5 top tips to make your speed networking session a success

5 top tips to make your speed networking session a success

Most businesses would agree — referrals and face-to-face contact are the best ways to build and nurture business relationships — however, contrary to this many businesses spend many thousands of pounds placing advertising and sending marketing via email or though the post. 

Why you should get involved with speed networking?

If meeting someone is the best way to judge whether you can do business with them why don’t more businesses get involved with networking? Well, for many people it seems to be a little bit of nerves that can keep them away from meetings — so, if a breakfast or lunch seems too daunting how about the best and quickest form of networking — speed networking?

Speed networking is not a new concept, however, in a time when we seem to be spending more and more of our working day communicating online and through email it makes a refreshing and interesting change to your business development strategy. Arguably, speed networking will give you access to more people in one hour than you might normally meet in a month. It’s quite normal to feel a little apprehensive but do a little prep work beforehand those nerves should be calmed.

As ever preparation is key

1. Make sure you have a great opener for each of your pitches — just 10 seconds will do, covering an introduction, what your business is about or what you are looking for.  

2. Try to think about the different types of people and businesses you are going to meet and how you could change your intro to meet their needs — you’ll have far more success if you can slightly tailor your pitch to each person. 

3. Be practical — remember your business cards and a pen to make notes (on the back of each card is a good idea) and remember people’s names!

4. Not everyone is going to seem suitable for you or perhaps be interested in your product or service right now, but, remember to “think outside the box” — the product or service may not be suitable today but what about next month or in year’s time when you have diversified or grown? Consider whether a contact could become a mentor or a partner or a franchisee? The people who gain the most from these sessions are those that are the most open minded. 

5. Although it may seem counter intuitive, do your best to help the people that you meet — try to offer solutions to them and their challenges. You’d be surprised at how this “pay it forward” mentality has helped many businesses — perhaps not immediately but at some point. You’ll impress your new contact and you never know they may well recommend or use you in the future. 

Networking for success

Many of the most successful entrepreneurs are those that have spent their time networking — building trustworthy, reliable contacts across their industry, in support services and a wide variety of geographical locations. Meeting people and developing positive relationships is surely the key to a successful business?

So, hopefully now you should feel a little more prepared for a speed networking session? Well you can book your slot here for the Manufacturing & Engineering Expo October 8th. And let us know how you get on ……

The South East is poised to take advantage of the positive manufacturing sector

Manufacturing & Engineering Expo on the 8th October in Kent

The Office of National Statistics recently reported that from February 2013 - February 2014 manufacturing had increased 3.8%. Since then optimism within the manufacturing industry appears to have remained high with orders from both home and abroad, according to the recent Industrial Trends Survey released but the CBI, continuing apace.

Contrary to what many people have believed, manufacturing in the UK is remarkably strong - Britain ranks 11th in the world. Although, perhaps, not at the heady heights of the 1970’s, industry has certainly been enjoying a renaissance and the South East in particular, as the region with the largest manufacturing base in the country, has been one of the main benefactors of this. Not only is it perfectly placed to take advantage of the booming market place across the rest of the country but also in its position as a gateway to European commerce.

Bringing together talent from across the industry

Tasked with ensuring that the gains of this buoyant market are fully developed and exploited is the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, who is holding their annual Manufacturing & Engineering Expo on the 8th October at the Kent Event Centre, near Maidstone. It will offer local, regional, national and international firms the opportunity to meet, network and build new relationships. Along with the exhibition there will be a full conference programme including leading industry keynote speakers - with the leaders of automotive manufacturing, Aston Martin already confirmed - and informative workshops offering advice and knowledge in a practical way that can be implemented immediately.

...it’s a brilliant opportunity to see manufacturing techniques in action and hear from some leading industry experts

Jo James

The Expo this year is run in association with EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation for UK manufacturing companies, BAE Systems, MAS, which provides manufacturing business support for companies based in England and the University of Greenwich. As one of the largest events of its kind the Expo draws on a wealth of talent from the engineering and manufacturing sector, offering unrivalled access to commercial expertise across the board. Whether it’s developing or expanding a supply chain within the South East, discovering the latest technological innovations or initiating new relationships the Expo is perfectly positioned to help.

“This is going to be a great day for everyone involved in the manufacturing and engineering sector - not only is it a fantastic platform to develop relationships with new and existing clients, but, also it’s a brilliant opportunity to see manufacturing techniques in action and hear from some leading industry experts,” says Jo James, Chief Executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. “With the Expo dinner this year showcasing Richard Noble’s unique and inspiring spirit, the event is certainly shaping up to be a key date in the manufacturing and engineering industry calendar.”