You know what it’s like when you buy a new car, new make and model, and then you suddenly see the same car everywhere!   
Were they always driving around and you just never noticed them before?

Well this is exactly what it’s like when you start your own business.  Everyone, everywhere, talks about networking.  Are you doing it, have your joined or just visited? Is it a lockout group, have your prepared your 60 seconds?
It’s a whole new world, language, planet, and one that has completely passed me by until now.  
But starting a new business this year has launched me straight into this new strange world of networking, and to reassure anyone who is thinking of doing the same.  This is what I learnt:

- Networking, or some kind of ‘putting yourself out there,’ is really vital for a new business to succeed.  How can anyone buy from you if they don’t know you exist?
- Networking is normally an ‘in-person' event, which means that you’re much more likely to be remembered than if you do something online. 
- Networking comes in many forms, I have been to a mixture of unstructured, semi structured and fully structured.  If you are very nervous about talking to people you don’t know, then I would strongly recommend the structured options, as you are given instructions and people are automatically paired up for activities. 
- 60 seconds (not always 60) – This seems to be a ‘thing’ in most of the networking I have done.  It’s essentially an elevator pitch.  60 seconds to tell people who you are and what you do.  If you are in a regular group, then it’s a chance to update the group on any news or updates to your business. 
- 1:2:1 – These are a chat that you have with one other member of the group.  They can be during the session or to be arranged outside the group.  They can be a few mins or an hour (or longer,) to find out about the other person and their business.  To find out who their ideal clients would be, to suggest help you could offer. It’s an opportunity to get information and experience that you may be able to use in your business. 
- Lockout groups – These are groups which only allow one person of each industry to join, so as to avoid conflict of interest.  So, if a group has an accountant, they wouldn’t allow another one in.  

Top Tips for networking – 

Visit as many as you can at the beginning, often they will let you come for free.  Once you have an idea of how each one works you can decide if you want to join any. 

Things to think about 
- Value for money, do I get fed!!!! What do I get within the membership which I am going to use, for example, access to mentors, training, will I go on a directory to help with SEO.  Do these people align with me and the way I want to do business.  Is it supportive! Positive! 
- How often is it on and where is it location wise? Do I have time to go and will I make the most of it.
- Is it affordable? Do I have a budget for this each week/month?

My mantra when starting out in my business was, Say YES to everything!!

 

*image credit Emily Malleson