Networking
Most business owners, especially the newer ones, are very focused on growing their business. However they soon realized that doing cold calls or telephone sales takes up a lot of their time. They then begin to see that they must meet more people, get more contacts and hopefully from such contacts come some sales.
Networking events are being held everywhere, from MLM functions to association seminars! Even the newspaper companies are involved in their annual briefing to business people! These are all opportunities for a business owner to go out and meet people who are not his clients, his friends or his suppliers. But are these effective?
Well, it would depend on what are your objectives in the first place. If you are looking to inform as many people as possible about your company, you could bring along a stack of flyers and distribute to you whom you meet. You could design a special name card to ensure people remember meeting you. There are many ways to raise your visibility so to speak. However if your objective were to ensure you meet up with quality clients, a quick meeting and shaking of hands will not do; unless you are triply blessed with good fortune!
We, at Philippines-Business.com, are in contact with a few of the more effective networking organizations - particularly those which focuses solely on helping business owners meet, network and pass business contacts. We do not have any interest in these organisations except to say that we find them worth your while to make a visit. These organisations are:
a) BNI Philippines. They operate via independent Chapters and you may find out where and when they meet at the corporate website. However we do have good contacts with one particular chapter - Harvest Chapter - as we received a fair number of good feedback from our subscribers who visited them. For your information, for the year 2007, this group’s members have generated a referral turnover of over S$500,000 - not bad for a business network group wouldn’t you say?
b) Project Senso. Helping entrepreneurs meet up and network. To get to know them, get to meet them! Or if you wish to find out more first, talk to them. |
