Blog – Networking or Not-Working
Do you have a Network Strategy?
Have you got a goal or outcome you aim for when attending Events and Networking?
Do you have a strategy for all the connections and contacts you have made?
Networking was new to me 10 year’s ago, I had never even heard of it. It isn’t easy is it? Yet it is something we do naturally every day, by striking up a conversation in a shop or chatting at a bus stop. It is a daily communication that comes naturally to some.
I can strike up a conversation anywhere with anyone, but plonk me in a room full of businesses and I lurk on the outer edge, close to anyone I know and can get a bit tongue-tied.
Why?
Maybe because being self employed we are our business, the face behind the logo, and it is deeply personal. We general work for ourselves because we are doing something we love and we’re passionate about. So maybe it is the fear of being judged, criticised or simply we feel we are being too salesy by talking about it.
It could be a combination of all of these and so much more.
So Why do we Network?
- To get clients – this will be an obvious answer and awesome if it was that easy, but as we know building relationships and familiarity leads to clients over time.
- To connect with more people – This is a massive part of Networking I feel. Expanding our network of contacts is a great way of being visible and getting your name out there. Leading to referrals and collaborations, even friendships.
- Learning – we can learn a lot from each other, and many events are not just networking but an opportunity to learn something from speakers and other businesses.
- Collaboration – There are so many similar or complimentary businesses out there who would be great to connect with and enter into some kind of collaboration. Competition in a healthy way is great but we all offer a unique way of working, we are not everyone’s cup of tea, and we can learn from each other.
So what happens when you get back to the office after an event?
During the event you probably connected on social media, swapped business cards or scanned a QR Code.
But, unless you have a strategy, that may be it for most of your connections. Of course you aren’t going to want to have a chat with everyone after, but what if you knew someone who needed a specific service or product and darn it you can’t remember who you spoke to .
Then…
You scroll through social media – When the heck did you connect? LinkedIn? Facebook? Instagram?….
Plus the profile pics don’t always look like the people you met – cue soft focus, Holiday pics, hiding behind pets or those darn avatars??!!
Not to mention having a glitchy memory – It amazes me how I can remember the words to Bohemian Rhapsody from the 70’s but can I remember the name of the guy I met 20 minutes ago – Hell No !!
There is a Solution – Stay with me
Are we too reliant on Social Media?
We are lucky if we have a good number of connections / friends on social media but what if….
- The social media company goes bust (it could happen)
- The software is compromised
- Your account is deleted for no reason (it has happened all to often)
All those contacts – Gone in an instant. All the work, time, money and effort you have put in has been wiped clean.
I have a Solution
Let’s get back to the Old School way of doing things shall we.
Do you remember the Rolla-Dex or Index Card boxes? Yet I do too, and I loved them. They were you Business Bible, the most used gadget in the office.
Have you still got one?
As with most things nowadays, we have the new shiny electronic solutions – Outlook contact list, Mailing list apps, Gmail contacts, CRM Software.
All perfectly good tools, I use some of them myself. But what do they all have in common?
We are relying on storage outside of our control to keep our precious data. Which is ace until it isn’t.
Let’s get back to basics – the Rolla-dex was a physical storage in your had, yes you could spill coffee on it, lose the cards or back in the old days risk a flame from the ciggie on your desk.
Here is my Solution for you – A simple Spreadsheet
- Create a spreadsheet – simple to set up and easy to use
- Save it on your Device
- Back it up regularly on and external hard drives or go real old school with discs, dongles or memory sticks
- Print it off and file it somewhere safe
- You can then update it on your Phone / Laptop on the go
If you don’t want to reinvent the wheel, I have got your back.
A ready to use Client & Network Database:
- You can amend it to suit your business needs
- Track Client Information
- Get organised – all your contacts in one place
- Filter and sort for mail shots
- Protect it for GDPR with a password
Interested?
Click this link to grab this essential document, and start to organise your contacts confidently. It’s is a bargain at Only £45.
https://battyspreadsheets.co.uk/downloads/client-network-database/
Thanks for reading my blog, I hope you found this useful.
You can contact me at hello@BattySpreadsheets.co.uk or book a free discovery call via my website.
From your Batty Spreadsheet Specialist
Phaedra
www.BattySpreadsheets.co.uk
Note: “Networking or Not-Working” was brilliantly coined by Karen Heap of Socially Shared Network.