Workshop on business networking, increasing leads, engage with your target audience, make the most of your current networks, integrate on-line/offline networking activities. dispelling the myths and laying out basic steps and principles to improve ROI

1. Leveraging
Networking for Business
Andy Lima, Associate Lecturer / Digital Strategist
Learn what networking is and why it is useful to your business
Realise the steps to successful networking
Find out how to have confidence when networking
Gain knowledge of how to engage your fellow networkers
Develop an interesting and varied pitch
Integrate online and offline networking
Discover useful business networking websites/tools
Understand how LinkedIn and other Social Media platforms
can help your networking

2. Learning Outcomes:
What are aiming for:
To understand the dynamics of “Networking” and
why we should build and grow them;
To be able to use effective networking tools in
order to confidently build strong connection for
optimum ROI;
Build, develop and promote your Networking
platforms to engage in conversation, to listen and to
help you to tell your story, share values, promote
your brand and also to sell your products and
services.

3. #OpenMIC

4. #whathowwhere

5. List one nugget of information
that you believe is key to
networking for you..

6. Discussion: Why
Networking???

7. #myths
BS Ltd.
Name Unknown

8. 13 Networking Myths
#1 sales
#2 events
#3 meeting new people and getting to know them
#4 no need for strategy
#5 business cards handling
#6 not for introverts
#7 cynic solipsism
#8 it’s annoying & pushy
#9 it’s face-2-face only
#10 time bound
#11 end on its own
#12 influencing others
#13 right questions and buttons
Sources: CBS, Brazen Life, Forbes, Management Consulted

9. A bit of Theory…
A key characteristic of both traditional professions and new
‘corporate professionalism’ is the development of knowledge
(Gillmore and Williams, 2007; Muzio et al, 2011).
Networking is a key characteristic of developing
knowledge and behaviour that helps individuals manage and
develop their careers (Anderson-Gough et al, 2006).
The ultimate goal of networking is to create access to social
resources and the building of social capital that will increase
knowledge and influence (Seibert et al, 2001; Anderson-Gough et
al 2006).

10. #what

11. Networking is…
#1 a mind-set
#2 a life-style
#3 about building bridges
#4 a strategic business leveraging tool
#5 about value creation
#6 marketing communication
#7 dialogue
#8 about building and maintaining
meaningful relationships
#9 for anyone and everyone
#10 cross-spatial and timeless
#11 a means to an end
#12 about sharing and engaging
#13likeness and intelligent persuasion

12. ROI of Networking…
#1 people
#2 time
#3 money
#4 health
#5 satisfaction
#6 knowledge
#7 influence
#8 leadership
#9 mentorship
#10 opportunities
#11 sustainability
#12 competitiveness
#13 legacy

13. Networking and working
The “Nets”
#1 what is your current
situation
#2 define your goals
#3 build a strategy and define
tactics
#4 what is your timeframe
#5 action & implementation
plan
#6 KPIs and control
#7 review
#8 find a mentor
#9 encourage others

14. Leveraging your
Networking Efforts…
we are only humans
building the right culture
quality vs. quantity
choose what to focus on
Start with what you’re familiar but
do not stay there
gradually step “outside”

15. Leveraging your Networking
Efforts…
conversation matters
creating business and social
value
content and context
listen for patterns, insights and
deeper questions
collective intelligence

16. “The level of your success is the level
of your personal communication…”
Draw a quick SWOT of your
networking abilities

17. Discussion: what
is stopping you?

18. #how

19. Discussion: How to
Network???

20. The three E’s for
Networking Building
Enthusiasm (who) - identity
Enchantment (what) - behaviour
Engagement (how) – content/substance

24. E=m.c2
Effectiveness =
Motion x
Content
Context

25. Three Variables of Network
Building
Communication
Environment
Time

29. Social competence and
skills
The most successful managers in a US study spent 70% more
time engaged in networking activities and 10% more time
engaged in routine communication activities than their less
successful counterparts;
Social perception – accuracy in perceiving others; traits,
intentions and motives;
Impression management – for inducing positive reactions;
Persuasiveness – able to change others’ views or behaviour;
Social adaptability – in a wide range of social situations;
Expressiveness – to generate enthusiasm in others.

30. What to improve…
work to find gaps in your arsenal and then
mindfully practice them
Consider being a peer mentored/a peer
mentor
Consider what you want to achieve from
networking and mentoring, have a strategy and
be aware of new ways of doing it;
Recognizing how other people like to network.

31. Make a list of networking
activities you have been
involved in and the ones you
want to join

32. Discussion: Where
to Network???

33. ”If today were the last day of
my life, would I want to do
what I am about to do today?”
Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
#Where

35. Preferred forms of
Networking
email
39%
social
media
27%
face-to-face
24%
phone
10%
Source: ECM/2014

36. Male x Female Networking
Behaviour
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Female
Male
Source: ECM/2014

37. #onplusoff
#1 off only
#2 off plus on
#3 on plus off
#4 on only
#5 capability
#6 resources
#7 momentum
#8 promote or ditch
#9 anticipate

38. #LinkedIn
why LinkedIn?
networking solutions
optimising your profile
growing your network of influencers
pulse is alive
content marketing
Advertising on LinkedIn
Groups
Testimonials

39. #facebook
Facebook for business
the big three
building your Network
contents
metrics & analytics
branding
community
followership
what else?

40. #Twitter
why Tweet?
targeted follow
build your lists
re-tweet often
integrate platforms
use URL “shorteners”
Use/plan your harsh-tags
rich media content allowed
rich critical mass then balance
followers/following out
use @s and set goals

41. Develop you “Networking” Pitch…
UVP / Business you are in / how
are you adding value?

42. Discussion: What
are the Benefits…

43. “Where focus goes, energy
grows”
Anthony Robbins
#Focus

44. #Spaces
#1 your “friendly neighbourhood”
browser
#2 apps
#3 crowdsourcing
#4 social networks
#5 online communities
#6 wikkies
#7 webinars
#8 meetups
#9 agregators

45. #tools

46. What’s Next…
What’s next….
create and build a dynamic “Network” strategy and structure
then grow them;
Use confidently all the tools at your disposal and integrate all
of them to optimise your ROI;
Develop your Networking platforms to promote your business:
engage in conversations, then tell your story, share values,
promote your brand and also to sell your products and services.

47. Blog:
www.nomobizz/wordpress.com
Twitter:
@andylimauk
LinkedIn:
Click on the QR Code

48. #thankyou :)