How Many Hours Do You Spend Networking?
There are more and more networks starting up all the time – social and business, online and offline. Every week I seem to get an invite to yet another network.
The perceived wisdom is that you should be in as many networks as possible in order to extend your influence across as broad a platform as possible. This might well be true but some of us actually have work to do as well, so deciding on the most appropriate networks for your business is important if you’re going to make the most of your time.
If you frequently attend offline networking meetings, take into account the cost and time involved in getting there as well as the cost of the meeting itself. If you have to travel an hour to attend an hours meeting – that’s at least three hours out of your day – given preparation and planning time. If you have the time available – that’s fine or if you can combine it with another meeting in the same area.
If you participate in online networking, manage your online time in the same way that you manage any other area of your business. What is your reason for being online? Set yourself specific objectives – posting a certain number of blogs or messages, growing your network or participating in groups relating to your area of expertise. Limit your time for each network
Networks – both online and offline can also be a source of advice, support and information as well as potential clients, customers and suppliers. Sign up for as many as you like, find the ones that work for you and then participate on the handful that give you the most value.
Don’t give up if you don’t get a response straight away – relationship building takes time and people need to get to know you before they’ll do business with you.
The perceived wisdom is that you should be in as many networks as possible in order to extend your influence across as broad a platform as possible. This might well be true but some of us actually have work to do as well, so deciding on the most appropriate networks for your business is important if you’re going to make the most of your time.
If you frequently attend offline networking meetings, take into account the cost and time involved in getting there as well as the cost of the meeting itself. If you have to travel an hour to attend an hours meeting – that’s at least three hours out of your day – given preparation and planning time. If you have the time available – that’s fine or if you can combine it with another meeting in the same area.
If you participate in online networking, manage your online time in the same way that you manage any other area of your business. What is your reason for being online? Set yourself specific objectives – posting a certain number of blogs or messages, growing your network or participating in groups relating to your area of expertise. Limit your time for each network
Networks – both online and offline can also be a source of advice, support and information as well as potential clients, customers and suppliers. Sign up for as many as you like, find the ones that work for you and then participate on the handful that give you the most value.
Don’t give up if you don’t get a response straight away – relationship building takes time and people need to get to know you before they’ll do business with you.
Labels: business, networking, time
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home