As any astute business woman knows, networking is vital if you want to raise your profile in your industry and increase your social currency. People buy into people - 80% of all new jobs and new clients are found through networking. Everywoman (www.everywoman.co.uk) the UK's leading provider of training, resources and support services for women in business gives Coutts Woman some of its top tips.
Networking is critical when you are looking to start or grow a business and essential when you wish to move on in a company. You need to remain visible at all times to build your brand. Successful networking can help you to raise your profile, meet new customers, develop your knowledge or skills, explore new ideas, find investment, establish partnerships, build a presence in other markets and source new suppliers.
But by thinking in advance about what you want from a network, you can be more focussed in ensuring you get what you want from it. You may go in with specific business aims, such as finding an investor, or getting advice on a career move. However many people simply enjoy networking with people from similar industries or locations and use networking as an extended 'family', where you can share advice and be part of a wider support network.
If you attend a networking event with a specific aim in mind, it helps to be focused - by getting a list of attendees in advance, you can pick out who you want to specifically spend time talking to. Sometimes it can be helpful to bring a colleague to make your business look more impressive and make the networking a smoother process for those who don't find it as easy as others.
Networking is critical when you are looking to start or grow a business and essential when you wish to move on in a company. You need to remain visible at all times to build your brand.
Whatever your reasons for networking, it is important to be proactive and approach people. Standing around on the sidelines will make you look nervous and deter people from wanting to talk to you. Smile and maintain good eye contact to make that all-important, good first impression.
Networking online is now also becoming increasingly popular. Although it is no substitute for face to face contact, it can be easier for those who feel awkward at networking events - with the added benefits that you can find networks of people from very niche sectors or people all over the world, without leaving your desk! These can be a fantastic resource of information and advice and often have 'real life' events to complement their online offering.
Coutts Woman has produced a list of networks that you may find useful to get you started or build on existing networks that you use. These are a mix of organisations that host events as well as ones that are specifically designed for networking online.
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Further info |
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Aurora |
Aurora is Europe's leading and fastest growing network for the economic advancement of corporate and entrepreneurial women. It delivers products and services that make a difference to women and their organisations and companies. |
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Cambridge Association for Women in Science and Engineering |
Cambridge AWiSE aims to help retain and enhance the participation of women in science, engineering and technology fields in both industry and academia. Its networking meetings concentrate on career issues and personal development and are a great place to meet other women working in SET and increase your professional and social contacts. Its website contains information and news relevant to women in SET and access to the MentorSET women's mentoring scheme. |
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everywoman |
everywoman is the UK's leading provider of training, resources and support services for women in business. |
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High Tech Women |
High Tech Women is all about meeting and mentoring. It is geared towards bringing together people involved in the technology industry. It is also an environment where experienced women reach out to those just coming up in high-tech and related fields and give them a helping hand. The object of High Tech Women is to mentor, encourage, teach, and share, facilitating the advancement of women in technology and technology related fields. In all, it is an opportunity for women to help one another foster their ambitions and support their dreams. |
http://www.hightech-women.com/about.html
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Mother @ Work |
Mother @ Work is the first and only monthly webzine dedicated to working mothers. |
www.motheratwork.co.uk
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Networking Women |
Whether you are thinking of branching out on your own, are new to business, already established or want to support other women in business, Women Into the Network offer a wide range of activities for women based in the North East. |
www.networkingwomen.co.uk
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Regional Women's Enterprise Unit |
The aim of RWEU is to make sure women across the West Midlands are able to tap into the right sort of business advice and support to meet their needs - to help them achieve their dreams of starting up their own business, or ambitions of growing and developing an existing business. The purpose of the RWEU is to make sure you can access professional and confidential business support, but more importantly - advice and support delivered by people that are sensitive and aware of the many other balls women have to juggle in the air at once! |
www.rweu.co.uk
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The Bag Lady |
The Bag Lady is a search directory for women in business with comprehensive links on topics relevant to women business owners. |
www.the-bag-lady.co.uk
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The Women's Business Development Agency |
The Women's Business Development Agency was set up in 1990 in Coventry and Warwickshire to promote, support and develop female-run businesses and to help women into work. Their experienced team provide all the advice, support and training you may need. They can help get a new business idea off the ground and provide support during the all-important growth stages, or give advice about an aspect of an existing business. |
www.wbda.co.uk
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Women into the Network |
Women Into the Network (WIN) is a networking initiative based at Durham Business School, which facilitates the development of women's businesses. This project integrates women into existing and new business networks and bridges the gap between providers of business and professional support. WIN's activities include communications and publications, networking events, awards and role model promotion and research. |
www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk
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With Women in Mind |
With Women In Mind is a networking group for professional and entrepreneurial woman which was established in 1993. It is an exclusive networking group primarily for professional and entrepreneurial women and offers its members a unique opportunity to socialise, interact and exchange ideas with like minded women to enhance their business, career and life in general. |
www.withwomeninmind.co.uk
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Women's Business Network |
Women's Business Network supports the creation of new business networks for women in the North West of England and links these networks together to enable the sharing of good ideas and the expansion of business contacts across the region. WBN is cited as an example of good practice in the Department of Trade and Industry's Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise. |
www.wbn.org.uk
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Women In Business |
Women in Business offers support, friendship, business training and the opportunity to tap into the immediate network of contacts that exists with Women in Business through Kent, Sussex and Essex. Monthly activities across all the groups include evening meetings with a speaker, some lunchtime networking events and more relaxed, informal outings. |
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Women Photographers |
The aim of this site is to draw attention to the many creative women throughout the world who make their living taking photographs. Female photographers can display a portfolio of their work on this site and network with other women photographers |
www.womenphotographers.com
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Women in Rural Enterprise |
WiRE has been offering business support to women in rural business since 1996 and is now a trusted national organisation, which helps rural women develop and grow their business and delivers a range of services in response to member feedback and the needs of women in rural business. WiRE believes passionately that women in rural business should be heard and valued. |
www.wireuk.org |
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