There’s a real buzz about business networking in Ireland these days! Of the actual, physical, “meeting fellow business people” type, I mean.
Chambers of Commerce networking events, private business networking groups, Open Coffee groups, etc, etc.
Personally I feel it builds actual, working, relationships.
Compare that with, say, paying for a big advertising campaign, or a few pallet-fulls of fancy brochures, or a website that would send you scuttling for your sunglasses & a handful of paracetamols!
Internet-based networking, such as LinkedIn, etc, is great in support, in my opinion, but the personal contact is needed to get to know someone and their business.
It builds goodwill, value and credibility in the network. It also provides authenticity and gravitas to endorsements or testimonials, and referrals.
So how does one keep tabs on all this – especially if one has been on the networking trail for a while?
One ends up with loads of business cards, loads of promises made and received to “exchange leads”, piles of LinkedIn contacts (genuine or otherwise!), etc. And loads of 30 second pitches about what one does, which is great practice, of course!
To my way of thinking, one has to put a little work into organising the info, the effort, & building on the contacts made to realise mutual potential from those relationships.
Personal contact is the foundation, I feel. This may have been a brief discussion at a networking event, a business meeting, or an introduction from another network member.
After that, I think some sort of follow-up is very important. This could be an email, a phone call or a written note.
If the idea of a networking link is deemed mutually acceptable & useful, and taken further, the next step might be to arrange to meet for a discussion over a cup of coffee, or something along those lines.
From that point I think either party would feel at ease in contacting each other for business purposes.
So, the work has been done, the stage set to sustain & develop the relationship, or let it atrophy through neglect! The sensible business choice should be easy!
Computer & Internet-based CRM’s, built-in contact systems in the likes of LinkedIn, etc, are ok for helping manage all this info. But in my experience they can be time consuming and cumbersome. They are also not great as a ready reference, in my view.
One thing I find useful is to Sellotape business cards (just along the top) to 6”x4” (152×100mm) index cards & file them alphabetically. Old-fashioned, but it works!
One can write notes on the index cards & as the network expands it’s easy to get more & bigger index card boxes! It’s also easy to flick through them & refresh one’s memory!
Would be delighted to receive comments, views & other ideas on networking & how to manage & utilise effectively, many thanks
Genial dispatch and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you seeking your information.
Amazing post thank you!