Top Tips on Networking

Ok so here are my top tips to get the best out of your networking event. Some of these points are more aimed at if you are doing a 1 minute pitch more than 1-2-1 networking. But the thing to remember is that it's worth while putting this into practice even if you're chatting to 1 person or a crowd.

1. Try standing out from the crowd. I have found that someone that has something a little different from everyone else is more memorable. I’m lucky that my hair kinda stands out but even better my business is connected to it. Do you have a uniform? Try something a little different with it. Give your business cards a bit of TLC, try something a bit different with it, shape, colour graphics.
   
2. Have a strap line. If you find that being memorable is a little difficult, get yourself a strap line. Every time I finish my little 1 minute pitch I close with ‘for designs with style and flair, come see the girl with pink hair’. Strap lines help people to remember you even if they can’t remember your name. If you can get it to rhyme then all the better.
   
3. Make sure you’re heard. I went to a meeting once and a confidence coach stood up, only problem was you couldn't hear a thing he said. When you stand up to talk to folk make sure you project yourself. I know it’s not something that everyone has naturally, I’m quite lucky to be naturally able to project my voice (or honestly, I’m naturally loud), but it’s something that is so important. If you can’t catch people’s interest by what you’re saying you’re not going to succeed in getting someone interested in your business. So practice, practice, practice.
   
4. Don’t be scared! Everyone’s nervous! Although I’m quite happy to stand up and get my thing done, right up until I stand up and start talking I am SO nervous! I’ve even bumbled over my words on several occasions, but I just laugh it off and carry on. Getting tongue tied isn’t something you should worry about. Even if you were to fall flat on your face while walking up to the front, brush yourself off stand up, laugh and give the best performance you’ve ever given. People will remember you for that. And if that’s what it takes to sell your business, watch me as being the first one up there to land on my face.
   
5. Try not to use a script. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for having notes. And I have on several occasions used a script if there are certain things I want to say. But remember when you’re reading from a script you may not be looking at the folks that are listening. If you need to use a script try knowing it off by heart anyway and only have it there for back up. Make sure when you are talking you always look people in the eye, it makes you trust worthy.
   
6. Be yourself. If you just be yourself and show how passionate you are about your business people will want to be a part of that, no matter how well you perform.
   
7. Know your stuff. This is the most important thing. Know your business, but don't be embarrassed if you don't know the answer to something that someone asks you. This gives you a great opportunity to contact someone after the event. Ask for their details, tell them you'll look into more details for them and get back in touch. People will appreciate that. But make sure you wow them with the details you do know. As far as you should be concerned you are the world's leading authority in your field and that's why folks will want to work with you, just make sure you're not cocky!

I'm sure I'll add more when I think of them.

A thought about networking

Ok so we're now well into September, I had my birthday a couple of days ago, summer never happened in Scotland, my only holiday this year seems like it was a hundred years ago and not a few months. The summer always feels like playtime, even when you work for yourself! (Well I think so, maybe I’m doing something wrong, lmao!) There are tradeshows, meet and greets, new suppliers and customers to go see as a result of said tradeshows. But that all changes when the summer goes, so now comes the hard graft!

Right, so me waxing lyrical about how ace my summer was may not make sense, but there is definitely a seasonal change to my business that I have noticed over the last few years. The way I do business changes depending on the season.

It’s like being a farmer in a sense except my harvest is over the summer. In September, a young entrepreneurs thoughts turn to growing their business.

So this brings me onto networking. PSYBT in Edinburgh start up their monthly networking events again this month, and I get to thinking about how I want to present my business to the folks I meet. What needs growth, what needs developed, what needs ditched?

I love networking, my passion for performing takes over. Although standing talking to someone on a 121 basis does get me a little nervous stand my in front of a room to do my 1min pitch and I can’t hold back. But luckily for me that kinda helps with my un-sureness about approaching folks. As once they see me bopping about the front of the room, the ice is already broken.

So on the run up to the start of the PSYBT networking event I’m give my top tips to networking, (I’d say 10 but I’m not sure how many I’ll have)

And for laughs here's me at the PSYBT event in Stirling at the start of the year (Jan 08) giving my wee 1 min stylee pitch. God i hate that picture!!

What An Honour

I'm really excited.... i have been asked by the folks at Heriot Watt to go back to Galashiels and do a wee talk to the students about being self employed!


So now i gotta work out what i need to talk about! And here's the thing, i only have an hour! I cant have a converstaion about my lunch in an hour let along give a talk about being self employed.

But here's the great thing, i know what its like to be a student at Gala and come through the ranks and go out on my own!

Its so awesome to be asked back to do this. I remember going to these talks when i was a student and was really interested about what folks had to say, but i did feel there was something missing. So now is my chance to see if i can do it right!

I think the one thing i'll wanna stress is the importance of having a good support system. But i think that could be my next blog, (which i can't get used to doing yet! lol!)