5 Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact

Okay, so at long last the new coalition government have announced the raft of savage spending cuts. Although it reminded me of my former headmaster's condescending speech about it going to hurt him more than me whenever he caned me, at least it's over, we've been caned and it's time to do what British business owners do best. Dust ourselves down and come back fighting.

Every business owner should be poking their head well above the parapet and aggressively seeking long term sustainable business growth. A savvy business contact manager should be advising all their business contacts to hit the contact network trail, because contact networks, small business networking and business social networking have all weathered the economic crisis because they offer unparalleled sales and marketing avenues at very little cost.

Every single business contact that joins an existing corporate network is granted immediate access to every other new business contact.

When a business owner seeks self promotion as a new business contact, the chances are they start by joining a contact network, corporate network or a small business networking group. Business contacts are flocking to contact networks as a low cost, easy to manage business growth strategy. Every business contact in your business social networking group can be a low cost sales person for your business, so time to turbo charge your network contact.

Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact # 1 A New Business Network

Many a new business contact considers contact networks as laboring under the Marmite Syndrome. A business contact either loves the concept of small business networking, or hates the very idea of it. However two things cannot be ignored.

1: Business social networking is booming.

2: Business owners are generating additional new revenue streams from their contact network.

When considering business contacts and your corporate network you probably associate business networking with LinkedIn, Facebook, BNI, Plaxo or Xing which are all industry leading business networks. However maybe it's time to realize that there are new kids on the block and they offer a very, very proactive contact network.

At a recent training event I heard one of these new kids on the block advising business owners to visit their new web site as it offers all the best facilities of the top ten contact networks under the one platform.

Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact # 2 A Purpose Built Business Network

Most of the better known small business networking and business social networking groups are between 7 to 10 years old. Although most of them remain a fantastic network contact, things online have changed dramatically in this period of time.

A business contact manager advises every business contact that one of the new contact networks has not been designed as an ultimate replacement for business people's networking efforts, either on or offline. It has been designed to be a useful tool for facilitating other facets of a business contacts contact network strategy.

It is based on the premise that all contact networks should exist to promote an atmosphere of bringing together proactive business owners looking to grow their business via product and or increased service provision.

Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact # 3 Regional Contact Networking Groups

In today's fast business pace world it is essential for business contacts to have the comfort blanket of being a member of one or more regional contact networking groups. This provides every business contact with the opportunity to meet every new business contact face to face. Many contact networks exist either in an online format only, or in a regional contact network group only.

Any good network should provide businesses with access to like minded business contacts who potentially have a need for your business services and or products. Meeting on a regular small business networking basis and exchanging corporate network contacts is probably the most acceptable and more beneficial method for SME's to gain business opportunities.

The time and cost of attending a regional contact network, or business social networking event can be excessive for a number of businesses and the pressures of providing referrals or extracting business from a small circle of individuals soon runs its natural course, and every business contact manager will tell you the member exhausts the groups potential very quickly.

Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact #4 Contact Network Time Requirement

One of the factors every business contact should identify when considering any time or financial investment in any contact networks or business social networking groups is the amount of time required to properly service the small business networking requirement.

Ask any business contact manager and they will tell you that to have an online networking presence with unlimited marketing abilities, access to regional, national and international members, a social and business market place and the ability to meet potential customers on a regular basis … needs time. But how much? The following is the time requirement to register with the new contact network mentioned above.

On line presence (basic company registration)5 minutes

Online presence (Upgrade company profile) 15 minutes

Online networking (e mail / communication with thousands)Seconds (one e mail and push the button)

2 meetings per month (90 minutes per meeting)3 hours

This network contact approach is to encourage members to communicate online (similar to Facebook) and socialise via the presence that they have created prior to meeting individuals on a one to one or group basis. By exchanging correspondences online a relationship has been established, individuals are recognised (online photos) and an idea of what business they are involved with provides a sound platform to extend the normal scope of 4 or 5 people to talk to. In addition they have stripped away the formality of networking environments and actively 'mix' established and new members at each meeting.

Corporate Network Business Growth Tips For A New Business Contact #5 Contact Networks Types

There are currently several options for business contacts to join or to attend either small business networking, a corporate network or a business social networking event. Never lose sight of the fact that a new business contact should understand any contact network is only as good as the business contact manager running it.

The network contact and each subsequent business contact you meet will only be as good as how you manage that particular relationship.

Contact Network Type 1: Referral & Start-up (i.e. Business Contacts Breakfast Group)

Structured to pass business referrals and leads. Ideal for start-ups and a great way to get started in networking.

Contact Network Type 2: Unstructured (i.e. Small Business Networking Group.)

Brings business owners together to meet informally. These groups are good for developing your profile and starting good working business relationships.

Contact Network Type 3: Industry-specific associations (i.e. Corporate Network Business Consultancy -)

Associations that exist to support like-minded, industry specific businesses in order to create industry standards and development support.

Contact Network Type 4: Business development & Professional ( i.e. Network Contact Fraternity of Directors )

Established business owners in the professional services to exchange information and ideas, as well as focus on business development.

Contact Network Type 5: Online & Social (i.e Business Social Networking)

New types of networking covering a wide range of services. As with other business networking, you still need to develop trusted profitable relationships

On line Contact Networks: provides every new business contact with an easy formula to promote his/her products and services on a regional or national basis with a small investment in personal time and financial commitment. This business contact option needs to be monitored on a regular basis and needs updating if available with recommendations, photos, new products etc.

I advise you to check with your business contact manager as to the ability to portray you and your business via this option can be very difficult, and a need for a more open and social profile is required. Some networks are currently trying to bridge this gap, but many businesses are wary of divulging too much to potential clients about their personal lives as it may have a negative impact on the business.

In summary if you are seeking a new and very proactive contact network then research for the new contact network kids on the block and sign up for free now. It takes less than 5 minutes to join and you will be amazed at how Business Social Networking has evolved.


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Dr. Mark D. Yates is The British American Security Expert delivers his security & business growth expertise to governments, & businesses worldwide. Get his FREE 52 security tips from =>http:/www.999isecurity.com e-mail him at drmarkdyates@aol.com