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Speed Networking for Business Success
You may have heard the term 'speed
networking' bandied about a lot recently. It's become
a very popular and fast growing form of networking and
growing your business. So how does speed networking
work?
Well, you may have heard of speed dating
- It’s exactly the same principle just adapted
for business. Attendees are seated in pairs and each
one has between 2 and 5 minutes (this varies depending
on the event) to introduce themselves and what they
do. At the end of the 2 minutes a whistle blows and
one of the parties moves to the next person on the right
until everyone has had a chance to meet. It’s an
excellent way for people who find networking difficult,
to meet others. It also breaks the ice for any general
networking which might follow afterwards and gets around
the age old problem of only talking to people you already
know.
So you've booked your place in a networking
meeting, but what can you do to get the most out of
the session? As with all marketing for your business,
preparation is vital.
Bear in mind that you've only got a
few precious minutes to get across what you do and more
importantly the benefits of your product or service,
so you really should practice what you are going to
say before you go. What do you want to get out of the
event? What is it about your company that you really
need people to know?
Below are some useful questions which
might help you figure out what you want to say:
1. Who is your ideal client?
2. Which companies are you trying to get into?
3. What services do you offer?
4. What is your Unique Selling Point (USP)?
5. Why should someone choose your company?
You could also practise your 60 second
or "elevator" pitch - a very quick way to
get across exactly what you do in sixty seconds or less.
If you get that right you'll actually have time to spare
on being specific about who you would like to meet and
which companies you want to work with.
Further Tips:
- If you are seated opposite to someone
you already know, tell them something they don't know
about your business - have you set up something new
recently, a new service or product? What do you currently
need?
- If you're opposite someone new, help
them out. If they're struggling to think what to say,
ask them questions. What kind of questions? The ones
above are a good start.
- Speak clearly - you can say more in
2 minutes than you think.
- When the other person is speaking,
don't keep talking about you - it's your turn to listen.
- Be genuinely interested in what the
other person has to say - as with general networking
it's all about building long term relationships. Take
time to see if you can help with any connections or
advice your partner might need.
- If the organizers have allowed time
after the speed networking for general networking then
think about who you want to talk to again and how you
can further the new relationship.
Speed networking, just like any networking
isn't rocket science - it's thinking about what you
want to say, being clear and to the point, listening
carefully to the other person and seeing what you can
both get out of it.
And it really is great fun, so don't
be afraid to get out there and give it a go.
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