By Jess Butcher of blippar
To ?network? is a state-of mind, not a job on your marketing checklist ? it?s as easy as striking up a conversation with the stranger in the queue ahead of you.
Online networking couldn?t be easier ? with Linkedin being the best place to start. Sign up to as many relevant websites, newsletters, Linkedin groups and online forums as you can to get on mailing lists; you may end up unsubscribing to many but cast the net wide at first.? Start engaging with online discussion forums and following threads that interest you.? Localised groups will inevitably take themselves offline occasionally to organise physical gatherings and Start-Up Britain is awash with events, groups and networks? from business breakfast clubs for SMEs and sole-traders (such as BNI) through to broader start-up events for entrepreneurs and at vertically-aligned industry forums.
Be prepared to give up evenings to get out and about, business cards-in-hand. Keep your days free to work ?in? your business and network by evening ? standing back to think ?on? your business over an informal glass of wine with industry peers and other business owners.? You could go to free events, or low-cost ticketed seminars every evening of the week if you wished? and taking a scatter gun approach at first, enables you to know which events are right for you and those that attract the right sort of attendees or insight.
At such events eave your shyness at the door and either go alone, or agree with colleagues that you?ll split up on entry.? If you?re not able to walk up to a stranger and introduce yourself, these sort of events may not be for you.? Likewise, you?ll most likely have to practice the diplomacy of trying to extricate yourself politely from a long, boring or irrelevant conversation to ?work the room.? And whatever you do, don?t sip too quickly at the wine to ?lubricate? awkward conversations.
At blippar we have found a combination of entrepreneurial events and vertically-aligned networking events hugely helpful.? The former for guidance and reassurance from ?people like us? ? learning from and sharing with those that understand the challenges and pressures of running businesses e.g. funding questions, staff attraction/ retention or overseas expansion.? The latter (e.g mobile, advertising, tech and media for blippar) provide excellent business development opportunities, and often offer great training content-matter for new joiners.?? Both have been essential to our success to date building our credibility and initiating relationships with people that have gone on to become key advisors, investors or clients.
But don?t forget networking is not just for formal networking events.? We met one of our now board members in an airport departure lounge; we initiated three of our key client accounts on intercity train journeys and met two of our team members on twitter! If you?re passionate about your business, engage with anyone who will listen.? Cultivate your networking state of mind.
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Jess Butcher
Co-founder and CMO, blippar
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Source: http://businessinyou.bis.gov.uk/2012/10/12/case-study-networking-opportunities/
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