How to use business club meetings to your advantage

Networking meetings can be highly lucrative. If you are offered the chance to speak, grab it. Here's how to assess which events to attend, how to make the most of a speaking engagement, and how to work a room.

How to create a business club to boost business

In business, contacts are everything. It's not what but who you know that makes the difference. For example, in a survey, 49% said networking with other people was their most effective marketing method. Next was word of mouth at 13%. One way to spread your net wider is to become the centre of your business network by setting up a business club. The groundwork to prepare plus seven steps to success.

How to make friends and influence your success

Have you ever met a successful person who doesn't have a well-developed network of friends and colleagues? No matter what you do, meeting new people and the ability to build meaningful relationships with them is the difference between a mediocre and a successful business. We show how it's done, and reveal how to overcome nerves when walking into a room full of strangers.

Networking that really works

Networking isn't just about attending meetings - you can network anywhere, anyhow, anytime. Here's a recipe for effective targeting, effective events, effective introductions, conversations and follow-up.

Good networking organisations

Men have traditionally had their Old Boy network for making business contacts, but what is there for the growing number of women entrepreneurs? Here are three national organisations that we recommend.

Make yourself more visible!

If you want to grow your business, you need to get to know your potential clients. And the only way to do that is to get out there and meet them.

Networking without the fear!

We all know that networking is vital for any small business owner - but it can be a bit intimidating. How to make it easy - and successful.

How to be more charismatic

You never know when you might meet a potential client! Here's a simple way to appear more charismatic.

How to work a room successfully

Attending networking events are a great way to extend your circle of useful contacts. However, your time is limited. You will usually have between ten minutes and half an hour to find the people you need to meet and make contact memorably. Here's how do you make it work for you?

Why 'weak' ties will get you more business

Networking is becoming the most powerful way of getting more business. Here's why you should make it the focus of your marketing efforts.

Priming your contacts

Insight on how to get more out of your network.

Discover the power of e-networking

I needed to find a supplier the other day. My local contacts didn't come up with suitable contacts, so I asked the online networks I belong to for help. The response was great and most helpful. We all know networking is important - but it's not always possible to fit it into a hectic schedule. That's where e-networking comes into its own for the harassed business person. Find out how to make it work for you.

What would you say to Sir Alan?

How would you react if you had the chance to make a 30-second pitch to Sir Alan Sugar? It's a good way of defining what you do and for whom - and a great networking tool.

Networking shouldn't be a sales pitch!

You go networking to sell, right? Wrong! If you use networking as a chance to practise your sales pitch it will never work for you. The guide includes some powerful questions that focus your mind and allow you to get better results from your networking.

Cracking the inner circle of the power elite

There is more to cracking the inner circle of the power elite than just collecting business cards. There are some critical differences between people who build Rolladexes and pass out cards like confetti, and those who always manage to shake the right hand that gets them in on a deal. What are they?

It's time to link up with networking

It is always good to get a new contact, better still a new customer or order. All this and more is possible when you start networking. Getting connected is the secret to success for the small business owner. Follow our guide to successful networking.

Why networking meetings are like newspaper headlines

If you are not getting business referrals you want as a result of attending networking meetings, it may be because you are not harnessing the true power of having one-to-one meetings with people afterwards. Here's how to prepare in order to get the most from them.