Consumer needs, both B2B and B2C, are constantly evolving and moving towards a digital environment. If you want your business to evolve digitally, but are not sure how to take the step, knowing what speed networking is will take you to the next level.
A springboard to new horizons!
Why do speed networking? Everything you can get from it
Before explaining the advantages why you should practice it, you should be clear about what speed networking is. Although the basis is the same as the traditional networking , there are some important differences to keep in mind.
The speed networking is a marketing technique that allows you to put solutions in contact with your potential customers. It is part of the strategic networking (strategic), its participants are not employees of the same company or people from its environment, but it puts managers in contact with each other.
The format, meetings between demand and supply without intermediaries and with a time limit. You will have a few minutes to introduce yourself and what you can do for your interlocutor. This is called elevator pitcha short speech full of strength and attractive.
Because of time constraints, you need to be very quick and concise in providing information. In this way, you will quickly identify which contacts can offer you a competitive advantage and are more interesting for a collaboration. It is a first contact that facilitates the selection of your next partner, the business per se will be closed later.
If we talk about the advantages of doing speed networking, the number one is the possibility of making contacts that can become strategic alliances in the short or medium term, opportunities for collaboration, financing or even new customers.
In addition to broadening our networks, it is also an excellent opportunity to put your business and social skills into practice. Since it is such a short speech, you have to learn to focus on the most relevant points, do not digress as you can leave the details for the next meeting.
Where to Speed Networking?
Now that we know what speed networking is, we can move on to the interesting part: how to put it into practice. If you always have your speech at the ready, you can do speed networking anywhere and at any time. But how do we ensure that we create synergy?
There are specialized networking events that arrange meetings between companies that are complementary. No one may know you, but after doing speed networking at these meetings you should go home with some contacts that match your business interests and can solve your technology challenges.
For these meetings to be successful, they must have certain characteristics:
- Meetings should not be between companies that are in the same business and may be competitors, but between those that can complement each other.
- The planning of the meetings has to be personalized among the attendees and, preferably, they have to be scheduled in advance to save time and to be able to personalize your presentation.
- Offer complementary activities to strengthen new relationships beyond the two-minute interaction.
In short, if you go to an event to do speed networking you have to optimize the time and quality of interactions. It is a phase of prospecting and qualification of contacts, so it is essential to provide and receive information that is really relevant.
And then what?
If you have ever been to speednetworking events or meetings of this type, it is likely that you are familiar with the idea of taking a few cards that will be forgotten at the bottom of a drawer. When this happens, we can say that we have definitely wasted our time. Ideally, there should be group activities throughout the meeting to foster relationships and interaction among all participants.
Find your Hive
You already have the tools: now you know what is speed networking and what to do to get the most out of each meeting. You just need to know how to choose which event to attend.
At Digital1to1 we are clear about this, and that is why we work hard to generate successful meetings among the hivers participants in our meetings.
We use intelligent tools that help us find the perfect match between companies with potential digital suppliers and startups innovators.
The dates for the next events of networking in 2020 are already available so if you are ready to live the experience here you can contact us to find out how to do it.
Enjoy the opportunity to make a quality networking quality and connect with other managers in search of new clients and new strategic possibilities with Digital1to1.
More information at: https://digital1to1.com/participate/