Getting up at 6:00am to go to a breakfast networking meeting is not really my idea of fun. But it’s fun when I’m there (once the first cup of coffee has kicked in). It’s also the perfect opportunity to connect with new people, meet familiar faces, and of course talk business face to face.

If you’re a business owner who is finding it hard to be noticed in a competitive marketplace, then networking can really help you to differentiate yourself from the competition. It’s all about building relationships and demonstrating personality. Once people have got to know, like and trust you then they will buy from you rather than your competitors (assuming you’re selling something they need) because, as we all know, people buy people. If you’ve already bonded with Bob over a bacon butty then you’re more likely to be at the front of Bob’s mind when he decides he needs what you’re selling.

Gaining new business for yourself is only one half of the equation though, because networking is also a fantastic way of building relationships with people whose services you may need yourself at some point. Far better to use somebody you’ve met in person, and who you know is going to do a good job, than trawling the interweb to see who has the nicest website.

Networking is also utterly brilliant for growing your referral network. If you can recommend a great printer (hello Gary at MSPC) to someone looking for new business cards, then that person in turn is likely to become an advocate of yours whenever anybody they know needs your services.

So if, like me, you don’t like getting up at 6:00am, just remember that we buy from people we know, like and trust. In our increasingly digital world, one way to get in front of them is to go networking. And if you still don’t want to get up early, why not come along to thebestof networking event? It starts at midday.

For more information about thebestof Hertford and Ware, or to come along to one of our networking events:

Call Victoria Hunter on 01992 308182,

email hertfordandware@thebestof.co.uk,

visit thebestof.co.uk/hertford-and-ware

For a great printer call Gary at MSPC on 01992 504463.