Business Networking For Dummies

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.

Auteur

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.

Résumé

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.

Contenu

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 De...