So often we are asked in Business to attend a Networking Event. A new one seems to spring up every week. Often we could fill every moment of our working day Networking, but will that benefit our Business? Will we get a Return On Investment of money and time?
Having been around most of the Networking formats over the past 9 months, and viewing the emerging new events, I thought I would share some thoughts with you on Networking and where I believe it will be in 3 years time.
Prediction Number One:
We will see an increase in Networking activities by Businesses not currently engaged in the process. I would say that participation within Networking activities could grow by as much as 300% over the next Three years. Why is this?
Tradional forms of community are diminishing in this post modern era in which we live. The sense of community, family, social structures is rapidly changing and we are finding ourselves often isolated, lacking human and social contact and finding new social networks in this changing environment.
One of the main losses in this change is the ability to connect with people through those social structures. Therefore, in the future, people, especially those in Business will be seeking new ways to connect with other Businesses and potential clients, so one of the more visible formats will be the Networking events to participate in.
Prediction Number Two:
There will be a shift from memebrship paid models of Networking to pay as you go models. Current Networking formats which command a membership fee of around £600 per annum plus an event cost, such as a breakfast of £12 per week, are in danger of diminishing in the next Three Years.
This is because more and more new models of Networking charge a higher or equal weekly / per event fee, but no membership fee. Often these Networking events incorporate the costs for each event into the pricing and do not have a management / regional structure to pay for, thus rendering them more cost effective in terms of pricing to the Business community.
Additionally, many people have been looking at their ROI with Networking. When you take into the calculation a membership fee, training event feees, meeting event fees plus your time, then the per hour figure of your investment in that Network is substantially high. When measured against the referral gained through that Network model, often people find that the return on their investment is very poor. The ROI for pay as you go events is often significantly higher and more justifiable, especially in this current economic climate.
Prediction Number Three:
Social Media and Digital Technology will enable Businesses to add virtual networking to the face to face networking experience, with tremendous profit results for business.
Time is also of the essence in securing a ROI for your Networking. Social Media and Digital Technology offer you the opportunity to Network without leaving your desk, without travelling time included and often you can find directly and quickly who you need to speak to without having to work the room and speak to people without anything in common with them.
In a packed market there needs to be a USP to your Networking offer and I believe Social Media gives Business an "Edge" in terms of Networking.
At Make A Difference, we blend together face to face Networking with SocialMedia and Digital Networking producing a New Business Edge Networking Event called #140net.
We look to blend face to face networking with workshops, presentations, use of technology and extended business reach potential, you bring a new type of networking experience to local businesses.
You can find out more about this on our website: www.makeadifference.org.uk/140net
Do you have a view on the above predictions? Are they accurate or totally off the wall?
Why not get in touch and let me know. My e-mail is jazgreer@makeadifference.org.uk
Thursday 14 March 2013
Tuesday 12 March 2013
Can you see and embrace potential?
Its interesting when in Business you launch something newish, and watching people trying to connect or not with your latest incarnation!
There are those who hear your heart and catch the vision, they see the potential and are the early adopters. Mostly these are people who are not ones getting bogged down in detail, but rather are the blue sky thinkers, the risk takers and they do not want to miss an opportunity, especially something new and different.
Then when you put out your marketing materials, you find people grasping with words and struggling to see beyond definitions and concepts. Assumptions are made, key words which mean one thing to you mean 33 different things to 33 different people! You can feel like you are treading treacle and its one step forward two steps back syndrome! The worst thing is when you engage with this people group, put a lot of time and effort into qualifying their suspicions and doubts and looking to turn them round and see the potential when then, (deep sigh), they disengage from you and go their own way.
You can often be left deflated and wonder why you bother, but.... then..... out of the desperation
come a glimmer of light, a ray of hope that yes, there is still someone somewhere able to see the potential that you see!
Soon the one becomes two, becomes five, becomes ten and your confidence is now soaring. No longer is it about numbers and quantity, now its about quality! Quality of people with vision, who can see potential; quality of people who want to know more, start a journey and willing to take a risk as to where that journey takes them! Now you not only have some quantity but you have priceless quality of people!
The potential you saw in your new product or service, is now living in others too. You have transferred that vision, that enthusiasm into others and they see the potential. This releases not just a sense of achievement in yourself, but also a freedom to enjoy exploring that potential with a group of quality people who embrace potential, change, innovation and risk, all for the want of realising that potential that they recognise.
At these times you value people, you see that people contribute to your business in ways that go beyond a mere Business transaction. Its at these times you are thankful that you can see potential, and that you are not alone.
If you are in a situation today with your Business, where it seems like you are beating your head against a brick wall, then I would encourage you to look around you, look at your clients, colleagues, networkers, friends. Why? because it is there that you will find that glimmer of light and hope: it is there that you will find those who can see the same potential that you see and want to embrace it as much as you do. By sharing your vision, you have infected people around you who now want to start a journey of potential with you.
Today, see the potential, embrace the potential, and with those who share this vision with you, together realise your FULL Business potential!
There are those who hear your heart and catch the vision, they see the potential and are the early adopters. Mostly these are people who are not ones getting bogged down in detail, but rather are the blue sky thinkers, the risk takers and they do not want to miss an opportunity, especially something new and different.
Then when you put out your marketing materials, you find people grasping with words and struggling to see beyond definitions and concepts. Assumptions are made, key words which mean one thing to you mean 33 different things to 33 different people! You can feel like you are treading treacle and its one step forward two steps back syndrome! The worst thing is when you engage with this people group, put a lot of time and effort into qualifying their suspicions and doubts and looking to turn them round and see the potential when then, (deep sigh), they disengage from you and go their own way.
You can often be left deflated and wonder why you bother, but.... then..... out of the desperation
come a glimmer of light, a ray of hope that yes, there is still someone somewhere able to see the potential that you see!
Soon the one becomes two, becomes five, becomes ten and your confidence is now soaring. No longer is it about numbers and quantity, now its about quality! Quality of people with vision, who can see potential; quality of people who want to know more, start a journey and willing to take a risk as to where that journey takes them! Now you not only have some quantity but you have priceless quality of people!
The potential you saw in your new product or service, is now living in others too. You have transferred that vision, that enthusiasm into others and they see the potential. This releases not just a sense of achievement in yourself, but also a freedom to enjoy exploring that potential with a group of quality people who embrace potential, change, innovation and risk, all for the want of realising that potential that they recognise.
At these times you value people, you see that people contribute to your business in ways that go beyond a mere Business transaction. Its at these times you are thankful that you can see potential, and that you are not alone.
If you are in a situation today with your Business, where it seems like you are beating your head against a brick wall, then I would encourage you to look around you, look at your clients, colleagues, networkers, friends. Why? because it is there that you will find that glimmer of light and hope: it is there that you will find those who can see the same potential that you see and want to embrace it as much as you do. By sharing your vision, you have infected people around you who now want to start a journey of potential with you.
Today, see the potential, embrace the potential, and with those who share this vision with you, together realise your FULL Business potential!
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