Women's Network Australia Blog

Recession Busting Networking

With the search now on by most businesses for ways and means to reduce costs, it’s no surprise that the tried and true art of networking is once again back in fashion. One only needs to compare the results networking achieves up against other forms of acquiring business, such as advertising or cold calling, to soon realise that the grape vine is an absolute gold mine.

Applying networking to any business will produce results, so how can you turn an event into an effective networking exercise?  For novice networkers the most important rule is to remember that networking is not necessarily a skill you are born with.  It takes practice, patience and perfecting. The key factor is having the confidence to realise that you do in fact have something valuable to contribute. 

Networking will only work if you position yourself well, create a profile and repeat the exercise. If you take all three concepts on board, you will enjoy the benefits of building a contact portfolio of more people than you will ever need in your lifetime to meet your business and personal goals.

Tips for networking during the recession

1.      Most people are not clear on the concept of networking. They attend events with the assumption that networking is about themselves and selling. A good networker knows that networking and building relationships is about taking the time to find out about others and from there any future business relationships evolve.
 
2.      Once making the commitment to commence networking actively, think about how you wish to represent your business or your employer. Keep your branding and the message you communicate simple and consistent.

3.      Always arrive at networking events on time. This allows you to introduce yourself to the event organisers whilst also getting a feel for the environment. It also gives you time to assess the event format, organise your action plan and preview name tags of attending guests to see if any are your existing contacts.
 
4.      If you wish to be taken seriously always have adequate business cards on hand and don’t act desperate – treat your business card with respect only handing them onto those you have engaged in conversation with.
5.      Sometimes taking a friend along for support can work well, but most times it is a stumbling block to achieving any outcomes. Inevitably you and your friend will use the event as a catch up – convincing yourself afterwards that the event was a good networking exercise as it gave you the opportunity to catch up with your colleague. The truth is you were never going to achieve any results from this networking event and you should have simply had coffee together elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with inviting a colleague to attend a networking event, but ensure you split up on arrival and catch up after the event to discuss outcomes and any personal chit chat.

6.      Great networkers follow up those they meet. If you tell people you are going to call, do it.  But in saying this, there are always going to be times where you are so busy that sourcing extra business is not a priority. So, if this is the case, when you meet a new contact simply tell them, “It was great to meet you and I would like to find out more about your business or career aspiration so can we catch up at next month’s networking event?”. It’s really important within networking groups that you display exceptional networking ethics, manners and show other people respect.

7.      Switched on networkers don’t attend events based on who’s guest speaking or the topic of the day, they know it’s all about who else is in the room. In any case, if you can’t open your mind sufficiently to learn something from even the worst speaker, you are probably not in the right space to start networking.
      
8.      A savvy networker never shows prejudice against those in the room based on their own agenda. A good example of this is an employee of a large firm attending a networking event where on the surface all attendees appear to be from the small or the home-based business sector. They mistakenly might feel they have nothing in common and, worse still, that the people in the room are of no use to their narrow business agenda.  Now besides the fact they don’t even understand that networking is not about them, they are also completely ignorant to fact that every attendee in the room has at least 300 networking contacts many of which are exactly the people they seek to be introduced to. 

Networking goes well beyond purchasing a ticket to attend an event. It is a tried and true method to grow your business and career prospects.  With the right commitment and attitude anyone can learn to reap the professional rewards effective networking has to offer.

Related posts:

1. What veteran networkers know to be true
2. Networking – The Social Norms
3. Networking Streets Ahead
4. Free Report – Social Media for Small Business

Contributed by Lynette Palmen.   Lynette Palmen AM is the Founder and Managing Director or Women's Network Australia. She started WNA 20 years ago to offer support, inspiration and services that would inspire women to succeed in their career and business endeavours. WNA is now the Nation's premier networking organisation for business and professional women. T: 1800 052 476.

Lynette Palmen has written 43 article(s) for us.

Visit http://womensnetwork.com.au