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Networking 1 This newsletter just scrapes into October! Last week, at very short notice, Judy started an MA in Professional Writing at University College Falmouth, so things have been hectic around here! Anyway, thank you to the people who responded to our news in last month’s bulletin and those who have given us some ideas for our next subject – networking. I have recently realised something odd about networking – I have never met a single person who admits to enjoying it or being good at it! It seems as though it is regarded as something of a black art, which we are all eager to distance ourselves from! And yet many businesspeople will tell you that they get a lot of business through contacts and word of mouth. What is this if not networking? I don’t believe that networking is an activity only carried out at organised events! In fact, the major downside of organised networking is that everyone is there to sell! A roomful of sellers can be a demoralising experience. I would say you are networking when you talk to anyone – anyone at all – about your business. Think about all the different people you speak to in a week – hairdresser, neighbour, mechanic, shopkeeper, estate agent etc etc. Tell them what you do, in a conversational, interesting way of course! And remember to tell your existing clients about the products and services you offer which they have not already used. Never assume they know all about you – they may be looking elsewhere for precisely what you can offer! Next time we will be including some advice from readers who have experienced the benefits of networking firsthand and are willing to share what they have learned. Let me know how your informal networking goes and whether any opportunities arise out of it! Back to Newsletter Archive page |
