Networking and attending events are among the most effective ways of making business contacts, even in a digital world dominated by social media. Face-to-face to face contact remains a powerful way of striking up business partnerships but for many people, networking can be a daunting experience.
Norfolk Chamber hold regular networking events to give you the opportunity to meet new people to sell to or grow your business with. The friendly team are always on hand to guide you, lead fun activities to help you get started, and advise on the best event to meet your target audience.
Here are just a few ways we help you make the most out of your networking time:
- Icebreaker activity – All of our breakfasts start with the ‘networking icebreaker’ to help get guests to introduce themselves and talk around an activity such as a quiz or brain teaser.
- Staff on hand to help – Norfolk Chamber staff will welcome you at the event and all guests will have badges to allow you to see who is who. If it is your first time at one of our events or you’re nervous let us know and we can help introduce you to our members.
- Safari Networking – At some of our breakfasts ‘safari networking’ is a popular activity where after breakfast you will move to a randomly selected table to meet another eight people before hearing from the speakers.
- Speed Networking – Want to meet a large number of people in a short amount of time? Speed networking is a quick fire way to make introductions, you will have five minutes per group of six people and then quickly move to the next and repeat again.
- Team building – The After Hours series of events are crafted to include teambuilding exercises to get you talking while having fun at bowling, cocktails, enjoying tapas or watching a fashion show.
- Delegate list – you will receive a delegate list at least two days in advance to allow you to identify who you would like to meet at the event and even contact in advance.
- Mobile App – At our events we use a mobile app called ‘Presdo Match’ which acts as a virtual delegate list with names, and companies of people attending the event. It is linked up with LinkedIn profiles to allow you to put a face to the name.
- Training – The Chamber also holds training courses to help develop those networking and communication skills.
- Pick the event – is it the right one for you? Will your target audience be there and is the subject of interest?
- Keep an eye on local news topics – key areas of business support or growth and read up on the speaker; that way you will always have an interesting topic at your fingertips.
We asked some of our Chamber members for their thoughts on networking.
“Networking is not just about making contacts and collecting business cards, it is about building relationships with new contacts and developing those relationships with existing customers. I have been participating in Norfolk Chamber networking events for more than twenty years and always found them to be the single most productive way to find genuine new business contacts. There are alternatives and they come and go in popularity, but the Chamber remains constant.”Roger D Tubby,Sales Director, ColourPrint
“While platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter have revolutionised the way businesses connect with their customers and clients in recent years, I don’t think I can ever imagine a time when technology will stop me wanting to get out there and meet new people when it comes to networking. Events run by the Chamber provide a great opportunity for businesses like ours to meet up with existing clients, introduce ourselves to new ones and stay up to date with what’s happening in our region all at the same time.” Mark Sowersby,Head of PR and Communications at Shorthose Russell
“I really enjoy the friendly, no pressure atmosphere of the Norfolk Chamber and find the best way to meet people is to fully engage with the networking activities and to speak to those around me.” Paul Grenyer,Director, Naked Element Ltd.
Top tips from the Trainer
Ian Hacon, Yellow Brick Road runs regular training courses with Norfolk Chamber and shares his top tips with you.
The great thing about networking at the Chamber is the variety of events, from subject specific events like digital, to the fab B2B, breakfasts and specific policy events. You can pick and choose the event where you think you can get most benefit, this may be from contacts in the room, learning something new or contributing to the local debate on issues
I have ten top tips I suggest:
- Do your homework
- Get your pitch right
- Arrive with a smile
- Keep your mobile out of sight
- Ask open questions to build rapport quicker
- Listen
- Be yourself
- Have two stories ready about yourself – one personal, one that shows off your business
- Read the signs
- Follow up, follow up, follow up.
Interested in learning more? Ian is offering detailed training courses at a discounted rate for members. Dates for 2017 now available. Book now.
