N ET WOR K I N G & E V E NTS
Our membership model means we attract businesses with a budget.
Those with the mentality of investing in their networking. If you’re finding
the attendees aren’t at the level you want, you’re probably picking the wrong events.
Which leads nicely into my last misconception…
5.“I’m not going to pay for
networking events/membership
when there are free ones out there” We’re not in a race to the bottom
when it comes to price. We know our happens. Certainly one of our petpeeves about networking events.
Don’t you just hate it when you clock someone throwing business cards
around like fairy dust, or when you notice THAT person that is shoving a sales
brochure into everyone’s hands and the earliest opportunity. Ew, just stop!
Fear not. We encourage people to leave the sales spiel at the door. In each pre-
event email, we include our top-tips on how to network, and how we expect attendees to conduct themselves.
We won’t put anyone on the naughty step or kick them out. But we will
take the time to educate people on
the most effective ways to network.
To make sure they aren’t ruining their
own chances of building relationships, and everyone else’s experience.
3.“I don’t need to network, I have enough clients already”
Ah, this is a classic! If this is true then that’s brilliant. But who wouldn’t want to grow their business? You never
know what’s round the corner – as has been spectacularly highlighted this year. It’s always good to keep your
name and service in front of people. Don’t forget networking isn’t solely
about getting new clients too. It’s not a sales activity. You may be looking for opportunities for collaboration.
People you could help connect your clients to. Keeping in contact with
current referral partners. Research
tasks or even getting sponsorship for
that charity sky-dive you’re doing (you little dare devil!).
4.“It’s only ‘one-man bands and sales reps’ that go networking”
Firstly, depending on the events you pick, this may well be the case. But we’ll save that for my next point. Secondly, if you have the right
mindset to networking, you’d be
open to having a conversation with
everyone in the room regardless of the business size or industry. You never know who they know and how they could help.
With this being a stigma attached to
business networking, we focus on inviting decision makers. This is what is going to
make those conversations at events help
achieve your objectives to networking (as mentioned in the previous point).
value and what you get in return for your investment. Ultimately when it
comes to networking (and anything in life really), you get what you pay for.
Our commitment to you as a member
is to help you achieve your networking objectives. To deliver valuable events and provide the support needed to help your business. Yes, this is our full time “proper” job. We’re not a
company that does coffee mornings as a bit of a side-hustle.
We’re more than just a networking
event. The strength of our membership dictates the strength of our business. This is why we’re dedicated to breaking down these stigmas
associated with networking. To make it something you want to do, rather than feel like you have to.
So we feel your pain, we know your
concerns, we’ve heard them. Come
and give it a go. We invite you to try
out an event or two before joining. Or if you’re feeling really proactive, join us and let’s get you started on your
journey as part of the Network My Club family. Find our upcoming meetups in October on the page opposite! www.networkmyclub.co.uk
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 67
