most of your networking time getting to know lots of people a bit?"
You don't get to know, like and trust people by meeting once or twice. You get to know them by spending time in conversation with them and others at regular networking group meetings and by following that up with One2One interactions. That's follow up and you don't get to know, like and trust someone without it.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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1. Do you agree that all things being equal people do business with and refer business to the people they know, like and trust?
2. Do you agree that all things being unequal people STILL do business with and refer business to the people they know like and trust?
The answer to both was a resounding yes, so I asked another.
"Why then do you spend most of your networking time getting to know lots of people a bit?"
You don't get to know, like and trust people by meeting once or twice. You get to know them by spending time in conversation with them and others at regular networking group meetings and by following that up with One2One interactions. That's follow up and you don't get to know, like and trust someone without it.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking tips
Networking with Decision Makers
"I need to be networking with decision makers and budget holders" or something similar is a phrase I hear often. It is often a result of a misconceived idea about networking. The idea that networking is about finding a room full of prospects, exchanging business cards then moving on to the next. That is not networking, it is selling.
Business networking is about building relationships with your peers so that over time you help, support and introduce each other to opportunities to sell your services. Over time you build trust through a series of exchanges or networking transactions. The people you meet in business networking are decision makers and the route to those budget holders you want to meet. They are constantly making decisions about whether they like you, trust you and are prepared to refer you.
The quickest way to get them to make a negative decision is to constantly sell to them. In short, as I have said and written before, networking is not selling!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Business networking is about building relationships with your peers so that over time you help, support and introduce each other to opportunities to sell your services. Over time you build trust through a series of exchanges or networking transactions. The people you meet in business networking are decision makers and the route to those budget holders you want to meet. They are constantly making decisions about whether they like you, trust you and are prepared to refer you.
The quickest way to get them to make a negative decision is to constantly sell to them. In short, as I have said and written before, networking is not selling!
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Survival of the kindest
On his blog this morning Internet Psychologist Graham Jones poses the question "which kind of people do you like the most? Those who divide and rule, or those who are less selfish and try to help others?".
He asks this in his article, Helping others online could boost your business, which is well worth a read. He writes about recent research from the University of California at Berkeley which suggests that the helpful, altruistic individuals around us are the ones that are doing best in our modern society. The article referred to by Graham is entitled Social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'. The article includes this
"In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive."
Good to see some solid academic research into the whole ethos of how networking works. As we know the more you help others the greater your chances of success.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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He asks this in his article, Helping others online could boost your business, which is well worth a read. He writes about recent research from the University of California at Berkeley which suggests that the helpful, altruistic individuals around us are the ones that are doing best in our modern society. The article referred to by Graham is entitled Social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'. The article includes this
"In a wide range of studies, social scientists are amassing a growing body of evidence to show we are evolving to become more compassionate and collaborative in our quest to survive and thrive."
Good to see some solid academic research into the whole ethos of how networking works. As we know the more you help others the greater your chances of success.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
Social, Learning & Business
At a recent networking meeting the discussion turned to why people were networking. The consensus was that it was about business, but it was important to build relationships first.
One of the members said for him it was social first, learning second and then business. He drew this picture to demonstrate.
He explained it further by saying, "firstly it's social as it can be lonely working in a small business so it's great to meet other relevant professionals. Secondly it is important to learn new things from your peers. Then as you get to know, like and trust the others a natural consequence is business."
It reminded me of a quote from someone at a networking seminar a couple of years ago when I asked what networking was to him and he said, "Networking is about making friends you can do Business with".
The key point is that it is the relationship first and business follows.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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One of the members said for him it was social first, learning second and then business. He drew this picture to demonstrate.
He explained it further by saying, "firstly it's social as it can be lonely working in a small business so it's great to meet other relevant professionals. Secondly it is important to learn new things from your peers. Then as you get to know, like and trust the others a natural consequence is business."
It reminded me of a quote from someone at a networking seminar a couple of years ago when I asked what networking was to him and he said, "Networking is about making friends you can do Business with".
The key point is that it is the relationship first and business follows.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Advocacy by Penny Power
I was really pleased when Ecademy founder Penny Power asked if she could quote me on Advocacy in her new book Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me - what online social networking means for you and your business.
Penny was at a meeting when I presented and subsequently wrote about here a couple of years ago on networking for advocates. She wrote about this in her book and what she learned about advocacy.
"The greatest aspect of 'like me' is is the power of creating advocates around your knowledge, people who will 'talk about you when you are not in the room'. To me this is real network value. 'Know me' cannot achieve this ... you cannot achieve this advocacy without having a relationship with that advocate."
Read more from Penny at the Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me Blog.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Penny was at a meeting when I presented and subsequently wrote about here a couple of years ago on networking for advocates. She wrote about this in her book and what she learned about advocacy.
"The greatest aspect of 'like me' is is the power of creating advocates around your knowledge, people who will 'talk about you when you are not in the room'. To me this is real network value. 'Know me' cannot achieve this ... you cannot achieve this advocacy without having a relationship with that advocate."
Read more from Penny at the Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me Blog.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Who do you want to talk to?
In a One2One this week a mutual acquaintance was mentioned by my friend. She said this about him "I really like and trust him, but I have no idea how to help him in business because he is really vague about who he wants to talk to".
Later I was able to relay this message and ask the person who would be a good prospect. After a few minutes I understood clearly the frustration felt by my friend. He committed to work on the problem and come up with something to help his network to help him.
It is really important to get people to know and like you, but it's equally important to be clear about who and what you are looking for.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Later I was able to relay this message and ask the person who would be a good prospect. After a few minutes I understood clearly the frustration felt by my friend. He committed to work on the problem and come up with something to help his network to help him.
It is really important to get people to know and like you, but it's equally important to be clear about who and what you are looking for.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
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Does your website tell us about you or some Corporate We?
In an excellent talk at an NRG networking lunch in London this week Ecademy founder Penny Power was sharing some of the insights from her new book. Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me is all about what online social networking means for you and your business.
One of the points was that building trust is fundamental. Your clients are more interested in the person behind the brand not the brand. One of the mistakes that small businesses make is to try and look bigger and more corporate than they really are. You can see this in many websites which are all about some 'Corporate We'. People are much more interested in YOU than that.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
One of the points was that building trust is fundamental. Your clients are more interested in the person behind the brand not the brand. One of the mistakes that small businesses make is to try and look bigger and more corporate than they really are. You can see this in many websites which are all about some 'Corporate We'. People are much more interested in YOU than that.
Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success
business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast
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