Networking is a hugely popular activity for entrepreneurs and managers, and there are many compelling business reasons why you need to spend more time, if you don’t already, you need to spend more time at your local group.
Opportunities
Networking groups attract people from all sorts of businesses, so the likelihood of finding new client leads and even opening up new opportunities is very high. And if yours is a B2C business, well, every single person at every single networking group is a consumer in their own right. If they like you, they’ll buy from you – so networking has got to make good business sense.
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know
You must have heard of the phrase ‘people buy people’. You could have the best product or service in the world, but if people don’t know about you, why would they buy it from you rather than someone else? By getting to know people at networking meetings, especially if you’ve earnt their trust and respect, you’re more likely to come first to mind when they realise they need/want what you provide.
There’s always someone to ask for advice
Everyone at your networking group will have different experiences, and the chances are, if you’ve got a bit of a problem, there’ll be someone who’s experienced something similar and will be willing to pass on their advice. And of course, people will ask you for advice too, which positions you and your brand as trustworthy and helpful.
Honing your elevator pitch
You’re standing in a lift and, just before the door closes, in walks your ideal client. As you travel upwards or downwards, you’ve got just 60 seconds to tell them about your business and impress them so much they set up a meeting with you. But what do you say to impress them that much? Getting your ‘elevator pitch’ right is not easy, even for the most experienced salespeople. What regular networking allows you to do is practise it – dozens of times over if necessary – on a regular basis, giving you the opportunity to get it perfect for when you really are in a position where every word counts.
Making friends
It’s lonely at the top, and when people run their own business, they often miss the friendship and camaraderie of colleagues. If you’re working solo, networking groups afford you the kind of social interaction you miss from your time working in an office. At networking, you’ll meet other entrepreneurs in a similar position, who you’ll feel able to chat to as an equal. These business relationships often blossom into personal friendships, making running your own business even more of a pleasure!
Networking groups that meet in Hoddesdon
If we’ve convinced you that networking will be good for your business, here are the groups that meet in Hoddesdon. However, there are plenty of other groups that meet in neighbouring towns, so you’re bound to find at least one that’ll suit you.
Women’s groups are very popular and the group that meets in Hoddesdon is the 1230 TWC Business Women’s Networking Lunch. They meet on the third Monday of every month.
We also run a popular quarterly ladies lunch which is usually held at the splendid Fanhams Hall in Ware.
We organise the Hoddesdon Networking Breakfast group which meets once a month on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s only £8pp including breakfast so well worth trying out. For more information, call Charlotte in our office on 01992 444466 or email charlotte@hbaccountants.co.uk.
Ambition 2017 is a networking event taking place on 15 November. It’s a one-day annual conference aimed at helping small businesses with sales and marketing. This year it will be held at The Spotlight in Hoddesdon and has a cracking line-up of speakers who will be passing on their sales and marketing advice and experience. The sponsorship and enthusiasm of a number of local companies, including HB Accountants, means tickets for Ambition 2017 are well within the price range of even the smallest start-up, so everyone can benefit from the information they need to help them grow their business.
And if you see us at any of the business networking meetings in Hoddesdon, feel free to come over and say hello!
