Monday, 7 September 2009
Why I don't neccessarily agree with networking groups
Last week, I went to a well known networking group as a visitor. While I was there, the Chair of the group gave a speech about the fact that some people go to networking events purely as hunters. These are the people who email everyone afterwards, he said, just pushing their own services.
He then went onto explain why the networking group wasn't like that and then spent the next hour trying to sell the group.
Here's where I disagree. I'm a great believer in that if you just go to a networking event once and don't contact anyone afterwards, then very little business will come out of this as a result. You do need to follow up with people.
That's why these networking groups work - because you're seeing people every time the groups meet, you're effectively following up with everyone there on a continuous basis. However, you're not selling - you're just building a relationship with them. I'm not knocking this approach - it does work!
But, if the event you attend isn't a membership group or for some reason you don't want to join it, you also need to follow up with people, albeit in a different way. This though shouldn't be purely emailing people selling your own services. My approach is to follow up with people after the event to see whether they would like to have a 15 minute chat on the phone.
The aim of this is NOT to sell. The aim of this (like the networking events) is to build a RELATIONSHIP with people. My approach has worked for me and my clients for years and as far as I'm concerned there's nothing wrong with this.
So, yes if after a networking event all you do is contact people with the aim of SELLING your products and services, I completely agree with this Chairman that you're a hunter. However, if you contact people with the aim of building a RELATIONSHIP, perhaps the networking approach and my approach are exactly the same.
He then went onto explain why the networking group wasn't like that and then spent the next hour trying to sell the group.
Here's where I disagree. I'm a great believer in that if you just go to a networking event once and don't contact anyone afterwards, then very little business will come out of this as a result. You do need to follow up with people.
That's why these networking groups work - because you're seeing people every time the groups meet, you're effectively following up with everyone there on a continuous basis. However, you're not selling - you're just building a relationship with them. I'm not knocking this approach - it does work!
But, if the event you attend isn't a membership group or for some reason you don't want to join it, you also need to follow up with people, albeit in a different way. This though shouldn't be purely emailing people selling your own services. My approach is to follow up with people after the event to see whether they would like to have a 15 minute chat on the phone.
The aim of this is NOT to sell. The aim of this (like the networking events) is to build a RELATIONSHIP with people. My approach has worked for me and my clients for years and as far as I'm concerned there's nothing wrong with this.
So, yes if after a networking event all you do is contact people with the aim of SELLING your products and services, I completely agree with this Chairman that you're a hunter. However, if you contact people with the aim of building a RELATIONSHIP, perhaps the networking approach and my approach are exactly the same.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Thursday, 3 September 2009
M is for Marketing
If you’re just starting up in business, marketing is probably the most crucial element for you. Get this wrong and you don’t have a business. Get it right and you could take off like a rocket!
So what do you need to know? At this stage, there is no point in me telling you fancy and clever ways to do marketing (you’ll have your own ideas and know what’s best for you) – we’ll concentrate on the basics.
First, do your homework. Who are your target customers? Are they male or female? What age are they? If you’re appealing to companies – what size of company? Who do you need to talk to in there? The more stereotypical you can be about your customers, the easier you will find marketing.
Put your customers into boxes. If you have more than one box of customers, that’s fine as long as you recognise that you will need to market and promote to them differently.
You also need to get everything in place so that when you start marketing, you have things already available. This includes things like sorting out your prices, creating a website (if you feel you need one), having some literature in place, getting some business cards and so on.
The third stage is to think about where your customers might go to find your products and services. The easiest way for you to find new customers is to go where they go.
The most common ways for new start-ups to get business are:
1. Advertising
2. Mail shots or leaflet drops
3. Cold Calling
4. Networking
Feel free to give these methods a go, but don’t be afraid to experiment with your marketing and try new and innovative new methods too. I have a list of 50 free ways to promote your business and if you want a copy, please email me (details in the resource box).
When you first start marketing your business, you don’t know which methods are going to work for you and which ones won’t, so it’s important to try lots of different things and keep your costs as low as possible. It’s a lot easier to keep motivated if you’ve only spent £5 as opposed to one lady who spent over £10,000 on advertising with no results!
The most important thing is to actually do some marketing. The more you do, the more it’s likely to work for you. But if you don’t do any or just rely on others referring work over to you, there’s a good chance you’ll be struggling to get customers.
So go for it! Have a plan and put it into practice. Marketing is one of those things that you learn while you’re doing it and you’ll quickly grasp what’s going to work for you and what’s not. Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t give up if your marketing isn’t working. Just because one marketing idea doesn’t work, another one might if you give it a chance.
Exceptional Thinking (http://www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk) provides help and advice on marketing your small business. They also help people start up in business too. For 50 ideas to promote your business, please email info@exceptionalthinking.co.uk
So what do you need to know? At this stage, there is no point in me telling you fancy and clever ways to do marketing (you’ll have your own ideas and know what’s best for you) – we’ll concentrate on the basics.
First, do your homework. Who are your target customers? Are they male or female? What age are they? If you’re appealing to companies – what size of company? Who do you need to talk to in there? The more stereotypical you can be about your customers, the easier you will find marketing.
Put your customers into boxes. If you have more than one box of customers, that’s fine as long as you recognise that you will need to market and promote to them differently.
You also need to get everything in place so that when you start marketing, you have things already available. This includes things like sorting out your prices, creating a website (if you feel you need one), having some literature in place, getting some business cards and so on.
The third stage is to think about where your customers might go to find your products and services. The easiest way for you to find new customers is to go where they go.
The most common ways for new start-ups to get business are:
1. Advertising
2. Mail shots or leaflet drops
3. Cold Calling
4. Networking
Feel free to give these methods a go, but don’t be afraid to experiment with your marketing and try new and innovative new methods too. I have a list of 50 free ways to promote your business and if you want a copy, please email me (details in the resource box).
When you first start marketing your business, you don’t know which methods are going to work for you and which ones won’t, so it’s important to try lots of different things and keep your costs as low as possible. It’s a lot easier to keep motivated if you’ve only spent £5 as opposed to one lady who spent over £10,000 on advertising with no results!
The most important thing is to actually do some marketing. The more you do, the more it’s likely to work for you. But if you don’t do any or just rely on others referring work over to you, there’s a good chance you’ll be struggling to get customers.
So go for it! Have a plan and put it into practice. Marketing is one of those things that you learn while you’re doing it and you’ll quickly grasp what’s going to work for you and what’s not. Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t give up if your marketing isn’t working. Just because one marketing idea doesn’t work, another one might if you give it a chance.
Exceptional Thinking (http://www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk) provides help and advice on marketing your small business. They also help people start up in business too. For 50 ideas to promote your business, please email info@exceptionalthinking.co.uk
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
When do you go against the grain?
This week, I have the opportunity to interview two students under a scheme called Graduate Challenge. This means that I get a student for free for 4 months to complete a project. Yes, ok I'll have to buy a desk and a couple of other bits and pieces, but what a great opportunity for both ET and the student!
That's my thoughts anyway. I've always been a great believer in looking for other ways to do things based on the assumption that if plan A doesn't work, there's always another way.
But, you'd be amazed at the amount of people who disagree with me and think if you want something doing, you MUST pay for it and you MUST go down the traditional route. Talking to people with the 'you can't do that' attitude does tend to knock your confidence.
So, my question this week is when do you go against the grain? At what point do you say "I'm a bigger business now, I must go more down the traditional route?" Or, do you continue to be innovative and look for other ways to do things?
Very interested to hear your thoughts.
That's my thoughts anyway. I've always been a great believer in looking for other ways to do things based on the assumption that if plan A doesn't work, there's always another way.
But, you'd be amazed at the amount of people who disagree with me and think if you want something doing, you MUST pay for it and you MUST go down the traditional route. Talking to people with the 'you can't do that' attitude does tend to knock your confidence.
So, my question this week is when do you go against the grain? At what point do you say "I'm a bigger business now, I must go more down the traditional route?" Or, do you continue to be innovative and look for other ways to do things?
Very interested to hear your thoughts.
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