Grow your business, build your career, find more customers, and
build a valuable support network of likeminded business people.
Networking is a crucial skill for all professionals and business
owners. Quite simply, it's a fast and effective way to build
your business or career - and excellent networking skills will set
you apart from the competition. Business Networking For
Dummies shows you how to get the most out of networking -
both online and offline.
With Business Networking For
Dummies, you'll learn to:
* Use business networking to grow and develop your business
* Find the right platform or platforms to build your own network
and 'assemble your crowd'
* Pitch yourself and your business with confidence
* Get the most out of face-to-face networking events - including
valuable tips on presentation skills and sound bites!
* Join up your 'real life' and online networking
* Measure your networking success
* Follow up with new contacts successfully
"This is a cornerstone book for anyone involved in running
a smaller business and wishing to deploy networking as an enquiry
source. It is clear, concise and provides a complete education for
succeeding in, what is for some, a difficult environment."
Ben Kench, Leading UK sales trainer and business growth
specialist
"I've read this entire book from start to finish and so
should you because, when you know what you're doing, business
networking does work, and by following the blueprint that
Stef has set down for you: first you'll learn, then
you'll earn."
Brad Burton, Managing Director, 4Networking Ltd.
Autorentext
Stefan Thomas is Network Director for 4Networking and a marketing and networking expert. He spends his days roving the 4N network and helping members get the best from 4Networking.
Zusammenfassung
Grow your business, build your career, find more customers, and build a valuable support network of likeminded business people.
Networking is a crucial skill for all professionals and business owners. Quite simply, it's a fast and effective way to build your business or career - and excellent networking skills will set you apart from the competition. Business Networking For Dummies shows you how to get the most out of networking - both online and offline.
With Business Networking For Dummies, you'll learn to:
- Use business networking to grow and develop your business
- Find the right platform or platforms to build your own network and 'assemble your crowd'
- Pitch yourself and your business with confidence
- Get the most out of face-to-face networking events - including valuable tips on presentation skills and sound bites!
- Join up your 'real life' and online networking
- Measure your networking success
- Follow up with new contacts successfully
This is a cornerstone book for anyone involved in running a smaller business and wishing to deploy networking as an enquiry source. It is clear, concise and provides a complete education for succeeding in, what is for some, a difficult environment."
Ben Kench, Leading UK sales trainer and business growth specialist
"I've read this entire book from start to finish and so should you because, when you know what you're doing, business networking does work, and by following the blueprint that Stef has set down for you: first you'll learn, then you'll earn.
Brad Burton, Managing Director, 4Networking Ltd.
Inhalt
Foreword xv
Introduction 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part I: Getting Started with Business Networking 5
Chapter 1: Getting to Grips with Networking Basics 7
Understanding Business Networking 7
Starting with 'Why?' 8
Noting the 'why' of networking 9
Figuring out your 'why' 10
Talking to Strangers (Ignore Your Parents' Advice) 11
Knowing Who Uses Networking 12
Realising It's Not All Funny Handshakes and Old Boys Clubs 15
Finding Networking Opportunities 15
Following Networking Guidelines 16
Networking in a Nutshell: Different Formats 17
Understanding unstructured networking meetings 17
Seeking out structured networking meetings 18
Networking formats you're likely to encounter 18
Business networking and referral marketing - same difference? 19
Chapter 2: Exploring Different Aspects of Networking 23
Networking for the Employed 23
Building your skillset using networking 25
Meeting people in the same industry to swap ideas 27
Keeping up to date with trends in your industry 28
Meeting your next boss - career building and future proofing 28
Networking for the Business Owner 29
Promoting your business 29
Finding trusted suppliers: Real-life Google 31
Keeping up to date with trends in business 33
Creating your virtual team: The future of business 33
Networking as Marketing 34
Clarifying your marketing aims 35
Reaping the benefits of business networking 35
Networking Meets Social Media 36
Seeing the relevance 36
Making the most of social media 37
Chapter 3: Setting (Realistic) Expectations 39
Recognising Why You Need to Set Expectations 39
Thinking about what You Expect to Get Out of Networking 40
Coping with your first networking event 41
Knowing That Networking Isn't Without Effort 42
Keeping track of your schedule 43
Being patient 44
Chapter 4: Making Use of Networking Organisations 47
Finding the Right Organisation for You 48
Start locally 49
Match your business to the prospect 49
Finding Independent Networking Clubs 50
Contacting your local chamber of commerce 51
Finding local independent networking groups 51
Joining Commercial Networking Organisations (in the UK) 52
4Networking 54
BNI 54
Business Scene 55
FSB 55
NRG 56
Women-only networking organisations 56
Coming across Co-working 56
Co-working hubs 57
KindredHQ 57
Regus 58
Specialist and Niche Networking Organisations and Groups 58
Understanding the Politics of Networking Groups 59
Running Your Own Networking Club 60
Remembering Why You Got Involved 62
Chapter 5: Networking at Trade Shows 65
Knowing What to Expect from a Trade Show 65
The Great British Business Show 66
The Welsh Business Shows 66
New Start Scotland 67
Finding Local and National Trade Shows 67
Making Your Trade Show Experience a Success 68
Networking at trade shows, big or small 69
Becoming part of the crowd 70
Feeling the Need for Speed Networking 71
Doing something different 71
Following up 72
Part II: Face-to-face Networking 73
Chapter 6: Attending Networking Meetings 75
Finding Time to Network 75
Recognising that networking is real work 76
Networking to suit you and your business 77
Using your time twice 78
Deciding What to Wear and What to Take with You 79
Making sure that you understand the dress code 79
Thinking about the impression you want to make 80
Being prepared with business cards - and plenty of them 81
Taking promotional material 81
Knowing What Time to Arrive 82
Checking the meeting timings 82
Entering as an early bird or fashionably late? 82
Calming Your Nerves 83
…