Day 127
10/09/09 13:12 Filed in: Diary
Have you attended a Business Networking event? Have you tried the fast paced world of speed networking and survived? Or does its similarities with speed dating put you off straight away?
Today was a first for my partner and I. We went to a networking event. Having never been in a sales or marketing position within a company before neither of us had ever attended one and we didn't really know what to expect.
The venue was only partially utilised. With about 15 exhibitors it was quite a small event. The range of exhibitors wasn't so small though. It seems anything goes at these events from promoting website marketing to pushing a venue for office Christmas parties and even a very small stall advertising business suits. We did a couple of circuits around the stalls then headed for the tea and coffee. Having chatted to someone by the drinks we decided to try out the speed networking and went to register our interest.
We had gone to see how these events worked, to promote our own business and attempt to get some leads for an iPhone App. However it soon became apparent that the leads were going to be few and far between. Despite having to register interest for the event the speed networking wasn't even held in a separate room. About 30 chairs were laid out in two rows, facing each other, behind one of the stalls. We were all accounted for as we entered the area and told to take a seat. As both myself and my partner were taking part we just sat next to each other. People naturally chatted to the person sat opposite them even though the 'session' hadn't begun. Once everyone was seated a 'sergeant major' type lady, complete with stopwatch and clipboard, told us the rules. Starting with all those sat to the left of her we each had 1 minute to tell the other person about our company. Yes, thats just one minute to pitch your brand, idea or product in an attempt to generate interest. Talk about an elevator speech. After a minute the lady would blow a whistle to inform us that it was the turn of the person to the right of her to say their piece. On the next whistle blow we were to all move one space to the left, and on the next whistle those on the left could begin speaking again.
People are naturally curious and as I said the talk had already begun. Consequently when the first whistle blew there was not a lot to add. It all felt very relaxed and easy to start with. We were both having interesting and intelligent conversations with our fellow networkers. Everybody was trying to find out if we could sell anything, learn anything or assist the person opposite. Or at least that was the way I thought it was supposed to work. Everything I read says don't go in with the idea of sell, sell, sell. However it seems someone should have told that to some of the attendees at this event.
Some issues became very apparent as the whistle was blown and we moved along the chairs. Both my partner and I were speaking to the same people. So yes, they were more likely to remember us, having heard the spiel twice. However some obviously didn't want to hear it again. Some plainly didn't understand it the first time. We decided to change tack slightly half way through so we both talked about different aspects of our business. We also stopped handing business cards to everyone as there was no need for them to have one from both of us. The other thing was that some of the businesses there were so diverse from what we would be interested in and from what we could offer. The chap selling retirement properties in Cyprus may require some assistance from one of the two photographers there, but he was certainly not in a position to require a Smartphone App. Nor did he even want to hear about it. I think he must have been to a few of these events and had the attitude of just get his information out there and get out as quickly as possible. He didn't even have the courtesy to look at my face through most of his speech. My partner believes he was leering at my chest, but I believe he was just so used to churning out his patter he was even boring himself. Maybe my partner was right and he had got speed networking mixed up with speed dating!
The relaxed feel of the first couple of chats soon evaporated as the pace of the networking seemed to pick up. I am sure the lady controlling the event was shaving time off the precious minute. It certainly seemed to go faster and faster. At the end of it all we were exhausted. If speed dating is anything like this it must be a riot if you have had a few drinks!
I am not sure if anyone there gained anything from it. In addition attending the speed networking meant we were late getting to the advertised "free buffet". We had to queue and wait for the second batch of food and drink to arrive. Not great after all that talking. The food was nothing special but it was appreciated. As were the freebie chocolates I managed to grab from one of the exhibitors stalls.
Overall the event wasn't really beneficial from a business viewpoint but it was worth attending so we know what to expect next time. Will there be a next time? Yes, I think so. You never know who else may be attending!
The venue was only partially utilised. With about 15 exhibitors it was quite a small event. The range of exhibitors wasn't so small though. It seems anything goes at these events from promoting website marketing to pushing a venue for office Christmas parties and even a very small stall advertising business suits. We did a couple of circuits around the stalls then headed for the tea and coffee. Having chatted to someone by the drinks we decided to try out the speed networking and went to register our interest.
We had gone to see how these events worked, to promote our own business and attempt to get some leads for an iPhone App. However it soon became apparent that the leads were going to be few and far between. Despite having to register interest for the event the speed networking wasn't even held in a separate room. About 30 chairs were laid out in two rows, facing each other, behind one of the stalls. We were all accounted for as we entered the area and told to take a seat. As both myself and my partner were taking part we just sat next to each other. People naturally chatted to the person sat opposite them even though the 'session' hadn't begun. Once everyone was seated a 'sergeant major' type lady, complete with stopwatch and clipboard, told us the rules. Starting with all those sat to the left of her we each had 1 minute to tell the other person about our company. Yes, thats just one minute to pitch your brand, idea or product in an attempt to generate interest. Talk about an elevator speech. After a minute the lady would blow a whistle to inform us that it was the turn of the person to the right of her to say their piece. On the next whistle blow we were to all move one space to the left, and on the next whistle those on the left could begin speaking again.
People are naturally curious and as I said the talk had already begun. Consequently when the first whistle blew there was not a lot to add. It all felt very relaxed and easy to start with. We were both having interesting and intelligent conversations with our fellow networkers. Everybody was trying to find out if we could sell anything, learn anything or assist the person opposite. Or at least that was the way I thought it was supposed to work. Everything I read says don't go in with the idea of sell, sell, sell. However it seems someone should have told that to some of the attendees at this event.
Some issues became very apparent as the whistle was blown and we moved along the chairs. Both my partner and I were speaking to the same people. So yes, they were more likely to remember us, having heard the spiel twice. However some obviously didn't want to hear it again. Some plainly didn't understand it the first time. We decided to change tack slightly half way through so we both talked about different aspects of our business. We also stopped handing business cards to everyone as there was no need for them to have one from both of us. The other thing was that some of the businesses there were so diverse from what we would be interested in and from what we could offer. The chap selling retirement properties in Cyprus may require some assistance from one of the two photographers there, but he was certainly not in a position to require a Smartphone App. Nor did he even want to hear about it. I think he must have been to a few of these events and had the attitude of just get his information out there and get out as quickly as possible. He didn't even have the courtesy to look at my face through most of his speech. My partner believes he was leering at my chest, but I believe he was just so used to churning out his patter he was even boring himself. Maybe my partner was right and he had got speed networking mixed up with speed dating!
The relaxed feel of the first couple of chats soon evaporated as the pace of the networking seemed to pick up. I am sure the lady controlling the event was shaving time off the precious minute. It certainly seemed to go faster and faster. At the end of it all we were exhausted. If speed dating is anything like this it must be a riot if you have had a few drinks!
I am not sure if anyone there gained anything from it. In addition attending the speed networking meant we were late getting to the advertised "free buffet". We had to queue and wait for the second batch of food and drink to arrive. Not great after all that talking. The food was nothing special but it was appreciated. As were the freebie chocolates I managed to grab from one of the exhibitors stalls.
Overall the event wasn't really beneficial from a business viewpoint but it was worth attending so we know what to expect next time. Will there be a next time? Yes, I think so. You never know who else may be attending!
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