Newsletters

The main component in networking is getting to know people and people getting to know you. I touched on this in my first blog called the opening shot. People are much more willing to do business with someone they know so the more people can get to know you the more willing they will be to do business with. Seems logical enough. So how can you help this along outside of your regular network meetings? Well the title of this post gives it away...a newsletter. A newsletter is like a mini publication about yourself. It can be as long or as short as you want it to be but be careful as there can be a tendency to waffle. Being specific and relevant is just as important in a newsletter as it is in your 60 second presentation. These newsletters can either be printed and sent out or done online and emailed. The second of these is by far the cheapest and easiest. However, it may not be the most effective. Having something physical can have a much greater effect on the reader. It is easy to pick up and put down. It can be skimmed through as and when. Having it lying on a desk or table can be a neat reminder of your existence. But sending them out in numbers isn't going to be cheap.

What should you put in them? I think the opening section should be a paragraph on what you have been doing since the last newsletter. People like to hear what you've done. What you've achieved. How you've progressed. Have you had any notable successes. All of which is good pr for you. Then you might write about what your immediate plans are. What is your next goal. Here would be another suitable place to include any specific requirements you might have. Remember that at a breakfast it is likely you will only reach 6 - 15 or even 20 people. With a newsletter it will be many more so no harm in repeating your request.

If you have space I find it helps if there is then a general paragraph that educates and informs people about what you do. About your line of work. These words should generally inform but with a slant that reflects how the reader might benefit from what you do.

The good thing with word processing programmes is that they allow you to be quite creative in their presentation. You can include photographs, diagrams charts and so on. But be sure to use quality images. Don't let the accurate, well written text be ruined by pixelated pictures taken on a mobile. There is no point to that. It just makes your writing a waste of time. Make the newsletter be attractive to the viewer. If it isn't why should people read it?

Doing a cyber newsletter means you can send it to your database of people regardless of how many there are at no cost. However, many will be read as spam and dumped. Some you can't help. But if at the bottom you include an opt out key code then it will help you see how many are interested in what you've got to say.

These are just brief thoughts about doing a newsletter. There are many examples of templates, examples and even software that can be found on the net if you enter "newsletters" in to Google.

Give it a try. They can not only be very rewarding but fun to do as well.

Benefits and features.

Today I received a message from someone on business networking website basically asking if he could be a contact. He just said hi and then listed all the different aspects that his company covered and finished by asking for my opinion. Well I had to be honest with him and told him that I thought his presentation was rubbish. Not once did he try to suggest how I might benefit from his services and products. He has never before contacted me so how can he know anything about me. I was really annoyed by it. I see and hear a similar thing when I go to network meetings. People in their 60 seconds list their features as if the audience is either going to know what they are talking about or just go "wow yes please." Well I've got news for you. It isn't going to happen. This also goes on when someone uses achronyms and terms that only they are likely to know. It does them no good as the audience is left sitting there none the wiser. As a listener I want to know "what will it do for me?" Take some time and watch some televison ads and you'll see what I mean. Hair products for example. How many go into great detail about what they are made of? Not many. Some mention it but most of the time they go on about how sleek and shiny your hair will be. How glamourous you ladies will look if you use their product. Ronseal go on about how quick and easy it is to put on and will protect your wood. Does it mention what it is made of? No.

So how might some other businesses promote themselves? Well an accountant might say that they will ensure that your accounts will be correctly submitted, on time letting you get on with what you need to do, your business. A graphic designer could say they help you stand out from the competition and get noticed. A digital archiving service could say they save you room and help you sleep better knowing your documents are safely recorded and stored. I suppose features sell in the world of cars and technology as some people will buy the latest thing because it has the most modern downloading thingummy. But generally this doesn't work. I don't think so anyway. So when you plan your presentation think about this first, how will the customer/client benefit. Convince them of that and the sale is half done.

The opening shot

So this is blog land is it? How interesting. Always wondered what it looked like? I feel a bit like someone on the first day of their holiday in a strange place. Looks ok and think it will be nice here. Just have to see what happens. Anyway, what am I going to write about? Well I've decided to use this as somewhere to view my thoughts on business networking. I have been involved in it for quite a few years now and had good and bad experiences as well as seeing good and bad practices so hope I can pass on some helpful thoughts. I have no doubt that you will be able to get the same from other network bloggers such as Andy Lopata but there we are.



A big thing with networking is getting to know people and people getting to know you. The sooner people do the sooner they will want to do business with you and you with them. Now not all networking groups meet weekly. Some only monthly and some less than that. Now how is that going to help you get to know people? Not very well I'd say. Chances are each time you meet you wil be going over old ground to reacquaint yourselves instead of progressing and learning the finer points about each other. Possibly the more interesting and rewarding points. This emphasises the need for you to add extra opportunities to let people get to know you. One such way is by having 1:1 meetings. These can be held at times that suit you. Can be very relaxed and the conversation can flow. Of course it shouldn't be so relaxed that you spend the whole time talking football or general stuff unless that is what s important to you rmeeting. Be sure you talk about the relevant stuff. Another things is to not let one person dominate the chat. Talking about ourselves is often our favourite topic but don't let the other person dominate the questions. Just as it is important to ask the right questions so it is to listen. Acknowledge what is being said. Reflect back what you hear so the speaker knows you are listening and it assures you that you are getting the right message. So often you think you hear what they say because you are putting your own interpretation on it instead of clarifying and hearing what you are being told.

Well I think that is all for now. See you again next time I hope.