NETWORKING - Is it a Cliché or is it because you Don’t understand or Don’t want to understand

We have all heard the expression

“I don’t know but I know a man that does”

Whether you are looking for new business – a job – a workman or a service there are some fundamental facts.

Many Jobs are never advertised

People prefer to deal with people they know, are recommended and trusted

First of all, networking is the process of meeting people, either through a contact that you initiate, or through an introduction by a third party.

Networking allows you to meet, and establish a relationship with, people who may not have heard of you or your business through any other method.

It’s not:

 

Hustling

  Telling the world how great you are

  Something that happens overnight

It is:

Finding common ground

Building mutually beneficial, professional and or social relationships

  Giving, as well as receiving, time and information

 A process that takes time

Sometimes new friends or clients are found, sometimes new suppliers, and sometimes new ways of doing things.

This can increase profitability or enhance your life.

All this can be found through networking or socialising with new people.

We all need other people to interact with both in the business community and our domestic community. Whether they are to buy from us, sell to us, or brainstorm with us in order to learn more and progress in our lives.

An essential factor is

 “not what is in it for me” but “what am I willing to give”

1.   We must be willing to build on our relationship-building skills.

2.   We must be great listeners.

3.   We must be willing to give before we receive.

4.   We must get into a networking mode in our minds.

5.   A CONSTANT networking mode.

Through consistent contact with others, you will instinctively start to put "two and two together".

When you are speaking with someone, your brain will be searching its archives for people, places and things that can help the person you are speaking to.

This is a networking mode.

This is also a networking mind set.

This mind set takes time to cultivate, but once a focus is given to it, you will immediately see how you can help other people while you are listening to them.

That is the first step in getting them to help you.

So networking, like its name says, is WORK.

The process is not called Net-sitting, Net-eating, or Net-standing around waiting to go home.

This process is work and should be done methodically.

The process is also a learned skill. It is not something that we are born knowing how to do. It can be frustrating when you have a goal in mind for your networking functions and are not achieving that goal.

So whether you join a Professional Networking Group, a Social Club, Charity or other Organisation your life is full of opportunities to Network.

“Getting to know people that can help others to help you”

So people who sit alone wondering how to get a trusted plumber, decorator or some other requirement have choices:

Check a Local Directory

Browse the Internet

Ask a Friend or Somebody they know

Have you made the effort to make sure somebody knows you?

What Recipe is Your Business

What Recipe is Your Business

Have you wondered why you started your own business or are you thinking of starting one ?

Maybe you should do a Health Check in answer to either of those questions and look at it in a fundamental simplistic way that makes it easy.

In Culinary terms was it as a result of using ‘leftovers’ a redundancy package,  maybe an ‘old favourite’ that’s familiar like a hobby or interest,  an inspiration from a friend or a new recipe you saw in a book or magazine. Either way you will be venturing onto new territory and don’t always know the pitfalls or how confined you maybe by your own limitations to try new things.

A good place to start is to have a piece of paper with two columns.

What am I GOOD at                        What am I NOT GOOD at

You have to work at this for a few days or weeks and you will see it evolve into

What I LIKE doing                           What I DON’T LIKE doing

Now we have a start. The Recipe begins.

Ingredients first:

Do you buy from a reputable supplier like a butcher, fishmonger or go to the Supermarket – pay for quality or go budget.

(This will affect the quality of the end product irrespective of packaging)

You also need to know the cost effectiveness of craftsmanship of the product.

Take a piece of meat for example.

If you go to the butcher and have the meat prepared, boned and tied ready for use or do you buy the raw product and prepare yourself.

Both have cost and skill implications.

This is where you have to decide where your time and efforts are best deployed for maximum profitable return.

TIME MANAGEMENT

There is no point spending hours on preparation if you don’t have the knowledge or the skill when your forte is selling Ice to Eskimos.

The next consideration is what meat do you buy.

Are limited by your own choice and preference or do you have your potential customer’s needs and choices in mind.

MARKET RESEARCH

Method:

So you have your ingredients.

These have to be accounted for.

STOCKTAKING, COSTING, ACCOUNTS, BUDGETING. 

You start to make your recipe it all goes well – oh and we have to account for

FUEL, EQUIPMENT, PREMISES, ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, LEGAL LIABILITIES AND maybe the need of STAFF and all the responsibilities attached to that also.

Consumer:

Who is what is your customer and how do they get to know about you and what you are doing.

This means communication

PR Marketing, Advertising.

Some People talking about you or recommending you.

This can now be done or a much bigger scale by using SOCIAL MEDIA and the Internet supported by a GOOD WEBSITE.     

CONSCLUSION:

Do not be a JACK of ALL TRADES and realise, identify your weaknesses and strengths.

What YOU Like Doing is your best and most productive and profitable tool.

What YOU DON’T Like Doing is your Achilles Heel and maybe should be delegated or outsourced to an expert in that field so that you can concentrate on your strengths or seek training to improve your skills.

You cannot and should not do everything - DELEGATE

Outsourcing may include Accounting, Advertising, Social Media, Legal Matters.

You do not save money doing everything.

All you do is weaken the effectiveness and profitability of your strengths.

In addition being physically involved with your Business does not give you the time or opportunity to look from the outside in, doing a Health Check, Developing a New Recipe or creating new ones.

SO DO A HEALTH CHECK AND BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT COME UP

 

Why do I need a Website

The Internet is recognised as one of the most cost effective forms of advertising available - if your competitors get there first, then you could be missing out on potentially valuable custom. Don't miss out!

Don't miss out!

The Internet has potential circulation figures/coverage area that can't be matched - and all at a fraction of the cost of a simple series of adverts in a journal - let alone a media campaign!

The pages of your website need to say what you want them to; the site has to be continually promoted and assessed, and kept looking fresh and up-to-date to encourage visitors to return to it on a regular basis.

Your on-line brochure on the web - and more!

These are all aspects we advise you on. The structure and maintenance of your site - teamwork is essential to maximise the potential of this opportunity. 

We try to understand YOUR business so that you quickly come to count on us as part of your marketing team.

Can I get a free website and email service

Yes you can. But image is important and what it says about you.

What if  you had a web address of www.mycompany.freespace.com? It's like sending cheap brochure.

What are your rivals doing?

It's very likely that your competitors already have a website. Try a search of Google to see what your competition is up to? You can also get and idea how you'd like your site to look. 

Website & Social Media Services

Our team provides ongoing support, updates and extensions to websites, and many other services.