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Tom Mapes
Mi Admin
48 Posts |
 Posted - 01/12/2009 : 09:21:25
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I would be interested to hear challenges and problems that you face when networking either online or face to face.
We have an upcoming talk at Entrepreneur School based around these areas and would love to have some ideas from Mi members on this (I can't say anymore at this point but watch this space!).
Please reply to this topic and just let me know what your main problems, difficulties, stregnths and weaknesses are when you network.
Thank you for your input!
Tom |
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Kyla Skinner
Million Impossible Fire Starter
60 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 13:52:48
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Hi Tom
Just a quick note, because I'm really busy – but I wanted to respond and help get this thread going...
My main bugbear is empty promises. Or 'misleading leads', if you like. I'm sure we all like to come away from a conversation with a hope of new business – but it's a waste of everyone's time and effort if there's no real intention behind it. So I guess that ticks the 'insincerity' box too. If it's been promised, appropriate follow-up is very important. In my mind, there's nothing more rude in business than saying you'll be in touch and not then doing so.
I'm guessing that having the confidence (not arrogance) to actually strike up conversations with others, either online or face-to-face, is also a challenge for most of us in one way or another.
Hope this helps. What do others think?
Kyla.
The Jarrah Consultancy – Thinking your language
Professional copywriting and creative communications
www.jarrah.uk.com
www.kyla-skinner.com
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Susan Baker
Million Impossible On Fire
233 Posts |
Posted - 15/12/2009 : 12:16:49
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The main challenge I have experienced with online networking is the reluctance of most people to post on the forums. From the figures, it looks like people are reading the topics but very few are taking part. We seem to have failed with the Community Chat too - so I struggle to understand how to network online if the forums and chat facilities are not used. Can someone tell me how it is done?
Regarding face-to-face networking, I think the main challenges are a lack of confidence and, perhaps, fear of rejection.
Sue Baker
WISE (Secretarial Services)
www.wisesecretarialservices.co.uk
wise@secretarialserviceschesterfield.co.uk
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Jeremy Webb
Starting Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 18:21:01
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Hi- two widely differing areas in one!
I am a newbie to the online forum world and sometimes find that there are simply not enough interesting topics around! Or at least those I feel like commenting on! But I think the answer to this question is not just about forums. It is surely about developing an on line profile using the full array of tools available in Social Media. Start with your website, produce a newsletter which is not all sales based, blog, tweet, contribute to other publications, speak on your specialist subject wherever you can and get involved in forums etc.
MI and eCademy to name two are great in offering both on line and offline opportunities to network and that takes me neatly to.... what do you look for when you are networking face to face?
Question- is it sensible to spend an hour talking to the first person you meet at an event where there are thirty people. If you don't do business with that person ( and can you really expect to on that basis) you have bet your invetment of time, cost on a single potential opportunity.
But if you try to speak with all of the people whom you do not already know- perhaps for five minutes max, exchange cards and seek their agreement to a further conversation- perhaps over a coffee and promise to call them. Then you have maximised the potential return on your time. Calling each of them should not be too hard or time consuing and you should expect to meet with most of them- if you do then you have got an opportunity to qualify their inerest or otherwise- and if they are really not interested they will probably not agree to meet.
So polish up your elavator pitch- see the past lessons section on Entrepreneur Schools or contact me for a copy of thepresentation used at ES Dorking recently. If you do meet lots of existing contacts while networking that is not wasted time- how many could you see at individual meetings on the same day- and you saw how many in an hour and a half or so?
I hope this helps - let me know either way and add you contribution to this vital bit of business intelligence! |
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Edward Tudor
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 14/01/2010 : 16:39:34
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I found Face-to face networking hard and so for ecademy events I print off the list of attendees and pick 2 or 3 that I want to talk to. I read their profiles and put together 2 or 3 questions to ask them to get the conversation started.
A sucessful evening is if I have met and talked to 1 of my targets.
This is much harder when you are not able to prepare before hand and don't have a delegate list. |
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What are your main challenges?
