Is there a cheap way to get more business?

In current times everyone is looking very closely at what they spend and every penny needs to be accounted for.

One of the best ways is by word of mouth by existing customers - this is where it is great to have reviews about your business - so that other people can read what your customers have said about you.

But what if you are a new business and haven't yet built up a bank of loyal clients - one of the cheapest (and sometimes free!) ways of building up your business and getting known is networking.

Don't expect to turn up at a networking event, though, and come away with a load of business. Networking is a great tool for building relationships - as people get to know you, they will trust you and are more likely to think of you when they need your services.

People always prefer to do business with people they know and like.

We actually have a policy at thebestof Norwich of only dealing with people who we like.

We spent so many years in jobs where we had to deal with difficult people, who thought nothing of shouting or swearing and with never a "thank you" - that now we have our own business, we can choose who we have as clients - and are quite happy not to deal with difficult people.

"You're mad" you may think - well, not so mad if you count the cost of our time in dealing with difficult people - it would be different if our clients were paying us thousands of pounds - but as each client pays very little each month, the cost of our time becomes much more important.

Anyway, I am diverging - the reason for this blog was to talk about networking in Norwich.

You will be amazed at how much networking goes on.

Norwich is a very friendly city and it is easy to get to know people and make business contacts through going to business networking events in Norwich.

There is so much going on that I've always said you could go to a networking event every day in Norwich if you were so minded - and had the energy!

Don't do what I did and try to go to too many! I was so tired at one morning event, I spilt orange juice all over the suit of the gentleman sitting next to me (who was very gallant about it!) and didn't recognise someone who was talking to me about coming on board thebestof as a client and therefore lost his business!

Now I pick and choose which ones to go to.

Click here for my list of favourite networking events in Norwich.