business networking
Discussion
just wondering if any of you guys do the biz networking meetings?
and if so what works?
ive been to the chamber meetings, BNI and this morning a 4networking meeting, out of those the 4networking one seemed to be a fresh change from the others and ill probbably join up (going to another on friday)
are their any others i should look into?
thanks in advance.
and if so what works?
ive been to the chamber meetings, BNI and this morning a 4networking meeting, out of those the 4networking one seemed to be a fresh change from the others and ill probbably join up (going to another on friday)
are their any others i should look into?
thanks in advance.
http://www.moooo.co.uk - business services...its young but will grow...
MOOOO.co.uk said:
http://www.moooo.co.uk - business services...its young but will grow...
How? As a matter of interest...Hendry said:
MOOOO.co.uk said:
http://www.moooo.co.uk - business services...its young but will grow...
How? As a matter of interest...TheGriffalo said:
I've done the FSB ones' but it seems to me you're in a room full of sellers with no buyers.
And therein lies the problem. Sellers are interested in networking as a means to expand their contacts. Buyers know what they want to buy, and they pretty much know where to go to buy it - and that isn't a room full of random people, it's direct to the known, reliable suppliers of their industry.If you want new contact to sell to, you've gotta work harder.
Edited by groomi on Tuesday 5th February 23:23
www.MomentumAutomation.co.uk
we are a forward looking specialist IT company for home and business, our main biz is home automation and work automation, basically doing clever things with IT that makes your life easier or makes your business run more efficiently.
we can also supply hardware of any kind and match anyones prices (bold statement, I know but i used to supply the top IT distributors in the world in my previous company, some on here know all about that) but thats only for turnover really.
Rob is right about the networking crowds being full of sellers but i think its equally important to know whats going on in the area.
we are a forward looking specialist IT company for home and business, our main biz is home automation and work automation, basically doing clever things with IT that makes your life easier or makes your business run more efficiently.
we can also supply hardware of any kind and match anyones prices (bold statement, I know but i used to supply the top IT distributors in the world in my previous company, some on here know all about that) but thats only for turnover really.
Rob is right about the networking crowds being full of sellers but i think its equally important to know whats going on in the area.
MOOOO.co.uk said:
Hendry said:
MOOOO.co.uk said:
http://www.moooo.co.uk - business services...its young but will grow...
How? As a matter of interest...From the 10 seconds I looked at it I noticed:
- logo WAY TOO LARGE
- too green
- "We have 3 registered users"
- no posts
- The name Moooo will put people off
Good luck.
Our ROI on being in BNI (in three locations) is in the 1000's of percent; not vast sums per se, but well worth the effort. You do need a strong group, though - one of the three is suffering repeated failure to launch and generating pretty well nothing.
Most of the other stuff we do (trade associations, Columbus, IOD, etc) is more about visibility and contacts than sales.
Most of the other stuff we do (trade associations, Columbus, IOD, etc) is more about visibility and contacts than sales.
Extending your network beyond those people you sell to already is a tricky thing to do. I run a company that works for software companies breaking into new customers with intelligent telesales, what we call lead generation. We look at who has bought what you do and what problem it fixed. We then go and look for more people with the same problem - simple.
But I believe there is a simpler way to get more business than that. If everyone you have sold to was proactive in endorsing your business then they'd be selling for you, plus making the contacts they introduce happy that they are willing to endorse your business. I am working on a website that will do exactly this on-line, building your initial network of contacts using Facebook like inviatations, all of those then will endorse your company to their contacts.
The website is under development now and a test site (to test the concept and technology) will be live in April. If you want to know more I have a basic registration page up now at www.wecando.biz.
The aim, I would hope, would be to supplement membership of BNI and the like by allowing you to proactively network much easier online - and it will cost a fraction of BNI membership. I'll be looking for PH feedback when the time comes.
groomi said:
TheGriffalo said:
I've done the FSB ones' but it seems to me you're in a room full of sellers with no buyers.
And therein lies the problem. Sellers are interested in networking as a means to expand their contacts. Buyers know what they want to buy, and they pretty much know where to go to buy it - and that isn't a room full of random people, it's direct to the known, reliable suppliers of their industry.If you want new contact to sell to, you've gotta work harder.
Edited by groomi on Tuesday 5th February 23:23
Holy thread resurrection Batman!
What are folks doing networking wise these days? Obviously Linkedin etc (oddly not the mooooo website mentioned above...) has really taken off since this thread was started. As a property developer there are a few property specific, local networking events we do, as well as BNI. BNI has been very helpful recently in helping resolve some issues at a non local property I manage and it's had me revisit the importance of networking. That and a very interesting chat with some business minded folks on a charter cruise whilst on holiday last month.
What are folks doing networking wise these days? Obviously Linkedin etc (oddly not the mooooo website mentioned above...) has really taken off since this thread was started. As a property developer there are a few property specific, local networking events we do, as well as BNI. BNI has been very helpful recently in helping resolve some issues at a non local property I manage and it's had me revisit the importance of networking. That and a very interesting chat with some business minded folks on a charter cruise whilst on holiday last month.
- I rarely venture into the Business section, and the search didn't throw up a networking result, so apologies if there is a thread already running and I'm digging up a zombie thread.
There's chambers and there's chambers... some better than others. at Networking events people tend to stick to who they know, so safari networking (speed dating really) forces conversations that you otherwise may not have had, and allows you to get out if your date is boring/of no value. chambers are usually for bigger companies not one man bands or SMEs.
Lots of chamber driven foums coming up - like Sizewell C - its a database of suppliers and the commitment by EDF to spend 4.2BILLION locally... youd be mad not to be on it if you're an east anglilan business. They are not just looking for nuclear supplies though, it is all sorts - local trophy engraver chap is on it - there are 200 large companies who will all have award ceremonies ... Massive car park for 3000 cars for construction workers - mobile tyre fitter is on it.
How do you find out about stuff like this? Chamber!
Lots of chamber driven foums coming up - like Sizewell C - its a database of suppliers and the commitment by EDF to spend 4.2BILLION locally... youd be mad not to be on it if you're an east anglilan business. They are not just looking for nuclear supplies though, it is all sorts - local trophy engraver chap is on it - there are 200 large companies who will all have award ceremonies ... Massive car park for 3000 cars for construction workers - mobile tyre fitter is on it.
How do you find out about stuff like this? Chamber!
I've tried all the usual networking opportunities over the years.
I found BMI reminiscent of an evangelical church. I buy very little and I think the imbalance of buying and selling got them all frothing.
Others were a case of everyone selling - but nobody buying.
I did try IoD for a few years but found it like BNI with Rolexes
The most effective networking event I went to was many years back when I spent a few years flogging print for a London printing company. There was this three day course on print-buying. I signed up and went along. I was surrounded by people working for big public and private sector organisations who fell into the category of 'potential client', many of whom I got to know over beers at the end of each day. Hoovered up some serious sales!
The most effective sales technique / networking opportunity I've found is talking at conferences. Getting up and talking to an audience about the the thing from which your living is earned is by far the most effective means to earn more of that living, It instills confidence in buyers to levels that you'll never get even close to over a Stellar at the local Marriott.
I found BMI reminiscent of an evangelical church. I buy very little and I think the imbalance of buying and selling got them all frothing.
Others were a case of everyone selling - but nobody buying.
I did try IoD for a few years but found it like BNI with Rolexes
The most effective networking event I went to was many years back when I spent a few years flogging print for a London printing company. There was this three day course on print-buying. I signed up and went along. I was surrounded by people working for big public and private sector organisations who fell into the category of 'potential client', many of whom I got to know over beers at the end of each day. Hoovered up some serious sales!
The most effective sales technique / networking opportunity I've found is talking at conferences. Getting up and talking to an audience about the the thing from which your living is earned is by far the most effective means to earn more of that living, It instills confidence in buyers to levels that you'll never get even close to over a Stellar at the local Marriott.
Hit a few local network events when I started out, but as previously mentioned, it was more a room of sellers, much like I was. I just didn't need photocopiers, recycled ink, a will, or a place to dispose of batteries.
Heard good things about BNI, but thats just not for me.
My ideal clients just dont attend these things really.
Lovely to hear this forum has helped some find success, maybe a networking thread could be started, I know there was one a fair while ago, and we have passed nearly £100k of business in fleet insurance to someone off the back of it, so a worthy means of networking by all accounts.
Heard good things about BNI, but thats just not for me.
My ideal clients just dont attend these things really.
Lovely to hear this forum has helped some find success, maybe a networking thread could be started, I know there was one a fair while ago, and we have passed nearly £100k of business in fleet insurance to someone off the back of it, so a worthy means of networking by all accounts.
Where are you based?
Reason I ask is I'm in South Wales and have started attending some on behalf of clients (I'm outsourced sales and marketing for small firms) and have found the local ones pretty good.
BNI seems too regimented and just sharing leads for the sake of sharing....it may work for others, but I don't think I could help hit the targets the chapters needed...too much commitment and then negativity when you can't/don't provide.
Reason I ask is I'm in South Wales and have started attending some on behalf of clients (I'm outsourced sales and marketing for small firms) and have found the local ones pretty good.
BNI seems too regimented and just sharing leads for the sake of sharing....it may work for others, but I don't think I could help hit the targets the chapters needed...too much commitment and then negativity when you can't/don't provide.
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