business networking: tips for building professional networks
DESCRIPTION
Join Ajax Union's event team, Elle Spektor and Michael Suarez, as they teach you how to network your way to success. During this presentation, you will learn: - How To: Brand Yourself. - The Do's And Don'ts Of Networking - How To: Make The Most Out Of Your New Contacts - How To: Get Business Referrals Come to a Networking Event for free! www.meetup.com/BusinessEventsNY Learn more about how to network successfully: www.businesseventsny.com Visit more Ajax Union events: www.ajaxunion.com/events Elle Spektor is a newbie to the field of online marketing. Having chucked her typewriter aside, she came to Ajax Union with the intent of helping businesses grow online. This Bensonhurst-native now spearheads the webinar, seminar, and networking efforts at Ajax Union. Stemming from a background in journalism and business, Elle is the ultimate multi-tasking extraordinaire who actually gets things done. Some colleagues have been known to call her the “solution box”. Elle loves Thai milk bubble tea, anything Carrie Bradshaw, and her kitty, Pumpkin Michael is the Event Coordinating and Marketing Assistant here at Ajax Union. After graduating from SUNY Albany, he currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. When not planning business events, he can be found spinning records, playing in the ocean, running through the woods (on the weekend), or watching re-runs of one of four TV shows: The Office, Parks and Recreation, Arrested Development or 30 Rock.TRANSCRIPT
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Michael Suarez | Marketing & Events Assistant
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Business Networking: Tips For Building Professional Networks
Find out more about Ajax Union's services at: www.AjaxUnion.com
Welcome!
• Please ask questions• Post/comment on
facebook.com/ajaxunion• Tweet @ajaxunion and at
#AjaxUnionWebinar• Follow up! [email protected]
Today’s Agenda
Today We Will Go Over…
• What is Business Networking and Why Is It Important?• Setting Your Business Networking Goals• Five Networking Do’s and Don’ts• How To Find The Right Group For You• Three Networking Opportunities For Professionals• Upcoming Events / Q&A
Business Networking
“Casual networking is fun, but smart networking is a science.”
Networking allows you to stand out in a way that other outlets do not.
The “Human Moment” by Edward Hallowell- Helps build confidence and trust in business
Why Do People Network?
Sales-Related
1. Meet new prospects2. Get personal referrals 3. Achieve word-of-mouth publicity4. Create active ambassadors for your brand
Not Sales-Related
5. Find a new job/career6. Receive visibility (think: Personal-level or Business-level)7. Get fresh, new ideas8. Get invitations to exclusive events, speaking engagements,
etc.
Crafting An Elevator Pitch
How long does it take for you to describe what your business does?
Purpose:
Communicate what your business does; quicklyLength: 30 seconds – 1 minute max
Tips:
1. Write it down2. Make it about the client3. Mention your name and company name at
the end
Start with an elevator pitch
Brian Walter – Speaker/Coach – Wow How Now
ExampleProspect: So, what do you do?Me: I help build PowerPoint muscles.Prospect: Huh?Me: I teach people how to use PowerPoint more effectively in business. Now, for instance, I’m working with a global consulting firm to train all their senior consultants to give better sales presentations so they can close more business.
Start with an elevator pitch
Richard Fouts – Gartner Analyst – SIR Principle
Situation | Impact | Resolution
Creating conflict; Escalating the conflict and then resolving the conflict.
ExampleYou know how most business people use PowerPoint but most use it pretty poorly? Well, bad PowerPoint has all kinds of consequences – sales that don’t close, good ideas that get ignored, time wasted building slides that could have been used developing or executing strategies. My company shows businesses how to use PowerPoint to capture those sales, bring attention to those great ideas and use those wasted hours on more important projects.
Setting Your Business Networking Goals
“If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail.”
What Are YOUR Business Networking
Goals?
Networking Do’s and Don’t’s
DO: Your Homework!
DON’T: Forget To Set Goals
• Research the event attendees• Practice your elevator pitch• Get there early • Make a mental note of 3-5 persons who you definitely
may want to speak to. • Who is hosting this event? Who are their sponsors?
It’s always good to know their background information.
• Go in with purpose. • Knowing what you want to get out of the night will help you along the way.
Networking Do’s and Don’t’s
DO: Network with a purpose.
DON’T: Hard Sell.
Networking with a purpose is more than meeting as many people as you can. It is about discovering what you may have in common and discovering ways to work together.
Listen. Respond. Rotate.
Lose the sales pitch. Talk to people, connect with them. If you try to sell to hard you’re just going to annoy whoever you’re speaking to and miss out on a potential business relationship.
Networking Do’s and Don’t’s
DO: Give and get referrals.
DON’T: Be on your phone all night!
“Even though you might not need [name of service; e.g. marketing] help right now, do you know anyone that would? I would love to be able to help them grow their business.”
Pair people up, and they’ll return the favor.
As with any social situation, being on your phone the entire time is rude.Meet people. Connect with people. You can check your twitter later.
Networking Do’s and Don’t’s
DO: Make them remember you.
DON’T: MisrepresentYourself
Don’t act. A fake persona will do nothing but hurt you. Be yourself.
Focus on meeting the crowd, mingling, and achieving your networking goals.
Networking Do’s and Don’t’s
DO: Follow up.
DON’T: Try to meet everyone.
•80 percent of sales are made on the fifth to twelfth contact
•48% of professionals do not follow up with a prospect
You won’t be able to. And if you do, chances are you didn’t get to actually connect with anyone. Set your goals, decide which type of people you want to meet, and go from there.
REMEMBER: One solid contact is better than 100 business cards.
Opportunities
Three Networking Opportunities For Professionals
• Experiment with networking types• Mingling Events• Speed Networking• Professional Conferences and Seminars• Business Panels• Virtual Events
• Tradeshow marketing & networking• Event Sponsorship
•48% of event attendees say face-to-face interactions are more valuable today than two years ago
•43% of people believe that the value of face-to-face interactions will continue to go up
•84% of people feel events and experiential marketing is considered very important / critical by their organizations.
Tradeshow Marketing
• Brand awareness reinforcement• Build or expand brand awareness• New product or service promotions and launches• Promotions targeting specific business sectors
How can tradeshow marketing help your company?
Tradeshow Marketing
1. Plan far in advance
2. Distribute a press release
3. Reach out to fellow exhibitors before the show via email
4. Look for networking events pre-show.
Tradeshow Marketing & Networking
5. Make sure you have a nice table display with your marketing materials
6. Prepare perks for trade show attendees
7. Run a contest at the show
8. Follow Up
Tradeshow Marketing & Networking
Event Sponsorship
• Company Branding• Maximum exposure• Face-to-face leads
Visit www.ajaxunion.com/events for more information!
Finding The Right Group For You
MeetupEventbriteChambers of CommerceEvent MailersMedia ListingsBlogsReferrals
Bonus: Google!
Remember: Check ratings.
Tying it All Together: Final Thoughts
Business Networking is only one slice of the orange if you want to grow your business. Use these marketing strategies in conjunction with one
another for faster, more effective results!
• Email Marketing • Social Media• Blogging• Online PR• Google AdWords• Video Marketing• Much, Much More!
Quick Recap
Today We Discussed…
•What is Business Networking and Why Is It Important?• Setting Your Business Networking Goals• Five Networking Do’s and Don’ts• How To Find The Right Group For You• Three Networking Opportunities For Professionals
SPECIAL BONUS!
Speed Networking Event
Your Next Connection Is Just A Handshake Away...
For more events, visit www.ajaxunion.com/events
WHEN: September 30th, 6 p.m.
HOW: Register for this workshop by signing up at:
Meetup.com/BusinessEventsNY
OR EMAIL : [email protected]
Thank you!
Find out more about Ajax Union: www.ajaxunion.com
What Strategies Are YOUGoing to Implement TODAY?
Find out more about Ajax Union: www.ajaxunion.com
Questions?Comments?Concerns?