Business Networking in Milton Keynes
Before you choose to go out business networking in Milton Keynes (or anywhere else) make sure you can answer these three simple questions easily and concisely.
- What do you do?
- Who do you do it for?
- How do you add value for your clients?
By the way, nobody you meet will ask you those questions. Most of the people you’ll meet at business networking meetings in Milton Keynes (or anywhere else) haven’t given the event much thought at all. They’ve turned up because they like the people or they like the venue or they like the food or their boss has told them to go.
I’m an amateur business networker. I do it for fun. It makes working for yourself more enjoyable than not doing it. However, even I have to make it pay on some level and at some point. I’ve been business networking in Milton Keynes, London and several other places in England since June 2002. Other people think I’m good at it but they’re probably wrong. I go to meetings, have some laughs, eat some food and hopefully meet some new people. I also engage with people I already know because that’s enjoyable. The one thing I do that most people don't is follow up by email or on Linkedin to keep the conversations going. Again, I do that because I enjoy it. I'm genuinely interested. It's not part of some marketing blueprint.
There’s loads of business networking training out there. A lot of it is really sensible and professional. I’m sure if you followed it to the letter you’d win some business. Sadly, I also think you’ll look like a very salesy idiot trying to peddle your wares to everybody in the room and not listening to what they can do for you or your business or your contacts.
Here’s one of the many things that the organisers of business networking events don’t want to tell you. Your ideal client won’t be there. If you’re one of those people who thinks you're being very clever because you don’t go to meetings unless your target audience is going to be in the room then you’re missing out and I can’t help you at all. They won’t be there. However, their customers, suppliers, contacts, family, friends or fans may well be there. You won't know unless you go.
So, why do you need to know the answers to the three questions above that nobody you meet will ever ask you? Because, if you can tell people you meet the answers to those questions naturally and concisely they will easily recognise their customer, supplier, contact, family member, friend or fan who is your ideal client. If they think you can help their contacts they will be eager to connect you because it will make them look good too. Most people want people to like them and making good connections is a great way to do that.
To conclude, if you don’t know where to start with those three questions or you just want to try out your answers on someone who cares please call me on 07903 655 169 or email me at mark@printingandmailing.co.uk. I’d genuinely love to help you get more out of business networking in Milton Keynes (or anywhere else) and enjoy it as much as I do.
Regards,
Mark Orr