Went to the Chamber of Commerce speed networking event today in Guildford. It was great fun and met some really interesting people. Networking is one of those things that people often don't view as marketing but it should actually be an essential part of your marketing plan and the great thing is there are so many opportunities from breakfast clubs to exhibitions.
Networking isn't about talking to someone with the aim of selling them something - it's about building relationships and nurturing them. The more people you know, the more people will know about your business and all manner of unexpected things can crop up.
You will often find people who, rather then buying from you direct, will help you to open new doors that you couldn't have opened on your own and introduce you to even more people which, in time, can be worth far more than a quick sale. It's also a great way of building your contacts on social networking sites such as LinkedIn.
Collect those business cards, make sure to follow up any interesting ones by phone afterwards, and make sure you keep in touch and continue to build the relationships.
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