LEO Networks
The Local Enterprise Office Clare currently supports the Women In Business network and is developing a series of general networking events to be in held in the near future. To register your interest or support in any of these events, please contact us at localenterprise@clarecoco.ie
Why is networking important for start-ups?
Networking provides an extremely cost-effective way of promoting yourself and your business. The use of advertising and other traditional promotional mechanisms is costly and can be a less efficient use of scarce resources for a start-up. Most start-up businesses struggle to get their name out there and certainly do not have ample resources necessary to mount a major promotional campaign, so they lose out to larger competitors when it comes to promoting their products and services. If you are not known and do not have a proven track record it can be an uphill battle to build credibility amongst prospective customers. However, through face to face networking and (increasingly) online networking, even the small early-stage business can build a massive profile that enables them to punch well above their weight. By getting out there and networking with the right people, an owner/manager of a small start-up can exploit opportunities that they would not otherwise even be aware of. They can build confidence among potential clients and promote themselves in a unique way.
What are the major mistakes business owners make when it comes to networking?
Not asking the right questions: Whilst building the personal relationship is extremely important, it is easy to miss opportunities by getting caught up chatting about social or economic or sporting topics without getting to the beef of how this person could be useful for you!
Focusing on the wrong people and on the tyre-kickers. Avoid time-wasters like the plague! If someone is clearly wasting your time, find an excuse to get away and politely move on.
Effective networking is not about ensuring that you give equal time to everyone at a business function and press the flesh with everyone in the room. Some people feel the urge to whiz around to everyone at a networking function throwing business cards around like confetti. It is far more effective to focus on those around you who you feel will be a useful contact or will help you or your business.
Not being alert to opportunities that can sometimes present themselves entirely out of the blue.
Follow-up – ALWAYS follow up the valuable contacts that you make, and soon. Don’t sit back and wait for the prospective customer to contact you – send them an email or put a call into them within a couple of days, to keep you and your business on their radar. Also, if you have promised some help to someone, don’t ignore your responsibilities to follow through with it.
Advice to start-ups networking for the first time
Move networking up your list of priorities and try to take time out to attend events where you can network regularly. Select the right events to go to. Local Enterprise Offices all across the country organise regular business networking events that are geared specifically at new start-ups and the small business owner/manager. They can provide a great introduction to help new fledgling business owners to hone their networking skills.
Do your research before you go to a networking event. Try to find out who will be there, for example will your competitors, customers, suppliers be attending? If it is a membership networking event, try to get hold of the list of members. If there are specific people you want to meet, then prioritise them and make sure you find your moment to introduce yourself.
Have your “elevator pitch” prepared in advance. Make sure that you can very easily communicate what you do and your key USPs (unique selling points), concisely, enthusiastically and positively.
Ensure you have plenty of business cards – it never ceases to amaze me how many people go along to a business networking event and yet forget to bring their business cards! And avoid the “500 for €5” cheap tacky variety of business card – invest in good quality cards, the cheap versions will convey a negative impression of you.
Move outside of your comfort zone. Some people are absolute naturals and need no encouragement to “work the room”. Others find it daunting and sometimes nerve-wracking to go to a business networking event and mix with people that they have not met before. But it is a learned skill and you need to push yourself to make contacts. Try to gain some benefit from everyone you meet.
Don’t be selfish – be a giver as well as a taker! It is tempting to focus solely on trying to sell yourself or find immediate customers. However, if you share information and go out of your way to help and assist others, you are effectively putting yourself into a powerful position as a valuable resource. This inevitably pays off in the long run, whereby those who are grateful for your help will want to return the favour.
Lastly, be nice – people like to do business with people they like!
