Business Networking - What presses your buttons?

[patientlady]

I have been asked to set up a business networking meeting, say once or twice a month. I have a venue/venues.
I would like to ask the networkers, what you like about networking and what format you like. I was talking to someone yesterday and what I thought were reasonable ideas, in his eyes were not
Do you just like to turn up, collect a few business cards and go or would you like to have a speaker or maybe some training tips, together with networking. I thought it might be nice to have a different venue each month (which is available due to my contacts) but was told people don't like change !
What do you think about speed networking?
I would be grateful for any ideas whether they be original or not...
Many thanks p/l

 

[Kat Haylock]

Have a read of this "Networking events.. What do you expect?" thread - otherwise, @Ashley_Price would probably be a great person to ask

 

[Ashley_Price]

Thank you, @Kat Haylock, that's most kind, and yes happy to chat with anyone about networking events, etc., both from the point of view of someone who has attended different types of networking since 2003 and I also ran two events for 3 years.

 

[Ashley_Price]

@patientlady - Networking, like many things is "horses for courses".

I was talking to someone yesterday and what I thought were reasonable ideas, in his eyes were not

As mentioned in the thread @Kat Haylock links to, what works for one person, won't for someone else.

You say you have been asked to set up the networking events, so I would suggest you think about the following:

1/ What type of events do you like to attend; and
2/ What type of events does the person you are setting them up for like to attend.

If you are to lead them, you need to do what is most comfortable for you. You will then find people who are similar to you, in their view of networking, will gravitate towards your event. While those who don't feel they will get anything from it will go elsewhere.

Do you do a high class networking lunch, with a £25.00+ per head cost, so that only those in the more successful businesses will consider attending; or do you keep it at a rock bottom price (or free) that anyone can turn up to?

But you cannot please all the people all the time, and nor should you try. Do this and you'll never have a coherent event and you'll probably end up alienating everyone.

Sit down, discuss with the person who wants you to set up the event and think about what you would like to see. Then take it from there.

 

[Asterian]

Events and MICE are what does it for me. I used to do my fair share on expos, and I can tell you that they're not there to promote your business, nor to allow you to watch the competition and providers. They're there to look for prospective workers. If I don't come from an expo with at least three resumes I've wasted my time.

 

[Removalizer]

As an ex BNI member I have seen the best and worst of networks, the first bit of research to do is find out which groups have members who can help your business for example as a furniture mover I would always target conveyancing solicitors and mortgage brokers, once you have found a few that would fit the bill attend all of them and make a decision which one, once you're in a group nurture a close relationship with the people who can help you the most but have your eye and assist the people who need your help, BNI call it the givers gain principle, try it for a year, when the referrals dry up, move on to another group.

 

[Ashley_Price]

@Removalizer - All good points, except the OP isn't looking to join a group, she has been asked to set up one.

 

[Removalizer]

Thanks Ashley, my apologies I misread it, I was involved with setting up groups as well, not wanting to put a dampener on things but it takes a lot of experience and hard work to do this. Here's a few pointers, find a suitable venue and beat them down to the bone on price, use social media especially linked in to get visitors, the first meeting is the crucial one, you need a good motivational speech to get them to come back, explaining the benefits of networking, and how to get more visitors, then each week change the motivational speech to educate them more. Hope that helps ?

 

[Ashley_Price]

...then each week ...

Well, she has been asked to set one up for "once or twice a month".

find a suitable venue and beat them down to the bone on price

She does say she is possibly looking at a different venue each month, which, thanks to her contacts will be available to her.

She wants to know what we want from networking.

I'm sorry, but it really is all in the OP's post.

 

[Ashley_Price]

@patientlady - If you would like any more info or guidance, don't hesitate to contact me via the email in my signature.

 

[ethical PR]

Hi @patientlady you mention you have been asked to set up these events...so that's your starting point - what's the context of you being asked - is it part of your job?

What does whoever has asked you want to get out of hosting these events. Is it to promote their business/brand? What sort of businesses and decision makers do they want to attend? What do they want them to do as a result of having attended this event.

Once you know what sort of people they would like to attend, you can broker the idea with these potential attendees and find out key issues such as timings/location (make sure you choose one where it is easy to park and has good public transport links)/whether to include food, whether to have a speaker, what sort of format.

Businesses will attend to learn from others, gain business and to network so ensure there is a focus on these three elements.

 

[Alan]

What I want from networking
1. business, real genuine business contacts & leads that turn into sales
2. something that isn't exhausting, time consuming or inconvenient
3. something that doesn't make me feel uncomfortable

Needless to say, I have tried various networking and non have met my wants above

 

[patientlady]

Many thanks all contributors. I will keep you informed of any progress

You all have some great points and very helpful

p/l

 

[Ashley_Price]

What I want from networking
1. business, real genuine business contacts & leads that turn into sales
2. something that isn't exhausting, time consuming or inconvenient
3. something that doesn't make me feel uncomfortable

Needless to say, I have tried various networking and non have met my wants above

From the way you have phrased these, it sounds like you expect the event to do all the work.

1/ Did you research the networking events before attending, to see if there would be contacts that would suit your business?

2/ Getting work in any form is going to be "time consuming" or "inconvenient". You only get out what you put in. Advertising in a paper, etc. is time consuming (to design the ad, get the wording right, source or take any photos or pictures etc.) but it can get business. My doing cold calling is time consuming, but it gets me business. My going to networking events is time consuming, but it gets me business...

3/ Again, see point 1. What research did you do so see whether the event would be a match for your style so you didn't feel uncomfortable?

Where a lot of people fall down with networking is they pick events at random, turn up without knowing the background, format, or the other members who are likely to be there. So, they are unprepared and then when they don't get any work they saying networking doesn't work.

In most (all?) cases it shouldn't be too difficult to find out the contact details of the person who organises the event, give them a call or send them an email, and just ask the type of members they have, what the format is, etc. Then an informed decision can be made as to whether the event will be worth the time and effort to put into it.

 

[Gecko001]

I think you have to build it around a certain event such as a lecture on something to do with business or even something having nothing to do with business that is going to be worth going to on its own. I used to go to Federation of Small Business events which worked like that and I think they were worthwhile going to. Networking happened to a certain extent and some people might have been there purely for that reason but the events seemed to work well.

I only have gone to one pure networking event and frankly I found it a bit uncomfortable and strange. We were all supposed to chat about our business and swap cards and that was all. I think you need more than that.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I only have gone to one pure networking event and frankly I found it a bit uncomfortable and strange. We were all supposed to chat about our business and swap cards and that was all. I think you need more than that.

Like I have said, it's horses for courses. I don't mind the events where you purely "meet and mingle", as long as I'm reasonably certain I'll going to meet the right contacts.

I actually am not a big fan of going to events where the main emphasis is on a presentation or a talk, and there is only brief time for networking before or after. Although not FSB, I have been to events through the Chamber of Commerce, where several have got together for a one big event.

What often happens sadly, is the presentation runs over time, therefore, the networking afterwards is cut short, or people are wanting to leave immediately after the presentation because it is getting late.

 

[Mark T Jones]

I would certainly talk with Ashley - who has experience on both sides of the fence

I am currently involved is setting up a business community - which makes a point of billing itself as NOT a networking group. Mistake on first launch - we went for numbers; indeed we succeeded in selling 35 tickets or more for each of our first 3 events. Good speakers, interactive sessions and professional advice. Everyone thought the content was great BUT most people lost interest after 2 events - the reason being that 'there wasn't enough networking opportunity' - repeated suggestions that we offered '1 minute introduction rounds' 'opportunities to display marketing material' etc etc

From our perspective, that meant we had failed in our objective - the majority will accept real content, but actually want to mini-pitch and hand out cards.

WE have retreated to a tighter group (ultimately probably 20 members) who actually want to discuss business issues and opportunities without self-promoting.

 

[Ashley_Price]

I would certainly talk with Ashley - who has experience on both sides of the fence

Thank you for the kind words.

WE have retreated to a tighter group (ultimately probably 20 members) who actually want to discuss business issues and opportunities without self-promoting.

Well done!

I am not saying any type of event is wrong. What I am saying is you decide on the type of event you want to run and those who like those sorts of events will gravitate towards you, while those who aren't comfortable will go elsewhere.

You had made that decision, and are sticking with it, which is correct. You've decided not to try to please everyone, which in the long run will work better for you and the group.

And the funny thing is, in spite of no self-promoting, I bet business between members will come out of it, because whatever you call yourselves, by meeting on a regular basis you are networking.

 

[Mark T Jones]

@Ashley_Price Fully agree. My point to the OP was that the majority of attendees are happy with 'traditional' networking; adding too much external structure such as speakers and individual advice clinics will actually detract from that, unless the events are clearly set up (and attendees targeted) as such.

 

[The Byre]

I avoid 'networking events' like the plague!

They are full of desperate middle-aged men who, for the most part, are just all 'mouth-and-trousers'!

I am looking for young people with funky ideas, people with drive and ambition, looking for a chance to show what they really are capable of. The last thing I need, is someone my age, still looking for mortgage payments!

 

[Ashley_Price]

They are full of desperate middle-aged men who, for the most part, are just all 'mouth-and-trousers'!

I have to disagree, some of them do wear other clothes as well...