3B's from the A to Z of Networking - Paul M Johnstone

Carrying on with the A to Z of networking, we are now at Body Image and Body Language , two topics many of us struggle with.

Business Cards:

Always carry plenty of business cards.  Being prepared is all part of being ready to achieve your objectives.  I usually carry more cards than I think I will need.  This is based on the habit of some people who will always take 2 cards when offered.

If you think back in time they used to be called - calling cards. These days they should contain a lot more than just your name and contact details.

There is a school of thought that believes you should have your name and contacts on the front and on the reverse you should have something saying what you do.

However I have recently seen cards with so much information on the reverse it detracts from the impact.  With cards ‘less is more’ is worth considering. 

But I agree print on both sides you can get your message across so much better.

Business Miles

A term used to describe suppliers who are based locally to your business. It has come from the concern over travelling long distance to supply product.  Simply: the closer you are to your suppliers and customers the less damage you do to the environment.

Some Restaurants price dishes according to the distance the ingredients have travelled. Apart from being a good marketing exercise it shows the diners they are thinking about the environment.

You may be more familiar with the term food miles.  Business miles are a variation on that term.

Business Networking

Business networking is a marketing method by which business opportunities are created through networks of like-minded business people. There are several prominent business networking organizations that create models of networking activity that, when followed, allow the business person to build new business relationship and generate business opportunities at the same time.

Many business people contend business networking is a more cost-effective method of generating new business than advertising or public relations efforts.
This is because business networking is a low-cost activity that involves more personal commitment than company money.

As an example, a business network may agree to meet weekly or monthly with the purpose of exchanging business leads and introduce connections with fellow members.

To complement this activity, members often meet outside this circle, on their own time, and build their own "one-to-one" relationship with the fellow member.
Business networking can be conducted in a local business community, or on a larger scale via the Internet. Business networking websites have grown over recent years due to the Internet's ability to connect people from all over the world.

Business networking can have a meaning also in the ICT domain, i.e. the provision of operating support to companies / organizations, and related value chains / value networks.

Check back for more A - Z of Networking

Helping Real People do Real Business Through Real Networking

©Paul Johnstone

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