I have been asked by my boss to attend a Business Breakfast with him next week. I like a breakfast as much as next person, but he says it's a networking event too.
I have no experience of networking and wondered what its was all about, will this really help his business to gain clients?
He has asked me to conduct research into the different compaines that offer networking. I know it's lazy but I'm guessing that most of the members here know something about this - so thought i'd ask your views.
I've been to a few breakfast networking meetings and there's nothing to worry about. You'll find yourself in a room with other local business owners, have a quick chat, sit down for a breakfast and then probably go round the room and give a quick one minute talk about your business.
Don't let the talk put you off. Just chat about the firm you work for, what services they offer, and ideally what makes them different to other firms.
Will it help your firm gain clients, probably, in the medium to long term. It's not a quick fix to client acquisition but can prove fruitful over time.
Theres a wide variety of networking events you can attend. Two popular ones are 4 Networking and BNI.
Let us know how you get on.
Dustin
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"People who are exceptionally good in business arent so because of what they know but because of their insatiable need to know more"
I've attended a networking breakfasts recently and think they are most definitely the way I need to go forward to grow my practice.
Dustin has explained the format perfectly. Networking groups tend to fall in to 2 camps. Ones that are open to all business sectors and do not limit membership (ie 4Networking) and ones that restrict membership within groups so that there is no competition between group members (ie BNI). They all have their own merits and faults.
Either way, networking can be good for business as long as it is understood that is rarely an instant win. Gaining business from networking takes time and commitment as it is about building relationships, getting to know people and invariably being referred on to someone.
Alot of the networking groups have forums, 4N have one that you can register on for free or just browse. No doubt you will find many threads on there with people asking how members have benefited from the networking group, if at all. That should provide you with alot of research your boss has asked for!
I used to attend a lunchtime networking however found the whole day was taken up. I now attend 4N in iver and find it suits my day much better. As mentioned earlier 4N can have same sector and free and easy to attend - apart from initial membership it is £10 per breakfast - if you dont attend you dont pay not like some networking.
I find the flexibility suits me brilliantly - I have no problem meeting people in same sector so it suits me perfectly. In fact being a small business I have swapped ideas with other bookkeepers. 4N do not pester to introduce extra people - great if you do but no pressure. I also like the way they make you swap cards with 3 people in the room for yr 10 mins with them - you sometimes dont have a clue who to exchange with so end up meeting people you would never usually pick.
I go for the relax - tips and advise and to get my head away from other peoples books - if I gain a customer brilliant - but I may have just picked up some contacts to recommend to a customer.
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Donna Curling - Complete Book-Keeping Ltd (CBKLtd) - 07939 101900
I feel like I understand the format now and can see that the practice may get business in the future from the contacts gained at the breakfast meetings.
