August 2009 - Issue 63 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Welcome to all new subscribers.

Hello ,

Welcome to all new subscribers since last month.

Another busy month and it's been good to see the sunshine. There are plenty of workshops in the planning and September looks as if it's going to be a busy month.

Most of you will be going off or coming back from holiday during August, so you might like to take a look at my article on handling an email backlog. Especially if you've come back to a full inbox and think you'll be spending the first few days going through it all.

Did you take your laptop, blackberry, mobile phone with you? How many of you either managed to avoid work completely or spent some time checking emails or taking calls? I suspect quite a few of you will have been doing the latter.  Perhaps you are in need of some improved planning - take a look at this month's Teleclass.

Take a look at the Time Management Audit if you want to check what has the biggest impact on your time. This month, I'm offering one lucky reader a free Audit Feedback Session just register for the Audit and send me your results - see What's On for further details.

As usual, you can get extra news and tips from my blog http://www.clareevans.co.uk/blog or Follow me on Twitter and keep up-to-date automatically.

Enjoy the rest of this month's newsletter and the summer sunshine.

Clare

P.S. If the formatting looks weird- let me know. Looks fine to me but may not on different systems and browsers.

Social media is very much in the news these days and there can't be many people who haven't heard of Twitter or Facebook. Everyone is Twittering these days (me included), whether just for fun or to keep in touch with friends and family.

So why do we do it? For a business - it's another form of networking. Networking is about connecting, building relationships and getting to know your prospective clients, customers and suppliers.

Networking happens both online and offline. It happens in formal, business focused environments, where (generally) lots of people in suits get together over breakfast, lunch or an evening drink, exchange business cards and try to get a client or customer during the course of the meeting. Or that's the way some people work.

It happens online in discussion forums, social and business networks where you can connect with a much wider audience.

You're unlikely to get an order when you first make contact. As someone said - you wouldn't make a marriage proposal on the first date, so don't ask for their business when you first meet.

So why do we network?

- You get to know people.
- They get to know you.
- You're more likely to recommend someone you know.
- They're more likely to recommend someone they know (you).
- You get to meet a wide range of people.

What could you get from networking?

- Subscribers to your newsletters (if you have one).
- Coaching customers and clients.
- Friends, colleagues and business partners.
- Opportunities for joint ventures.
- Services - web, graphics, printing, marketing ...
- Contacts for home and business.
- Support, advice and information.

Networking is about getting to know the people you come into contact with. What makes them tick, what do they need, what are their interests? Who do they know?

Who do they work with, is there someone in particular they'd like to talk to. Perhaps they specialise in one particular area. How can you help them?

So many times I've been talking to someone at a meeting and I've been able to put them in touch with someone who can help them or offers a service they're looking for.

While some people seem to attend every network meeting going, you also need to consider if this really the best use of your time and money.

Cost to join networking organisation (some of them charge a joining fee, annual membership fee and for each meeting).
Time/cost to travel to and from each meeting.

Time/cost to attend each meeting - some may be free but you're still giving up your time when you could be doing something more profitable, beneficial or of a higher priority.

Time spent on follow-ups - the initial meeting is only the start. You'll need to spend time developing the relationship (see my blog posts on Follow-ups).

Is it worth it - how much time have you spent, how much has it cost and how much business have you got from it?

Networking takes time, so don't expect to see a return (financial or otherwise) after one meeting. Give it six months and then reassess whether you're still getting a benefit from it. Try different groups, networking opportunities and strategies (online and offline) to find what suits you best.

For someone who works from home and works mostly over the phone, a regular networking meeting is a good opportunity to get out and meet other business minded people.

Remember, it's not who you know but who they know and if you keep in contact who knows what might happen a year, two years or more after your first meeting.

Give me a call on 01273 588297 to find out more ways to boost your business and to book a free consultation to discuss your specific situation or email me at info@clareevans.co.uk.

Until next month,

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