On this blog, we’ve discussed the best ways of networking effectively and how to make the most out of your event, but we haven’t yet discussed the best conversations to open with at these events.
Small talk in any situation can be quite difficult to instigate, but with forward planning and prior knowledge of what to say, it can be easily achieved and flow naturally. themonsterbusiness.com brings you six tips for business small-talk.
According to a recent study on business networking by The Referral Institute, it seems that the old adage of ‘Time = Money’ really does hold true.
Business networking is one of the most cost-effective tools for benefitting your company, and whilst it will take some of your working hours from you, it really will pay off in the long-term. The study found that those who had said that networking had played a role in their success spent an average of just over 6 hours a week networking. However, companies that said that networking did not play a role in their success only spent 2 hours or less per week participating in networking. (more…)
Recently, I was fortunate enough to go to a networking event for estate agents in Birmingham NEC, where I did some work as a cameraman.
There, I observed a different kind of networking event – rather than stand around chatting, eyeing out the most beneficial contacts and amassing a stack of business cards, participants sat at tables, discussing and listening to guest speakers, many of whom were simply part of the network. Whilst this decreased the social aspect of networking, it widened the spectrum of learning from others and encouraged discussions on the topics of the talks, and although it may have felt at times like a classroom, it was hugely effective and enjoyable.
