I’ve tried networking…

… it didn’t really work for me!

As a serial networker, I don’t really buy that. (“Well, you wouldn’t” I hear you shout!)… stay with me here…

When I set up Voot I did it with a single marketing plan, and that was to ‘Network, network, and if all else fails, to network some more’

I recognised that would mean a very slow ramp up of sales, but my strategy was for that slow ramp up to be maintained by more and more networking, and for all the activity to generate an increasing amount of leads each month. And for the sales that were generated from networking to lead to more sales through referals from satisfied clients.

And network I did, pretty relentlessly (2 or 3 times a week) for the first 10 years of my business. And extremely enjoyable it was. I met some fantastic people, some who have gone on to be firm friends. Thats the benefit of face to face networking that nobody really tells you to expect. You develop a little support network, as is common in life you will like some people more than others (and they you). I’ve met some people who have gone on to great success, others who have tried and tried in their business and admitted defeat.

I’ve tried the structured networking, the (Inter)national Networking companies like BNI, and I’ve tried the local networking groups where often you meet the same people you met at the last local etworking group that launched and disappeared as fast as it arrived. I like both types.

I’ve gone to regional networking groups organised by the Chambers of Commerce, North Notts Business Group, I’ve done the evening meetings and the breakfast groups (I much prefer the breakfast groups)… I couldn’t possibly try and calculate how much time I have given to networking in the last 16 years but I know this. From a slow build up of clients, to the steady stream of clients (old and new) it now generates networking has sustained my business and been the major reason for its success. That - and ensuring that my reputation for quality customer service at the right price is known in the room before I arrive.

And that really is the key. If you’ve tried networking and it didn’t really work for you ask yourself a. did I give it enough time, and b. how am I seen in my community. If people arent talking about you for the right reasons, networking definitely won’t work for you. If people aren’t seeing you at all because you’re still in bed then you aren’t really trying networking are you?

Last week I solved a huge telecoms headache for a business I’d never met before that had been referred to me by a client/friend/fellow networker I’ve not seen face to face for about 5 years. But he was still confident enough to put his own reputation on the line by introducing me to someone in his own business network. We did a great job, and his client thanked him for the introduction. That is networking at its best.

If you’d like to join me at a future BNI Business Breakfast at Aston Hall Hotel where I can introduce you to 30 of my network of contacts please send me an email or give me a call for a chat. I guarantee it will work for you IF you follow the ground rules above.

Thank you for reading.