Preparing your networking minute
Your networking minute is not just your opportunity to promote yourself and your business; it’s also your chance to let your fellow networkers know what it is you are looking for.
All successful networks are skilled in communication if someone doesn’t know exactly what you are looking for they are not going to be able to easily identify who they should put in touch with you when the opportunity arises. It can be easy to presume people understand as we all are very familiar with our own business! So remember to be very clear and specific about one thing you want to find from this message and have lots of different messages, this will keep your presentation interesting every month and memorable!
Take tips from watching other people and ask yourself after a meeting who you have remembered and why!
Exercise
- Write a networking minute for your business (you should build up a bank to use in line with your marketing plan and seasonal events)
- Take time to think about what exactly you want to say about yourself and your business.
- Try to avoid saying that you are looking to be referred to anyone and everyone as this is neither specific nor memorable.
- How can you make it memorable? Maybe use props? Have you thought about delivering your message in rhyme? (I saw a VA hold up a bra at one event – her message was that she offers support! It worked I remember her to this day!)
- A monthly minute is just that!! 60 seconds! 120 words – this is the most effective length for a memorable networking marketing message.
- As an indication you can spend ten seconds saying your name, company name and profession, thirty seconds on one area of your business, ten seconds saying specifically who or what it is you are looking for; giving a call for action, and the last ten seconds saying your name and profession again, just in case it was missed the first time round.
Remember
Being prepared will help you feel more confident as well as being more effective.
A common mistake in presenting Monthly Minutes is to try and get too much information across to your audience. Avoid trying to tell everyone about everything you do.
Try to focus on one area of your business. By keeping your message simple and your call for action clear, you have a much greater chance of everyone remembering what it is you said!
