'Making Networking Work for You'
Click to download our invaluable networking guide

Hazel Dudley
Key Life Coaching
Host of The New Forest Premier Club

Know your objective – what is your message, who are you speaking to?  State this clearly and in a relaxed fashion in a clear and concise fashion.

Ensure you know the answer to the inevitable question of ‘what do you do?’.

Give more than you expect to get.

Listen more than you speak. 

Have fun and enjoy yourself. 

Victoria Salomon
Host of The Brighton Central Premier Club

Victoria went into 'overdrive' when we asked for her tips, but they were all so great that we decided to publish them all!

1. An interested introvert is better than an interesting extrovert
2. ASK for their business card
3. Be alert - there are business opportunities everywhere
4. Be memorable
5. Better to be interested than interesting
6. Do you feel uneasy in a room full of strangers? - Good News - you're normal
7. Follow up on the people you meet today or cancel your membership
8.` Give first without remembering; receive second without forgetting
9. Good manners, good business. No manners, no business
10. If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got
11. I've forgotten your name, please forgive me
12. Make notes on the business cards you receive - opportunities?
13. Networking is not selling - it is relationship building
14. Not ‘What do you do?" but "What benefits do you deliver"
15. People you meet - the oxygen that fuels your business
16. Referrals come after Knowing, Liking and Trusting
17. Small talk BEFORE big business
18. Understand the power of remembering names
19. Whenever you meet somebody new, it's opening up a whole new world
20. Who would you like to meet? - you are only three chain links away

Victoria Salomon
Host of The Brighton Central Premier Club

We meant it when we said that Victoria had gone into overdrive!
Here she gives us a great format for when you are asked to do a one-minute pitch.

The Critical Elements Of Your 60 Seconds

• Your Name
• The Name Of Your Company
• The Main Areas Of Business
• The Geographical Areas Covered
• Any Current Special Offers
• Unique Selling Proposition
• The Ideal Referral
• The Company Strapline
• Your Name & Company Name Repeated

Sharon Connolly
Maximise Group
Host of The Windsor & Maidenhead Women's Business Club

You have one mouth and two ears – use them in that ratio – listen rather than talk

Swot up on body language – the way you stand and mirroring whom you are talking to can help to build the relationship.

Ensure you keep track of whom you met and when – outlook contacts are good enough if you don’t have a database.  Note the personal things about them, their childrens names, where they like to holiday etc and then they’ll be flattered when you have remembered these things when you meet them again.

Practice a number of “elevator pitches” – interesting introductions to what you do that are appropriate for the occasion you are at.

My speciality – Look the part – first impressions count.  Ensure your dress is immaculate and imaginative – “remember me, I was the one in the white shirt and black jacket” …and so was everyone else…

Most importantly go to the events.  When you are busy it can be tempting to skip an event but you won’t stay busy unless you keep building those relationshops.

Jane Haselden
Gel Creative
Deputy Host of The Tunbridge Wells Premier Club

Jane has spent some time recalling her first visit to the Tunbridge Wells Premier Club. If you are nervous about networking then this short tale which is one of our Inspirational Owners stories should put your mind at rest, so we decided it deserved a mention in this section as well!

Read Janes story here

Alice Whitney
Positive Touch
Past Host of The Brighton & Hove Women's Business Club

• Be genuinely interested in other people; their stories and their experience. You never know where it may lead you and you may learn something new that would really work for you.

• Be clear what you want to achieve through networking; is it advice; more clients; support; people to brainstorm with etc? Then, ask for what you want! People are usually happy to help.

• Maintain contact, this is how relationships are built. If you are a member, attend, attend and attend some more!

• Offer to trade skills and services. This is a great way to help people better understand (and experience) what you do and vice versa. It is much easier to be an ambassador for someone or something when you have had direct experience of it.

• Network, everywhere! Someone you meet in the supermarket queue may well like appreciate an invite to one of our women’s business clubs!