networking events best way to target small business ?

[techresolve]

Hi i recently started IT support business in luton. Im finding it hard to advertise to small businesses. its hard to find locatio ndetails, and how many employees they have etc. what is the best method. i attended free business seminars they sujjested networking events

[eventdomain]

I have been to major events/networking things and honestly its not worth it from a network point of view. Too little time to circulate and chat business - you need to be a very fast networker!

You won't get to meet enough people for it to be worth it, bcos of the way these events are run. The events have the following set up:

Reception (30 to 45mins) 7pm

Dinner (1 hour) 7:45pm

Main Event (1 hour) 8:45

Carriages 9:45


Basically you'll be sat at a table where you only get to chat to maybe 3 people at most, nobody gets up to visit other tables etc.

Most events run this exact way, I've been to a few and know how it works. After the main event, everyones so tired from waiting and listening to various ego-driven speeches about this sponser and this company, all they want to do is go home.

Even though the event may continue for another hour, its my experience everyone buggers off home anyway. These events are just so tiring, and can go on far longer than is necessary in my opinion.

Some network events run a little differently, but its all pretty much the same format. BTW, it costs to attend them too eg: £100 per event to book a table/your place etc, cab ride home etc etc.

Few contacts are made, and a few biz cards are chucked about. By the time you get talking to 2 people, that's 25 minutes gone..... so you wont have the time to chat with everyone who attends.

[XanderMarketing]

Finding local businesses with a certain number of employees is easy. There are many data houses that will provide you with these lists. Try Corpdata or Electric Marketing as a start.

Working out what to do with those lists is the hard part. Start with a decent website and then look at direct marketing - direct mail, email marketing and tele-marketing. You need something unique though as it's a very competitive market.

We've worked with a number of IT Support businesses so give me a shout if you need help.

[findnetworkingevents]

Business networking events are an excellent way to get to know local businesses, most of whom may need IT support at some point.

There are a huge number of events out there now, many of which are listed on our site.

It is worth trying out a few different events in your area first before agreeing to join any particular one organisation as the formats actually vary considerably.

Finally networking is about getting to know and trust people so it takes time, if you expect results after a single meeting then you will be disappointed. Would you give business to someone who you had only had a brief conversation with?

[telemax]

Networking is great but it does take some time to kick in. It's important to stick at it over a number of months. My other suggestion is get out knocking on the doors of local businesses. Get some nice business cards printed and wear a suit. I do it for one of my clients and it works brilliantly.

Jonathan

[Jen at My Marketing Team]

I've just recently joined a network having avoided them previously having been put off with all the rules etc. I found one - www.4networking.biz (http://www.4networking.biz) - which I love. They are all over the UK so there's sure to be one close to you.

They are generally breakfast meetings from 8am til 10am and you are guaranteed three 10 minute appointments with three people of your choice. It's a great way to meet new contacts and my philosophy has always been relationship first - business second and so to me networking is brilliant.

Of course there are loads of other networks out there. This one suits me because it is very friendly and there are very few rules. And there are so many groups, you could go to a meeting 4 days a week in your local area - thus getting 12 meetings a week! I don't do that many or I'd get no work done!

Anyway - I thoroughly recommend it. Other than that - there are some free marketing tips (http://www.my-marketing-team.com) on my website - www.my-marketing-team.com (http://www.my-marketing-team.com) ... Help yourself!

Good luck, Jen

[eventdomain]

the formats actually vary considerably.

For business events, na, not really - like I said before, there's a reception, dinner and that's about it really.

Lets take a look at some event types:

Awards ceremony - Reception, Dinner, Awards event

Chamber of Commerce - reception, lunch, network bit (usually a pub do!)

Both held in the evening, both pretty informal and both charge to attend.

A few business cards thrown about, too many different people attending, can't rely on the person you met last time, showing up again and thus bang goes previous effort you built to do sales..... If the people you make contact with don't turn up at future events, its all pointless, as is often the case.

And how many do you think you're going to meet and greet - 20/30? na, you won't have enough time to meet all these contacts, bcos the event is designed to drag you away from the networking illusion and you'll get talking with one or two people at length for 15 mins a time, to find out that their business has nothing to do with what you're selling :D

Besides, from what I've seen from large events, its all one big marketing showcase for the Sponsors - its actually nearly impossible to get any sales from these things - like you say, you are counting on people remembering you from the previous year or month, and that's uncertain.

Got talking with one business owner, he said he donated £3000 for the bar bill, I doubt he got much business out of it, or few remembered who he was - I forgot his name and lost his business card too!, I've no doubt my biz card got lost or shredded and used not to contact me about my services, but to send me totally untargeted spam.

These things are too untargeted and very general. But biz events usually are.




Finally networking is about getting to know and trust people so it takes time, if you expect results after a single meeting then you will be disappointed. Would you give business to someone who you had only had a brief conversation with?


And that's IF they even remember who they spoke to, when the Champagne is flowing - and trust me it FLOWS big time......

[Scorch London]

From first-hand experience and watching others, I think networking works best if you are the type of person that is good at getting out there and meeting people, and knowing how to gain trust with people on both a personal and business level. If you have those skills then networking will work, if you don't then it will largely be a waste of time.

A lot of people think that you can simply go to a networking event and sell your services to anyone who'll listen to you, but unfortunately, the nature of personal communication as it is, networking is far more complex than that. As someone else mentioned, it should be relationship first, business second. Networking can be rewarding but it takes patience, time and sustained effort. Without wishing to sound crude networking is a bit like dating, you can't just wade in on the first date and say 'let's get married, I'm great' there's an element of getting to know someone before you trust them, and business is no different. You may have to go on several 'dates' (meetings, phone calls, correspondence) before you gain a valuable client.

Try some different methods of marketing too, send an eye-catching flyer, or do some groundwork finding out email addresses of the right people and send a well-written email, with a follow-up phone call.

For a business like IT support you will also rely on referrals and word of mouth to a degree, so above all, be damn good at what you do and ask your existing clients for testimonials. Businesses trust your clients to rave about you above you raving about yourself.