Business Networking – 5 Tips to Gain Better Exposure and More Business

When business trading gets tougher, it’s essential to look at new routes to market and talk to people who may be in a position to help promote your business.

Often it’s not WHAT you know but WHO you know, and WHO they know!

The ‘secret’ is in the network. Networking isn’t a new thing, but it can be a very powerful tool – people are 7 times more likely to buy a product by referral than not.

With times getting tougher and businesses looking to save money in most areas, budgets for things such as transport, recruitment and marketing are being slashed. As a former recruiter who worked her way out of the last recession, I know the immense strain that these industries face.

At the time I recall saying to my boss that I had to go out and show the face of the business to people, to show them our existence and him replying “networking doesn’t work”. It was incredibly frustrating to a person who believes the adage ‘people buy people’. If you don’t meet people, they cannot ‘buy’ you and you have to rely on other methods of marketing your business – the more costly methods.

5 tips for more business, more exposure, more leads…

1. The opportunity to promote your products and services to one of the largest groups of local business people, in one place.

That’s right when you exhibit, people will gravitate towards you, ask questions and make tentative approaches. What’s more they are local people, so you keep the money in the local economy, and increase your presence locally. AND they are all in one centralised location making it greener and more efficient.

2. The unique opportunity to talk to fellow networkers on a face to face basis.

Face to face is a very powerful thing, you can make the right impression to someone who may not take your call if you ‘phoned them. You can start a conversation with someone, build a rapport and realise you have clients that need this person’s services. They could feel the same way about you. This isn’t about thrusting a business card into someone’s hand, but getting to know them.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what to say, ask them a question, and a dialogue will start. When you exhibit people will come over and chat to you.

3. Exhibiting allows you to create a database at low cost.

If you collect business cards in your exhibiting area, you can build up a low cost database of local business people. If you manage this correctly you could build long term relationships with people who could become advocates for your business. Most people don’t bother to follow up when they network or they go for the hard sell, either way you are losing out. Keep in touch, be useful and your contacts will become advocates.

Compare that to the price of buying a database full of names you have never heard of, let alone met!

4. Word of mouth marketing

If your product is worth talking about, people will talk about it. What better way of getting the product or services you promote, than exhibiting? Sometimes a free sample is a great way to get people talking, or promoting a new offer. Buy-one-get-one-free doesn’t work for everyone, but it may work for you.

How many other ways beyond a leaflet can you get your product under people’s noses and them talking?

5. Take a client with you, on your exhibition stand.

If you have a happy client bring them with you, there’s nothing like a real live person telling someone how they use your business and how it saves money or makes them money.

Don’t be tempted to fake this, people can spot insincerity a mile off and you can damage your reputation. A happy client can help promote your business successfully, take advantage of the fact they will get to network too as your guest, they may also meet people for their services.

These 5 tips can make a big difference to your business, you can only lose customers by not trying!