I went to a couple of meetings recently- it is less formal than BNI type of meetings - smaller groups too, it still works out quite expensive to join plus fees every meeting.
I personally have decided networking isnt for me- You have to be very outgoing and chatty to get into these groups and that isnt me unless I know someone well!

Sharon

Hi Jules

I have done various forms of advertising over the 13 years I have been in business- mostly without success - I find my biggest form of advertisement is my clients themselves, I offer incentives if they introduce me to a new client.

I also use facebook and free advertising such as freeindex, the free one liners in thomson and Hibu

It might be worth going along to the introductory meeting at 4N- you only pay for the breakfast/lunch and there is no hard sell to make you join- at least that way you have had a feel for what the sessions are like.


Sharon

I know the world has changed during my 10 year break, but most of my work came from a small mailshot I did to local businesses. It was small because of the number of stamps I happened to have at the time! I got one reply, that turned out to be my first client. Through him I met the chartered accountant I worked with, and picked up a lot of my work from those two sources. I did the invoicing for this client, and one was addressed to "Company Name, they live near you", so I had to guess which house it was and knock on the door to ask! They became one of my best and longest lasting clients! I found one longstanding client through my advert in Yellow Pages, and got work through them too, but few of them were the best quality of client. My biggest client came via my neighbour opposite who was a chartered secretary in practice with an accountant, who knew I worked for the "they live near you client", and his firm worked for another neighbour who I did a bit of Sage support for. Small jobs came from advertising, but most came via contacts made because of my small mailshot.

I'm studying marketing at the moment, to learn how things are done now!

Hi Jules,

I am a regular 4N'er - group co-ordinator for the Croydon Airport group. I see Sharon is not entirely happy with the experiences she has had, which I find disappointing, but can I put in a word in favour of networking?

We all know, and John has given a lovely example, that word of mouth recommendations are the best and most reliable way to gain new business. John met an accountant through his first client - a networking link. One of his other clients came to him because of his work with the accountant - another networking link. John has not called these connections networking because, as with a noticeable percentage of people, he may not have realised that this is what he was doing! Networking, which should always be viewed as a mid to long term thing, is all about getting to know people such that they are happy to recommend you. Be it formal as with BNI, morning coffee with Ladies who Latte or the totally relaxed First Friday Club, whether you pay a high membership fee or only go for the free option and dun you friends for the people they know or take a stall at the local school fair, getting word of mouth recommendations is all about networking.

I personally prefer 4N to BNI - not just because 8am is easier for me than 6.45am (I have a school run to consider) but also because 4N give you more freedom to range, by which I mean that BNI is an exclusive set-up where you join a specific chapter and only and for ever go there but 4N allows you to go to any meeting you care to get to and as each meeting will have a different array of people and a different feel based on the those who run the specific meeting, this allows you to find the type of meeting you want. If mornings are just not your thing it is worth noting that 4N also have lunch time and early evening meetings.

4N builds its brand on the phrase '50% social, 50% business', BNI I would say is about 75% business and only 25% social, First Friday is more social, Ikea breakfasts are speed networking where social goes out the window as you race from desk to desk and deliver a fast paced pitch before being hurriedly moved on (I'll say nothing about the coffee!). All I am trying to do here is show the options. There are loads of networking events out there, some cost, some are free - I have got clients from free events, equally I have clients from events I pay to attend but with only one exception my entire client list is network/word of mouth and I would not have built my business from nothing to an estimated £15k turnover for my second year of trading without networking.

Don't base a decision on having only gone to one or two meetings. Don't expect to get leads at once. There have been studies done that show it takes between 5 and 7 'events' within a 6 week period to start building trust with a potential client or referrer, use that information and create 'events' (these can be emails, face to face meetings, someone talking about you, mail shots...), rather than say 'networking doesn't work' because you have no leads after 2 or 3 meetings, consider if you are doing enough to generate those leads - turning up is not enough! Did you email the people you talked to after the meeting to consolidate what was said? Have you gone back and shown you are there to stay, this makes it easier for people to refer you. Have you worked on your elevator pitch? Are you clear in defining the sort of client you are looking for? each person you talk to knows 'someone' not 'anyone' so ask for 'someone'. For example a photographer might ask for a referral to 'someone who has recently had a new baby' a pitch request which is far more focused than saying 'I take photos of families please refer me to any families you know' - the range is too wide and probably no referrals will come from that request where as asking about a new baby might trigger a specific response.

 

Give networking a real go, get in there and find a group you like.  Start with the free ones - google networking near your postcode, you might be surprised at just how many meetings there are! After all, you want to build your brand in your area - what better way than to go out and let potential clients see you and speak to you?

You mean there are people out there who didn't grow up on Monty Python!?

But.... but.... how can that be?

I am all for networking, I don't belong to any BNI's although I have been along to a chapter before in the past. There are plenty of groups to go to that are cheaper, some less formal. Have a look on the net on your local area and see what is about. I have been to some free ones recently as well which are very informal.

It has definately worked for me over the past 6 months, it is not a quick fix to getting clients but if you work at it you will reap the rewards eventually. My last 6 new clients have been through referrals/networking, sometimes when you are just casually mentioning your business to a friend or someone in the school playground , you are in deed networking but very low key, so every contact counts. It doesn't matter whether you are a chatty person, get in there and do it. Although I can chat once I know someone I was very nervous about going networking but now since joining a local group and going on my own it doesn't bother me. I don't like standing up in front of people and telling them all about me, but I am gradually getting use to that bit.

I don't think leaflet drops work for our specific type of job so I wouldn't waste your money, instead get plenty of business cards and get out there and network. Then come on here in 6 months time and tell us how well you are doing!

I went through a lull patch a couple of years ago, but since networking and putting the word out there its gone mad!

Good luck!!