Choosing Networking Functions
Time is a concern for all of us. We only have so much of it to give to our work, and then some to our families, our churches and some to ourselves. In today's business climate it is essential to spent our time wisely to maximize our productivity and satisfaction with our lives. One way that you can ascertain that the time you spend networking is most effective for you and the accomplishment of your goals is to choose your functions for networking strategically. This involves deciding on goals for your networking time and then seeking groups and functions that are geared toward the satisfaction of your goals. If your networking time is to be spent on business development, then you would want to focus your time, energy and financial resources involved with organizations and functions that are, by their design, for business development. Some Chambers of Commerce gatherings, business trade shows, and organized business associations meet for the expressed purpose of finding more business for each other. The people who attend these functions are there for the same reason you are - to meet new people, make new contacts, and generate more revenue. If you end up at a function that is more "social" in nature, and you are trying to do business, you will become very frustrated. Social functions are fun and relaxing, but a person trying to do business or make contacts there, could be very disappointed. If people are not in a "business frame of mind", doing business with them will be impossible. A clue to whether the function is "business" or "social" can often be found in the time of day that the function is held. Many "after-hours" functions, although billed as business-development functions, really are not set up to do business. If there is a non-structured agenda, than the chances are likely that this function will be a "wind down after the business day" gathering more than one for actually doing business. Another clue is to read the material that is produced by the organization about the function. What is the Mission Statement? What are the requirements to participate? Who is invited? What kind of marketing was done for the function? All of these will assist you in determining if a function will help you maximize your time and energy. The desire to be involved with functions that are not just for business has its advantages as well. There is a lot of mentoring, brainstorming and good will generated at civic functions- like Kiwanas, Elks, and Rotary. A person who attends these functions for reasons other than satisfaction of civic and personal goals will be equally as frustrated as the person attending non-business functions and trying to do business. There is a need and a place for both. If done properly, networking functions bring you closer to satisfaction of your personal and business goals. It is important to view these extra hours as productive. They take away from your family and personal time. They can be easy to skip because of the added amount of self-motivation required to attend them. Because of this, the quality of people attending these functions for the purposes of networking is higher, so your chances of meeting someone who can really help you are greater. Some old sayings never change- birds of a feather still DO flock together.... Nancy Roebke, is the Executive Director of Profnet Inc, a professional business leads generation corporation. We bring business professionals together in a non-competitive environment to help each other make more money. mailto:execdirector@profnet.org http://www.profnet.org Copyright c Nancy Roebke
Related News
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Small Business Marketing Tip - Get Attention and Be Remembered
We live in a world of noise ? not just auditory noise but total sensory overload. Everywhere we go marketing messages are shouting at us day and night. Hundreds of TV and radio stations, thousands of newspapers, magazines and books, millions of ezines, brochures, and leaflets, billions of emails and web pages. And unfortunately much of it is junk so it's hard to find the important stuff.
People Arent Interested in You or Your Company
Does your Web site talk about your company? Yes, I know, it's your company Web site! But the last thing it should talk about is your company.
Ditch Coupons Before Customers Ditch You
Everyone wants to feel like they're getting a good deal. Merchants often attempt to capitalize on this desire through coupon offers, rebates, and "special discounts." Coupons have become the promotional drug of choice to woo more business from new and old customers alike. Unfortunately, coupons can destroy customer relationships almost as fast as they are made.
Business Cards That do the Business
A business card makes a statement about who you are and what
your business is about. It needs to convey the quality of
your business and an insight into your personality.
I have been handed business cards and the first thought to
go through my mind was - "Cheap" A tacky design - low
quality paper - doesn't feel good in the hand and looks
cheap to the eye. That then becomes my overall impression of
the business.
Is Your Marketing Working...
That is the question, you should be asking yourself. Many feel that it is I'm sure. But is it really!
The Greatest Business Tips are FREE
The best way for someone to
hang on to a tip is on a business card.
Why Instant Gratification Marketing Condemns Businesses To Losing 90% Of Their Potential Customers
Most businesses target only people "ready-to-buy". These hot prospects are "Now Buyers" because they've been inching closer to a decision for some period of time. They're just about ready to spend cash. Advertisers target "Now Buyers" because the pressure is on to make sales immediately. And, they know these prospects are most qualified, from a timing standpoint.
When You Need More Than Magic To Keep Your Marketing Going
It is easy to focus on what remains outstanding and not seewhat you have accomplished or how you have grown over thepast year. Even marketing experts have difficulty nailingdown time to market. I too fritter away time at trivialtasks like organizing paper clips, shuffling paper from onestack to another, updating my computer and watering plants.On worse days, I prefer doing laundry and making my kitcheneven cleaner.
Like Brushing Your Teeth
What do the following things have in common: brushing your teeth, regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, paying your bills on time, cleaning your gutters, spending quality time with your spouse and kids??
Successful Non-for-Profit Fundraising Letters Share Eight Qualities
You'll be encouraged to know that the art of writing effective fundraising letters can be learned. I learned it. So can you.
Meaning and Marketing - The Trigger
In previous articles under "Meaning and Marketing", we have
learned about the verb "To Be" and that the name of God is
I AM.
Keeping your Business Card visible
Famous quotes that keep you thinking.
Postcard Marketing Done Right
Say it with a post card. A well designed, colorful, high impact postcard in the mail box of your prospect is your best ticket to a new customer. For your existing customer, a marketing campaign which includes frequent post cards is the perfect start to new sales - this is one of the key small business marketing strategies.
7 Cheap & Easy Ways To Get Prospects
Here are some quick techniques you can put into place on your web site or in your advertising to gather new prospects. There is practically no cost for most of these strategies yet they have proven to be extremely effective in any number of different venues. Use one, two or all of these strategies for a quick shot in the arm.
CRM: Strategic Engine or Just Another Tool?
CRM?strategic engine or just another technology tool? How would you answer this question about your company's CRM initiative? It depends on how honest you are in answering some other questions, including:
Full Color Postcard Marketing: 7 Reasons Why They?ve Become the New Direct Mail
The most crucial aspect of having a high response rate to any direct mail marketing list is to keep your business' name in everyone's mind, constantly. But how do you do that without annoying your business customers, or divvying up a lot of time and money?
AIDA From A Different View - I Call It the 5 Ws
My childhood was my foundation for how I write and how I think. I caught on at an early age that writing is an art and it has a very distinct way of reaching out to people depending on how you apply it. I used my own method of writing and applied it to the criteria my teachers needed. You see, the criteria is always changing from teacher to teacher or professor to professor but the method that is applied can be easily molded into place to make it fit perfectly.
The Magic of Using Booklets for Tradeshow Giveaways
Candy, squeeze balls, pens, and key chains -- these provide questionable value to anyone visiting or staffing a tradeshow booth. More and more meeting and marketing professionals are considering something a little different - booklets. They are a way to attract higher quality prospects, reap a handsome return on the investment of time and money in attending shows, and help set a company apart from the crowd.
Stretch Your Marketing Reach
One of the most cost effective marketing strategies you can utilize is an online newsletter, also referred to as an E-Zine.
Ten Deadly Proposal Preparation Pitfalls
Let's face it, the name "proposal" is a great misnomer, but since many businesspeople take it literally, they often paint themselves into a corner of chasing buyers, many of whom requested the proposal to collect idea for in-house implementation. Yes, it is a scumbag approach to drag honest folks arounf by their noses, but apparently there are many scumbags who practise this dishonest technique knowingly, and some innocent folks who believe this is normal and have fallen into the trap.
|
