Keith Grover, NiS Founder's Posts - Networking in Surrey2024-03-28T15:32:00ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGroverhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3793685500?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profiles/blog/feed?user=3pot5one599pe&xn_auth=noShrinkedIn? Death by a thousand cuts...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2024-02-12:4626108:BlogPost:5412032024-02-12T12:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #1b6884;">ShrinkedIn - the slow demise of our favourite networking platform...</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #1b6884;"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12378702071?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12378702071?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450"></img></a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm defnitely not <strong>applauding</strong> the way things are heading down at <strong>LinkedIn,</strong> as the…</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1b6884;" class="font-size-5">ShrinkedIn - the slow demise of our favourite networking platform...</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1b6884;" class="font-size-5"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12378702071?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12378702071?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm defnitely not <strong>applauding</strong> the way things are heading down at <strong>LinkedIn,</strong> as the basic <strong>functionality</strong> of the platform is being incrementally moved behind the <strong>Paywall</strong> in a (<em>doomed</em>) attempt to persuade <em>free account holders</em> to upgrade to a <strong>Premium Account</strong>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I lamented this at some length this week on <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/NickBlanchard?xg_source=profiles_memberList" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nick Blanchard</a>'s Facebook Live with <strong>NiS Member</strong> and fellow <strong>LinkedIn</strong> <em>afficionado</em> <a href="https://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/GarethWax?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gareth Wax</a>. And by a <em>curious coincidence</em>, my fave blogger Seth Godin's most recent offering summed this phenomenon up rather well - here's an extract:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>"The first thing to understand about free software is that the <strong>marginal cost</strong> of one more email, one more download, one more bit is vanishingly low, close to zero.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Given the low incremental cost of another user, it’s likely that if that were the only factor, most software wouldn’t be a very good business, because it costs a lot to develop but market forces would keep pushing the price low.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>The second factor is <strong>lock-in</strong>. Unlike coffee, software rewards users who stick with it. Over time, the software you use becomes more familiar, it opens the files you created yesterday and it becomes harder and harder to switch. As a result, companies that make software work to create the conditions where people are encouraged to start right now, and only later discover that it’s difficult to switch.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>But the real miracle of modern software is the <strong>network effect</strong>. Simply put: the software works better for each user when other people use it too. The network effect dramatically rewards head starts. You want to use the same word processor as your peers, because opening their files is part of your job. You want to be on the same phone system, the same social network, the same protocols.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Some companies then choose to treat these new users not as customers, but as the product.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Lock-in makes it hard for them to leave, the network effect keeps the system growing and now you can make money from other means. In particular, you make money by serving someone other than your free users. As you get bigger and bigger, you make the product just a little bit worse, rewarding your sponsors or your agenda as you go. (Important exception: when your nearly free users pay enough, in enough numbers, that you can happily offer them the support and service they need...this takes relentless focus and care.)"</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>LinkedIn, take note!</strong></span></p>
<p></p>Happy New Year - this time it's Personal!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2024-01-04:4626108:BlogPost:5402772024-01-04T13:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345362480?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345365260?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345365260?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250"></img></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>In-person events are alive and well (again!) in 2024... yay!</strong></span></p>
<p>A quick glance at our Home Page at the start of the New Year reveals that…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345362480?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345365260?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12345365260?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>In-person events are alive and well (again!) in 2024... yay!</strong></span></p>
<p>A quick glance at our Home Page at the start of the New Year reveals that 13 of the 16 upcoming meetings over the next two weeks are face-to-face - yay!</p>
<p>Of course, many of the 200+ events we list each month are online (including plenty of freebies!) but that's how Networkland has changed post-Pandemic.</p>
<p>Hybrid groups - running some live events in parallel with their online programmes - increaingly reflect the New Order and offer the best of both worlds!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p>How 'FREE' is FREE (as in FREE Networking Meetings)?tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-08-03:4626108:BlogPost:5390862023-08-03T15:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span style="color: #ee0715; font-size: 16pt;">How 'FREE' is FREE?</span><br></br></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12176209293?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" height="241" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12176209293?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="262"></img></a></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; background: white;"></p>
<h3>'Free' always has an agenda (to get your contact details, your attention or whatever) and usually leads towards a sale of some sort...</h3>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>If a SOcial…</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ee0715; font-size: 16pt;">How 'FREE' is FREE?</span><br/></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12176209293?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12176209293?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="262" class="align-center" height="241"/></a></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; background: white;"></p>
<h3>'Free' always has an agenda (to get your contact details, your attention or whatever) and usually leads towards a sale of some sort...</h3>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>If a SOcial MEdia account is free, then YOU are the product.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LinkedIn can sell more ads more expensively (and more Sales Nav subs!) with 950m Members than it could with ninety-five - so when you sign up free you're adding value to Microsoft's product (ergo, bottom line).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>In Networkland (TM) most regular groups offer a free trial or two, then require a sub.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We're all in business to make money - and that's not easy in the networking arena, unless you're a global MLM like Mr Misner's BNI, and that's taken 30+ years to build.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>And attending any networking event takes up a chunk of your time.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Factor in your hourly rate, and even (up to) £1,200 or so annual cash outlay (subs, breakfasts, travel etc) is dwarfed by the time cost.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A breakfast meeting can easily take up 3 hours of your day. Even at a modest £30 per hour, £90 x 50 meetings = £4,500 a year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>If you're a SmartNeworker (TM) you can build your own network but most find the support of a regular group is invaluable...</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In-person meetings have venue and catering costs, so you won't find many of those for free!</span></p>LinkedIn KILLED the Video Star… and that's YOU!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-06-23:4626108:BlogPost:5384532023-06-23T15:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12125879274?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12125879274?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>As of Monday 26 June (3 days from now) you can't upload a Profile Video to sit behind your LinkedIn mugshot. CRAZY but TRUE, so act NOW or LOSE it</strong></span></p>
<p><br></br> The Profile Video (formerly Cover Story) is a free facility to upload a Tik-Tok style video clip of up to 30 seconds.<br></br> There's a…</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12125879274?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12125879274?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>As of Monday 26 June (3 days from now) you can't upload a Profile Video to sit behind your LinkedIn mugshot. CRAZY but TRUE, so act NOW or LOSE it</strong></span></p>
<p><br/> The Profile Video (formerly Cover Story) is a free facility to upload a Tik-Tok style video clip of up to 30 seconds.<br/> There's a mini-preview that runs ('<em>Harry Potter</em>' style) when people cursor over your photo and they can click to view the full video .</p>
<p><br/> <strong>SO, WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT?</strong><br/> Well, in these heady days of fake profiles with AI-generated photos, a video is at least harder to fake and it reinforces the feelings of connection with you, the person.<br/> So, brilliant timing LinkedIn, as usual - doh!</p>
<p><br/> <strong>NO VIDEO? HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS...</strong><br/> You can move fast and record a profile video, which doesn't have to be a slick Hollywood production.<br/> See mine for example, recorded on my phone propped on an upturned waste paper basket in about twenty minutes... Ta-daa!<br/> Home-spun? Sure, but it's authentic, and that's how I roll </p>
<p><br/> <strong>ALTERNATIVELY...</strong><br/> Make a personal video (maybe a bit longer than 30 seconds?) and post it to YouTube or similar (another great tip from my pal Allen Ruddock).</p>
<p><br/> Create a Post with an image (thumbnail?) linking to the video and put it into your Featured Section so people can still watch you 'in person' and see how <em>cuddly</em> you really are!<br/></p>Video Killed the Radio Star - will it kill Live Networking?tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-05-19:4626108:BlogPost:5386062023-05-19T17:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11129845856?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11129845856?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450"></img></a> Spring</strong><span> </span>is definitely in the air, as we approach the<span> </span><em>end of May</em><span> </span>(and you guessed it, yet another<span> </span><strong>Bank Holiday</strong>!) For now though, it's a<span> </span><strong>full working week</strong><span> </span>with a host of<span> </span><strong>networking…</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11129845856?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11129845856?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a>Spring</strong><span> </span>is definitely in the air, as we approach the<span> </span><em>end of May</em><span> </span>(and you guessed it, yet another<span> </span><strong>Bank Holiday</strong>!) For now though, it's a<span> </span><strong>full working week</strong><span> </span>with a host of<span> </span><strong>networking meetings</strong>,<span> </span><em>in-person</em><span> </span>and<span> </span><em>online</em>, listed on our site.</p>
<p>The original premise of<span> </span><a href="https://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Networking in Surrey</a> when we launched some<span> </span><strong>12 years ago</strong><span> </span>(<em>I know!</em>) was listing<span> </span><strong>local</strong><span> </span><strong>in-person networking events</strong> to help<span> </span><strong>Surrey-based businesses</strong><span> </span><em>connect</em><span> </span>and<span> </span><em>engage</em><span> </span>with each other<span> </span><strong>face to face</strong>.</p>
<p>In this <strong>post-Pandemic era</strong>, there are unquestionably more<span> </span><strong>virtual networking meetings</strong><span> </span>than<span> </span><strong>in-person</strong><span> </span>ones out there in<span> </span><strong>Networkland</strong>. The<span> </span><strong>convenience</strong><span> </span>of attending from the<span> </span><em>comfort</em><span> </span>of your<span> </span><strong>own office</strong><span> </span>(<em>or kitchen table!</em>) and the freedom from <strong>geographical limitations </strong>(<em>time zone differences</em><span> </span>notwithstanding) mean that we now all have a<span> </span><em>cornucopia</em><span> </span>of<span> </span><strong>networking events</strong><span> </span>at our disposal, and many are<span> </span><strong>free</strong><span> </span>or low-cost, with zero <em>travelling time</em><span> </span>or<span> </span><em>expense</em>.</p>
<p>It's<span> </span><em>deffo</em><span> </span>a<span> </span><strong>buyer's market</strong><span> </span>- frustratingly so for the<span> </span><strong>live networking events</strong><span> </span>organisers, many of whom have spent<span> </span><strong>years</strong><span> </span>building up their<span> </span><strong>in-person groups</strong><span> </span>until <strong>Covid</strong><span> </span><em>pulled the rug out</em><span> </span>from under them.</p>
<p>And yet... if you look<span> </span><em>carefully</em><span> </span>at your own<span> </span><strong>networks</strong>, I'm guessing that<span> </span><em>in most cases</em><span> </span>you'll find the<span> </span><strong>majority</strong><span> </span>of your<span> </span><strong>connections</strong><span> </span>are with people you have met<span> </span><strong>face to face </strong>- and that these are also most likely going to introduce and <strong>refer</strong><span> </span>you to<span> </span><strong>local</strong><span> </span><em>prospects</em><span> </span>and<span> </span><em>customers</em>.</p>
<p>This is a<span> </span><strong>historical phenomenon</strong><span> </span>- our<span> </span><strong>networks</strong><span> </span>were not formed overnight - we've spent<span> </span><strong>years</strong><span> </span>developing them in the<span> </span><strong>pre-Pandemic world. </strong></p>
<p><strong>Video</strong><span> </span>is not a<span> </span><em>'natural medium'</em><span> </span>of engagement between<span> </span><strong>humans</strong><span> </span>(after all, it<span> </span><em>killed the Radio Star</em>, as any<span> </span><strong>Buggle</strong><span> </span>will tell you :0) We're all still getting used to this<span> </span><em>upstart </em><strong>virtual networking</strong><span> </span>after<span> </span><em>millennia</em> of meeting<span> </span><strong>in-person</strong><em> </em>around the campfire or breakfast table. </p>
<p>And look - of the<span> </span><strong>events</strong><span> </span>with<span> </span><strong>full-page listings</strong><span> </span>on<span> </span><strong>Networking in Surrey</strong><span> </span>next week, 8 are<span> </span><strong>Live!</strong><span> </span>and 6<span> </span><strong>online</strong>.</p>
<p>Isn't that<span> </span><em>interesting</em>?</p>And... you're 'back in the room'!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-05-10:4626108:BlogPost:5381412023-05-10T11:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>As businesses have started to reopen and we transition out of virtual workspaces, there is one thing that will still remain a critical aspect of professional development - in-person networking.</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074971485?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074971485?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450"></img></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">[Photo by …</span></p>
<p><strong>As businesses have started to reopen and we transition out of virtual workspaces, there is one thing that will still remain a critical aspect of professional development - in-person networking.</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074971485?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074971485?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">[Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@productschool?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="font-size: 10.6667px;">Product School</a><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/nOvIa_x_tfo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="font-size: 10.6667px;">Unsplash]</a></p>
<p>While virtual events and social media can certainly help us stay connected, nothing beats the power of face-to-face interactions. Whether it’s attending industry conferences, joining local business groups or simply grabbing coffee with a colleague, in-person networking offers unique opportunities to build meaningful relationships that can pay dividends for years to come.</p>
<p>So if you’re looking to expand your network and take your career to new heights, don’t underestimate the power of in-person networking. Get out there, meet new people, and see just how far those connections can take you!</p>
<p>I decided to ask my old pal ChatGPT:</p>
<p><strong>"How many businessnetworking groups run online meetings in Surrey UK?"</strong></p>
<p><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074973658?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11074973658?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">[Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@cwmonty?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="font-size: 10.6667px;">Chris Montgomery</a><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/smgTvepind4?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="font-size: 10.6667px;">Unsplash</a><span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">]</span></p>
<p><span>Here's what it said:</span></p>
<p><em>I’m not sure about the exact number of business networking groups that run online meetings in Surrey, UK. However, I can suggest a few resources where you can find such information. You may try checking out local directories like Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Bizwiki, and Networking in Surrey to get started. Additionally, you can check social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook for business networking groups operating in Surrey that conduct virtual meetings.`</em></p>
<p>Great to see we came up trumps in the search (yay!)</p>
<p>But what does the future hold for Networking in Surrey, which was conceived as a free resource to help local businesses find in-person networking opportunites? It's more like 'Networking in the Universe' in the post-Pandemic era.</p>
<p>Time for a reboot?</p>March-ing Forwards into Spring Together!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-03-26:4626108:BlogPost:5379132023-03-26T15:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11003566484?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11003566484?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500"></img></a></p>
<p>It's proving to be a <em>soggy start</em> to <strong>Spring</strong> - I know we <em>need the rain</em>, but still... </p>
<p>Everything's <em>sunny and brigh</em>t in <strong>Networkland</strong> though, as the return of <strong>in-person networking</strong> shows no signs of abating. <em>Long-established</em> <strong>local organisations…</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11003566484?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11003566484?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>It's proving to be a <em>soggy start</em> to <strong>Spring</strong> - I know we <em>need the rain</em>, but still... </p>
<p>Everything's <em>sunny and brigh</em>t in <strong>Networkland</strong> though, as the return of <strong>in-person networking</strong> shows no signs of abating. <em>Long-established</em> <strong>local organisations</strong> such as <strong>Fabulous Networking</strong> and the <strong>Omni</strong> <strong>Business Development Network</strong> are reviving their pre-Covid <strong>face-to-face groups</strong> and <em>opening new ones</em>, while continuing to hold some <strong>meetings online</strong>. </p>
<p>From the <em>opposite angle</em>, <strong>online</strong> <strong>Lockdown</strong> <em>start-up</em> <strong>Zoco</strong> has <strong>nationwide</strong> (even <em>international</em>) reach, but as<i> </i>yet its <strong>membership base</strong> is still <em>predominantly</em> <strong>local</strong> (Southeast UK) so it's introducing <strong>in-person meetings</strong> to its <em>portfolio</em>.</p>
<p>Talking of which, <strong>Zoco</strong> Head Honcho <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/NickBlanchard?xg_source=profiles_memberList" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nick Blanchard</a> has kindly agreed to give our <strong>2,400+ NiS Members</strong> access to the <strong>4</strong> <strong>video extracts</strong> from his recent <strong>'How To Network Like A Pro'</strong> <strong>event</strong> - taken together, they provide a <strong>powerful guide</strong> to <em>what is and isn't working</em> in today's <strong>networking rooms</strong>, <em>real</em> or <em>virtual</em>!</p>
<p>These are the <strong>links</strong> (you'll also find them in our <a href="https://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/video" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NiS Video Library here...</a>) :</p>
<ul>
<li><span><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/LeonieWright" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonie Wright</a> spoke about being patient when Networking and how it takes 7-8 months normally before you start bearing fruit! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/679498416/videos/1124173668250666/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch Video...</a></span></li>
<li><span>Phil Coley gave a brilliant example to help you make your 60 seconds THE BEST! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/679498416/videos/224984906582240/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch Video...</a></span></li>
<li><span>Gillian Stafford talked about the relationship between Networking & Social Media <a href="https://www.facebook.com/679498416/videos/598828045450483/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch Video...</a></span></li>
<li><span>Neile Giller spoke about many things, mostly how to Network ‘nicely’ and not be a tool! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/679498416/videos/1201645107411065/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Watch video...</a></span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>WARNING</strong>: At certain points <em>yours truly</em> pops up with a few <em>words of wisdom</em>, on the pretext that I might have learned a bit about <strong>business networking</strong> after <em>thirty years</em> at it (and <em>twelve years</em> running <a href="https://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Networking in Surrey</a>) - I'll let you be the judge!</p>
<p></p>
<p>[Image created using Dall-E Open AI<em> - 'A colorful mad March hare marching with a Spring in its step in the style of Sheppard'</em>]</p>Calling business owners in Reigate & Banstead, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley and Tandridge!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2023-01-05:4626108:BlogPost:5356482023-01-05T17:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>The four Councils that form East Surrey - @Epsom & Ewell, @Mole Valley, @Reigate & Banstead and @Tandridge - have come together to form the East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10926091882?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10926091882?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="650"></img></a></p>
<p><span>Businesses large and small, entrepreneurs, sole traders, start-ups and scale ups across East Surrey are being asked to identify…</span></p>
<p><strong>The four Councils that form East Surrey - @Epsom & Ewell, @Mole Valley, @Reigate & Banstead and @Tandridge - have come together to form the East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10926091882?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10926091882?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="650" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span>Businesses large and small, entrepreneurs, sole traders, start-ups and scale ups across East Surrey are being asked to identify what needs to be done to enable the region to reach its full economic potential and to further support their businesses to not only survive but thrive in the months ahead.</span></p>
<p><span>The shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative is assessing the current business environment to understand the key challenges faced by the region, and identify key needs and actions that can be taken collectively to ensure the future success of the region's economy and businesses.</span></p>
<p><span>Responses to the survey will be used by the Shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative to align economic development priorities and activity across the four East Surrey local authorities. Creating the right conditions for the region to fulfil its growth potential and encourage increased business retention and inward investment, increased local employment opportunities, and business growth.</span></p>
<p>Launching in January 2023, the survey is a place for businesses across the region to have their say. Visit <a href="http://www.eastsurreybusinesssurvey.co.uk">www.eastsurreybusinesssurvey.co.uk</a> for more information.</p>
<p>#eastsurrey #businesssurvey</p>FREE LinkedIn Cheat Sheet (WMB 2022)...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-10-13:4626108:BlogPost:5349022022-10-13T16:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #1b6884;">Woking Means Business 2022 – Allen & Keith’s LinkedIn Cheat Sheet</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>If you didn't make it to Keith and Allen's Ultimate LinkedIn Seminar at the Show, check out this LinkedIn Cheat Sheet for a tiny tincture of what went on...</strong> </span></p>
<p><span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q1 What do I need to do before I even start to use LinkedIn?…</strong></span><br></br></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #1b6884;" class="font-size-5">Woking Means Business 2022 – Allen & Keith’s LinkedIn Cheat Sheet</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>If you didn't make it to Keith and Allen's Ultimate LinkedIn Seminar at the Show, check out this LinkedIn Cheat Sheet for a tiny tincture of what went on...</strong> </span></p>
<p><span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q1 What do I need to do before I even start to use LinkedIn?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Know who your customers are, and where they hang out. You can’t market to everyone with the same </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">message. Describe your customer in a maximum of 3 short sentences, and create a full Customer Avatar for </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">each customer segment you are serving.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q2 What’s the purpose of my LinkedIn Profile?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">To provide content that speaks to your customers – it’s ABOUT you, but not FOR you.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">There’s much more to LinkedIn than a good Profile – such as post types, newsletters, events, LinkedIn Live, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Groups, Business Pages...</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q3 I have all that ready– now what do I do with it?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s all about getting your prospects to engage with your content, YOU and YOUR BUSINESS</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">by putting stuff out there. Post at least weekly, run events, comment on others’ content – and make it a two-way street. You’ll get very little out of it if you don’t engage and speak to people on LinkedIn.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q4 What’s the single most important aspect of LinkedIn?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Connections - and, to a lesser extent, Followers - without them, you have an empty room.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">So should you accept every connection request? That depends on your L:inkedIn Strategy (you do have one, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">right?) So, is it a numbers game? Yes and no. Fewer than 500 Connections makes it looks like you are a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">newbie, or not not serious on the platform. But always put quality before quantity.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q5 OK - so how do I find people to connect with?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">A great profile and good content will attract them to you, so you’ll get connection requests.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Connect with all your existing customers and prospects, suppliers and potential collaborators.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Use Search - it’s a powerful tool – and always connect with people that you network with.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q6 I have a Profile and a network - but why should I post content?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you are active on the platform, you can demonstrate your expertise, which in turn can</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">generate leads. Always follow them up (check who’s viewed your Profile and download your Connections </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">regularly).</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q7 What’s Creator Mode all about?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Most profiles on LinkedIn are passive or inactive, and LinkedIn introduced Creator Mode to encourage users </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">to put out content. Your Profile is re-ordered and your default button becomes Follow instead of Connect. In </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">return you get early access to new features and more opportunities to get your message across, such as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">LinkedIn Live and Newsletters</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q8 I put my content out there - then what?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Engagement! Interact with the people that like and comment on your stuff. Follow or connect with your </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">prospects and engage with them via comments so they’re more likely to accept your Connection request.</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s all part of Social Selling – warm leads instead of cold calls... sharing and helping, not hard selling!</span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Q9 How do I get the sale?</strong></span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Not by connecting and immediately pitching! Get the engagement right and over time you will see buying </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">signals. When you do, take the conversation off LinkedIn to a face-to-face meeting - in person, on Zoom or </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">even on the good old phone.</span></span></p>
<p><span><br/> <span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://linkedin.com/in/allenruddock/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Allen Ruddock</a> and <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/keithgrover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keith Grover</a> will always </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">respond to your questions about LinkedIn –please Connect with us, and just ask!</span><br/></span></p>What's on Networking in Surrey next week - 26 September 2022tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-09-23:4626108:BlogPost:5345182022-09-23T17:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p>Here's your free Friday (<i>end of the second Elizabethan Age</i>) <strong>What's On Bulletin</strong> - a <em>2-minute scan read</em> from <strong>Networking in Surrey</strong> - highlighting what's going on in <strong>Networkland</strong> in the days ahead...</p>
<p>So, we've shown the <b>rest of the</b> <strong>world</strong> exactly how to <em>queue</em> (!) and how to execute <strong>pomp</strong> and <strong>pageantry</strong> with <em>style</em> and <em>dignity</em>. </p>
<p>Now,…</p>
<p>Here's your free Friday (<i>end of the second Elizabethan Age</i>) <strong>What's On Bulletin</strong> - a <em>2-minute scan read</em> from <strong>Networking in Surrey</strong> - highlighting what's going on in <strong>Networkland</strong> in the days ahead...</p>
<p>So, we've shown the <b>rest of the</b> <strong>world</strong> exactly how to <em>queue</em> (!) and how to execute <strong>pomp</strong> and <strong>pageantry</strong> with <em>style</em> and <em>dignity</em>. </p>
<p>Now, after the <em>multitude</em> of <strong>disruptions</strong> and <strong>mixed</strong> <strong>emotions</strong> of the past two weeks, we are all having to <strong>re-boot</strong> and get back to <strong>business as usual</strong> (can anybody even <em>remember</em> what that was like?)</p>
<p><strong>Networkland</strong> is still in a state of <em>flux</em>, as established <strong>networking</strong> <strong>organisations</strong> are <em>monitoring</em> the fallout from the <strong>Pandemic,</strong> and deciding whether their <strong>groups</strong> are <em>viable</em> going forward... </p>
<p><strong>Online</strong> <strong>events</strong> continue to <em>p</em><em>roliferate</em><u>,</u> with many <strong>accomplished</strong> <strong>networkers</strong> now <em>willy</em> <em>nilly</em> building <em>concentric</em> <em>rings</em> of <strong>connections.</strong> Our<strong> </strong><em>longest</em>-<em>established</em> <strong>networking</strong> <strong>chums</strong> from the <em>pre-Lockdown era</em> form the central core, and around which there's an ever-growing <strong>community </strong>of <i>professional </i><em>associates</em> from around the globe whom we've met in the <strong>Zoom <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Room</span></strong>. </p>
<p>This reinforces my <strong>mantra - </strong>'<strong>Networking</strong> isn't about the <em>meetings</em> - it's what happens <strong>between</strong> the <em>meetings</em> (keeping in touch) that counts'. </p>
<p>EVENTS <em>coming up over the next week on NiS, posted and hosted by our Members</em>... </p>
<p>MONDAY - <i>no events posted for today so far</i> </p>
<p>TUESDAY </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-croydon-breakfast-hub-2?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Croydon Breakfast Hub</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener" target="_blank">John Gower</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-speed-networking-afternoon-online-21?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-speed-networking-morning-online-20?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zoco Speed Networking Morning Online</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-speed-networking-afternoon-online-21?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/NickBlanchard?xg_source=profiles_memberList" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Nick Blanchard</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-lunchtime-live-farnham-3?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fabulous Networking Lunchtime LIVE! Farnham</a> with Adam Buttery</li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/small-business-local-meet-ups-surrey?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FREE Surrey Small Business Local Meet-Up Online</a> with <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/JarmilaYu?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jarmila Yu</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/woking-connections-live-breakfast-ripley-17?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
</ul>
<p>WEDNESDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/woking-connections-live-breakfast-ripley-18?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woking Connections LIVE! Breakfast, Ripley</a> <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/woking-connections-live-breakfast-ripley-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a>with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulABridgland?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Paul Bridgland</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/events/free-ladies-who-latte-morning-farnham-579" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-fleet-coffee-time-live-3?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-coffee-time-online-9?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fabulous Networking Coffee Time Online</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-fleet-coffee-time-live-3?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a> with Jacqui McGinn</li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-afternoon-30-minute-linkedin-clinic-390?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FREE: Afternoon 30-Minute LinkedIn Clinic</a> with <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/KeithGrover?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keith Grover</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-afternoon-30-minute-linkedin-clinic-95?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
</ul>
<p>THURSDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-copthorne-153?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-copthorne-244?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trusted Referrals Breakfast, Copthorne</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/ChristopherTomaszewski" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christopher Tomaszewski</a><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/events/omni-local-twickenham-breakfast-hub-15" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/events/omni-local-twickenham-breakfast-hub-26" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/epsom-business-club-breakfast-networking-1?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/bni-guildford-group-breakfast-time-online-1?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/the-corporate-escape-club-morning-via-zoom-2?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Corporate Escape Club Morning via ZOOM</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/EmmaTarring?xg_source=profiles_memberList" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emma Tarring</a> and <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/AnneveHutchinson?xg_source=profiles_memberList" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anneve Hutchinson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/bni-guildford-group-breakfast-time-online-8?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-lunchtime-live-camberley-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-lunchtime-live-camberley-6?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Lunchtime LIVE! Camberley</a> <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-lunchtime-live-camberley-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a>with Jenny Thornton</li>
</ul>
<p>FRIDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-staines-breakfast-hub-3?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Staines Breakfast Hub</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/BillyLyle" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Billy Lyle</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/enterprise-connexions-london-breakfast-online-4?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/farnham-connections-breakfast-live-seale-farnham-14?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/farnham-connections-breakfast-live-seale-farnham-15?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farnham Connections Breakfast LIVE! Seale, Farnham</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/farnham-connections-breakfast-live-seale-farnham-14?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulABridgland?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Paul Bridgland</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-woking-and-sam-beare-hospice-business-breakfast-live-at?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-staines-breakfast-hub-668?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Check out our <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/groups" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Regular Group Meetings</a> section for lots more, and our <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/group/free-networking-meetings" rel="noopener" target="_blank">'Network4Free' page here...</a> for dozens of terrific freebies, many of them transcending the Surrey borders.</p>
<p>Stay healthy - and as sane as you can - and Keep Smiling Through :0)</p>
<p>HAPPY NETWORKING!</p>What's on Networking in Surrey next week - 19 September 2022tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-09-16:4626108:BlogPost:5343312022-09-16T17:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p>Here's your free Friday (<em>Ave Atque Vale</em>) What's On Bulletin - a 2-minute scan read from Networking in Surrey - highlighting what's going on in Networkland in the days ahead...</p>
<p>It's a <em>sad</em> and <i>disorientating </i>time for so many of us, which is likely to continue until after the <strong>State Funeral Bank Holiday</strong>.</p>
<p>There are plenty of <em>distractions</em> to disrupt '<em>business as usual</em>', and <strong>networking meetings</strong> are no…</p>
<p>Here's your free Friday (<em>Ave Atque Vale</em>) What's On Bulletin - a 2-minute scan read from Networking in Surrey - highlighting what's going on in Networkland in the days ahead...</p>
<p>It's a <em>sad</em> and <i>disorientating </i>time for so many of us, which is likely to continue until after the <strong>State Funeral Bank Holiday</strong>.</p>
<p>There are plenty of <em>distractions</em> to disrupt '<em>business as usual</em>', and <strong>networking meetings</strong> are no exception. Expect fairly <em>low numbers</em>, and lots of <em>reminders</em> and <em>invitations</em> to attend <strong>events</strong> as <strong>organisers</strong> work hard to get <em>'bums on seats'</em> (real or virtual!) </p>
<p>If you're in the <strong>Surrey</strong> area and fancy making lots of new <strong>business contacts</strong> (and renewing many of your existing <strong>connections</strong>) head over to <strong>Epsom</strong> for the <strong>Grow Your Business Show. </strong></p>
<p>Talking of which - our <em>utterly wonderful</em> <strong>Sponsoring Advertisers</strong> (<a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profiles/members/?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NiS Members</a> one and all :0) keep this site free for <em>all Local Businesses</em> to help <strong>plan their networking</strong>... <em>check them out!</em></p>
<ol>
<li>One of our best connected Members, <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/JaneTyson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jane Tyson</a>, has been recruited to help launch Guildford's new <strong>Sustainable Business Network</strong> - go Jane!; the <strong>Woking Means Business</strong> Expo returns in the Autumn and <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulWebster" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Paul Webster</a> always promotes it on NiS (<em>Council-sponsored Stands</em> are selling fast at knock-down prices!); <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/xn/detail/u_1s1xnfpt74q0t?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Francesca Robins</a> makes a welcome return to Epsom this <strong>Thursday</strong> after Lockdown with her successful <strong>Grow Your Business Show; </strong>another successful event organiser, ,returns to the fray with his <strong>Surrey SME Business Awards</strong> programme (and there's still time to enter!), <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John" rel="noopener" target="_blank">John Gower</a> is making a measured return to live meetings of his <strong>OMNI Local Business Networking</strong> groups in a new format - check it out</li>
</ol>
<p>EVENTS <em>coming up over the next week on NiS, posted and hosted by our Members... </em></p>
<p>MONDAY -<span> </span><em>no events posted by our Members so far ...</em></p>
<p>TUESDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-farnborough-and-farnham-breakfast-hub-305?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-farnborough-and-farnham-breakfast-hub-4?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-farnborough-and-farnham-breakfast-hub-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Farnborough and Farnham Breakfast Hub</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-farnborough-and-farnham-breakfast-hub-4?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Gower</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-speed-networking-afternoon-online-19?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-monthly-morning-networking-online-21?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zoco Monthly Morning Networking Online</a><span> </span>with<span> </span><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/NickBlanchard?xg_source=profiles_memberList" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nick Blanchard</a></li>
</ul>
<p>WEDNESDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-weybridge-breakfast-hub-38?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-breakfast-live-weybridge-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Breakfast Live! Weybridge</a><span> </span>with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KellyWalsh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kelly Walsh</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-caterham-breakfast-hub-353?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><span><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-breakfast-live-caterham-6?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-breakfast-live-caterham-7?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Local Breakfast Live! Caterham</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-local-breakfast-live-caterham-6?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></span> with Annabel Broom</li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-322?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-751?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-318?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-400?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-461?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guildford Connections Breakfast, Guildford</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildford-connections-breakfast-guildford-400?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><span> </span>Live! with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulABridgland?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul Bridgland</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-afternoon-30-minute-linkedin-clinic-946?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-fabulous-networking-alton-coffee-time-live-5?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FREE Fabulous Networking Alton Coffee Time Live!</a> <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-afternoon-30-minute-linkedin-clinic-946?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>with Adam Buttery</li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-omni-local-evening-speed-networking-hour-26?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FREE Omni Local Evening Speed Networking Online</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Gower</a></li>
</ul>
<p>THURSDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-copthorne-95?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-online-509?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-online-760?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-online-674?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-online-660?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trusted Referrals Breakfast ONLINE</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/trusted-referrals-breakfast-online-674?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> with <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/ChristopherTomaszewski?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Christopher Tomaszewski</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/grow-your-business-show-2021-surrey-business-exhibition?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FREE Surrey Grow Your Business Show, Epsom</a> with <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/FrancescaRobins?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Francesca Robins</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-coffee-time-online-8?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/zoco-live-morning-networking-oxshott-10?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zoco Live! Morning Networking, Oxshott</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/fabulous-networking-coffee-time-online-8?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> with<span> </span><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/LeonieWright" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonie Wright</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/bni-guildford-group-breakfast-time-online-9?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/guildfordbuzz-morning-live-guildford-4?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#GuildfordBUZZ Morning Live! Guildford</a> with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/JaneTyson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jane Tyson</a></li>
<li><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/the-woking-amp-alton-groups-athena-network-launch-online?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Woking and Alton Groups Athena Network Launch Online</a> with <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/DorisHolleufer88?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Doris Holleufer</a></li>
</ul>
<p>FRIDAY</p>
<ul>
<li><span><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-guildford-breakfast-hub-2?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-guildford-breakfast-hub-3?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni Guildford Breakfast Hub</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-guildford-breakfast-hub-2?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a> with<a> </a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/profile/John?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Gower</a></span></li>
<li><span><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/enterprise-connexions-hampshire-north-breakfast-time-online-13?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/enterprise-connexions-hampshire-north-breakfast-time-online-14?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></span><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/omni-guildford-breakfast-hub-1?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/dorking-connections-breakfast-live-9?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/dorking-connections-breakfast-live-13?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/dorking-connections-breakfast-live-14?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dorking Connections Breakfast Live!</a><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/dorking-connections-breakfast-live-13?xg_source=msg_mes_network" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><span> </span>with <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulABridgland?xg_source=activity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paul Bridgland</a><br/> <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/dorking-connections-breakfast-live-8?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></li>
</ul>
<p>Check out our <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/group/free-networking-meetings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">'Network4Free' page here...</a> for dozens of <strong>terrific freebies</strong>, many of them transcending the Surrey borders.</p>
<p>Stay healthy - and as sane as you can - and Keep Smiling Through :0)</p>
<p><strong>HAPPY NETWORKING</strong></p>Business Networking - the dreaded 'Summer Slump' is upon us!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-08-03:4626108:BlogPost:5341642022-08-03T15:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10746053662?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10746053662?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="423"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The <strong>business networking</strong> <em>'Summer Slump'</em> that always accompanies the start of the <strong>school holidays</strong> is once more getting under way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This year it hits a <strong>networking industry</strong> that's been well and truly <strong>disrupted…</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10746053662?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10746053662?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="423" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The <strong>business networking</strong> <em>'Summer Slump'</em> that always accompanies the start of the <strong>school holidays</strong> is once more getting under way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This year it hits a <strong>networking industry</strong> that's been well and truly <strong>disrupted forever</strong> by the <strong>'Lockdown Effect'.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As mooted in our weekly Members' <em>What's On Bulletins</em> many times, <strong>Zoom</strong> has made organising <em>online events</em> a breeze, and <em>virtually free</em> (see what I did there? :0)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As a result, many <strong>in-person networking</strong> organisations have been forced to <strong>re-think</strong> their <strong>strategy</strong> - and many now offer a hybrid mix of <strong>online</strong> and <strong>offline</strong> meetings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One <strong>significant event</strong> which <strong>speaks volumes</strong> to this <em>dramatic turnaround</em> of events is the <em>shock withdrawal</em> from the <strong>networking scene</strong> of <strong>Brad Burton</strong>, Founder and <em>guiding light</em> of the <em>BNI-bashing</em> <strong>4Networking</strong> (now rebranded as <strong>Network Central</strong>).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">His announcement (in a post on <strong>LinkedIn</strong>) is telling:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>"The end of an era. After 16.5 years. That’s me done. I’ve just signed & sold my majority shareholdings. I’m exiting from all my networking interests. From Aug 1st the brands go on, without me, with MBO’s, as Caroline J Andrew-Johnstone takes over as 4NO majority shareholder of with MD Jen Hinds, doing the same for 1N."</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When a <strong>networking Colossus</strong> like <em>(love'imorhate'im)</em> Brad bows out, you have to ask yourself what he's seen that others may have missed. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paradoxically, the <strong>virtual networking </strong>crew are <em>equally vulnerable</em> to the <strong>proliferation</strong> of <strong>networking opportunities </strong>in this <em>buyer's market</em> (good news for the <strong>individual networker</strong>, of course!)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They all have to work that much harder to <strong>differentiate their offering</strong> and stand out from the crowd.Of course that's great news for <strong>NETWORKERS </strong><em>(huzzah!)</em></span></p>
<p><em>-----------------------------------------------------</em></p>
<p>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/es/@corey_lyfe?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Corey Agopian</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/summer-slump?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></p>On line versus in-person Networking - which is better?tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-06-27:4626108:BlogPost:5334892022-06-27T09:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<h2>Do you prefer networking online, or in person? Or maybe you're a Hybrid networker?</h2>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10598437296?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10598437296?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We networkers now have a <em>myriad</em> <strong>online events</strong> to choose from, many <strong>free</strong> or very low-cost. And <strong>real-world events</strong> are increasingly opening back up again,…</span></p>
<h2>Do you prefer networking online, or in person? Or maybe you're a Hybrid networker?</h2>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10598437296?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10598437296?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We networkers now have a <em>myriad</em> <strong>online events</strong> to choose from, many <strong>free</strong> or very low-cost. And <strong>real-world events</strong> are increasingly opening back up again, meaning <strong>networkers</strong> definitely are <em>spoilt for choice...</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I forecast very early on in <strong>Lockdown</strong> that <strong>networking organisers</strong> would have to <em>up their game</em> and <em>innovate to differentiate</em> their offering in order to survive and thrive in the <strong>post-Pandemic</strong> <em>New Normal</em> world.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One interesting <strong>new opportunity</strong> which I am <em>surprised</em> has taken so long for the <strong>on-liners</strong> to grasp, is collaborating with other <strong>non-competing groups</strong>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Virtual meetings</strong> allow diverse organisations to <em>share their audience</em> with each other without <em>diluting</em> (and in fact, <em>amplifying</em>) their appeal. <strong>Members</strong> are paying a <strong>sub</strong> because they like a particular group, but <strong>organisers</strong> can easily hold <strong>joint online meetings </strong>at pretty much <em>zero additional cost</em> and with little fear of '<strong>churn'</strong><em>.</em> It's a <em>win-win,</em> because the <strong>Members</strong> of both sides get to <em>meet more people</em>, with no <em>geographical boundaries</em> - limited only by <strong>time-zone</strong> differences.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This <strong>new opportunity</strong> is not really a viable option for <em>face-to-face-only groups,</em> so I predict that the vast majority of <strong>networking organisations</strong> will be running a <strong>hybrid events programme</strong> going forward, simply to be able to compete with the online <em>joint-venturers</em>...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>Interesting times</em> in <strong>Networkland</strong>!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em>[Photos by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@cwmonty?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Chris Montgomery</a> & <a href="https://unsplash.com/@priscilladupreez?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Priscilla Du Preez</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/business-networking?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/networking?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">]</a></em></span></p>HELPING UKRAINE Charities Making A Difference...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-03-22:4626108:BlogPost:5324312022-03-22T19:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229956899?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10231401268?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500"></img></a> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229956899?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229956899?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10231401268?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229956899?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229920500?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>Here are links to help you choose a charity to support which resonates with you...<br/> <a href="https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229980099?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/?gclid=CjwKCAjwrfCRBhAXEiwAnkmKmQzYpT1WaeB6kdnWPyHCSeyUdTLd7LtPczovsTbWFZoFexKUcHHR9RoCUSEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10235194091?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://surreystandswithukraine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10235186493?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a><a href="https://www.dec.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10229983652?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.careinternational.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10231404296?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/ukraine-crisis-appeal/?pscid=ps_ggl_gr_Google+Grants+-+Communications+-+Brand+-+DSA_Whole+Site&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=CjwKCAjwrfCRBhAXEiwAnkmKmZLs9AIZEHVxf64E80m2TRLrgRi1fXJvSQ4pkab_t-AXDWx-OvyyixoCR4EQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#8be3cd2a-011e-48fa-80e5-9c2ebcb60f0f-can-i-offer-a-room-to-a-refugee-with-oxfam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10235274862?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.lionsgiving.co.uk/appeal/refugees" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10235289661?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></strong></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>FUNDRAISING EVENTS:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://roughrunner.com/event/ocr-charlton-park/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10232260699?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="500" class="align-full"/></a></strong></p>
<p></p>MyTeam Mastermind - maybe one day all networking will be this good...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-02-14:4626108:BlogPost:5319612022-02-14T17:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #1b6884;">SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE BEAR, BOO-BOO!</span></p>
<p><strong>MyTeam</strong> is not your average business networking group - even more important now that <strong>Networkland</strong> has changed forever!</p>
<p><strong>Our mantra is 'Engage - Share - Support - Collaborate!'</strong><span> </span>reflecting the stages of development a great networking relationship naturally follows.</p>
<p>Notice…</p>
<p><span style="color: #1b6884;" class="font-size-5">SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE BEAR, BOO-BOO!</span></p>
<p><strong>MyTeam</strong> is not your average business networking group - even more important now that <strong>Networkland</strong> has changed forever!</p>
<p><strong>Our mantra is 'Engage - Share - Support - Collaborate!'</strong><span> </span>reflecting the stages of development a great networking relationship naturally follows.</p>
<p>Notice that<span> </span><strong>'Sell'</strong><span> </span>is not included in the Mantra (or our meetings) There's<span> </span><em>no pitching allowed</em><span> </span>(not even a 60-second 'enervator' Pitch)! This allows the real human being to step out from behind the 'reluctant salesperson' façade and be true to themselves, and therefore to the Team. </p>
<p>It's<span> </span><em>amazing</em><span> </span>what happens next... come and join us to discover the transformation!</p>
<p><strong>AGENDA – LIVE IN-PERSON MASTERMIND 19 / 04 / 2022 <a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/events/free-myteam-network-lunchtime-live-mastermind-cobham-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find out more - click here...</a> </strong></p>
<p>(Timings Approx)</p>
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<tbody><tr><td width="74"><p><strong>12:30</strong></p>
<p>Mingle</p>
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<td width="586"><p>Informal networking as you <strong>order and pay for lunch</strong> individually (get a receipt). Please take a seat at the Table. TeamHost opens the meeting, and welcomes guests. </p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>12:40</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Intros</p>
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<td width="586"><p><strong>Tweet’n’Greet - no time-wasting one-minute pitches (Ditch the Pitch!)</strong></p>
<p>We all say who we are and what we do in one sentence (aim for 140 characters – up to 25 words) - we don’t actually need sixty seconds. </p>
<p></p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>12:50</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>1-2-1</strong></p>
<p>Buddies</p>
</td>
<td width="586"><p><strong>Buddy Scramble</strong></p>
<p>You’ll be matched with a Buddy in our facilitated 1-2-1 linkups. Your mission is to arrange a 1-2-1 (live or online by agreement) with your Buddy in the next 2 weeks. This is a fundamental MyTeam advantage point – all will be explained!</p>
<p> </p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>13:00</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Biz Topic</p>
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<td width="586"><p><strong>RoundTable Topic4Today: </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><strong>MASTERMIND SESSION - the most powerful networking format on the Planet (<em>allegedly</em>)!</strong> Each attendee can submit an issue or challenge they are facing in their business for the Team to brainstorm, and we choose by vote who gets to sit in the HotSeat. We then follow the MyTeam Q&A formula to and come up with ideas and advice to address the issue. You are welcome to put forward your challenge, or just contribute to help your TeamMate.</p>
<p>It’s a game-changer – and fun! - and everybody gains - <strong>win-win-win!</strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>13:45</strong></p>
<p>Next Topic</p>
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<td width="586"><p><strong>Topic4Tomorrow – TeamVote</strong></p>
<p>We vote for a Topic for the next meeting, including the option to ‘carry over’ today’s Topic (in this case, another Mastermind ).</p>
<p> </p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>13:50</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Commit</p>
<p>Refer</p>
<p>Endorse</p>
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<td width="586"><p><strong>Commit2Do, Testimonials & Referrals</strong></p>
<p>We go round the table, and if you wish you can <strong>commit</strong> (to yourself) to tackle a business or personal goal, with timescales. This is when you also pass on any referrals you have for any TeamMember (perhaps as a result of a 1-2-1) – please mention any already passed. You may want to thank any TeamMember who has helped you recently, or share news of an ongoing or successfully completed project .</p>
<p> </p>
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<tr><td width="74"><p><strong>14:00</strong></p>
<p>prompt</p>
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<td width="586"><p><strong>Meeting Ends - Buddies</strong> please connect by end of play tomorrow to fix up your 1-2-1 and get together before the next meeting... Have fun! </p>
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<p>Please check the <strong>Networking in Surrey</strong> listings for upcoming <strong>MyTeam</strong> meetings - usually first and third Tuesdays of the month...</p>No SPAM thanks - we're all grown-ups here!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-01-14:4626108:BlogPost:5316422022-01-14T17:56:58.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p>We're a friendly bunch here on Networking in Surrey - but we don't welcome SPAMMERS!</p>
<p>Some of our Members received a message from a newly posted Profile that was clearly SPAM, and thankfully let me know straight away. First, here's what the message looked like:</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10012350091?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10012350091?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></p>
<p>Clearly drivel - but also a waste of every body's time, including the SPAMMER…</p>
<p>We're a friendly bunch here on Networking in Surrey - but we don't welcome SPAMMERS!</p>
<p>Some of our Members received a message from a newly posted Profile that was clearly SPAM, and thankfully let me know straight away. First, here's what the message looked like:</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10012350091?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10012350091?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Clearly drivel - but also a waste of every body's time, including the SPAMMER themselves. My email to these quick-witted NiS Members who contacted me right away, tells the story...</p>
<p>"Thank you to the switched-on Networking in Surrey Members who have alerted me to a suspect message sent to you by our newest Member, who signed up yesterday.</p>
<p>Rest assured, I suspended and blocked the offender within ten minutes of getting the first email from a Member raising doubts about the integrity of the sender.</p>
<p>We do occasionally (probably half a dozen times a year) get a rogue sign-up claiming to work for a genuine company, and I nearly always spot them before their Profile gets approved.</p>
<p>Company websites don't always show all their personnel, especially new staff, and although I do also check LinkedIn and other platforms to try to identify people, I usually give new sign-ups whom I can't pin down as much 'benefit of the doubt' as I feel is sensible - but the odd crank inevitably gets through.</p>
<p>They usually then try sending an obviously spammy message to individuals (there's no bulk messaging function on the site, except for me as Administrator).</p>
<p>Spammers doubtless don't realise that our Members are all savvy business folk who have no truck with this sort of nonsense. Fortunately, the only data on Members' Profiles is what they have freely shared, and we don't track activity, or ever sell your data under any circumstances.</p>
<p>I'm sure this would pretty much go away if I were to start charging for Membership, as I did in our first few months of operation back in 2010, when people paid £5 per month to have a Profile on Networking in Surrey. If it becomes more prevalent, I may re-introduce a fee for new Members (existing Members won't be affected, of course).</p>
<p>On reflection, it would be lovely if our 2400+ Members were paying me a fiver each every month (voluntary donations gladly accepted)!</p>
<p>Thanks again for your vigilance and patience, and for supporting our free NiS community...</p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Keith</p>What's on Networking in Surrey this week...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2022-01-08:4626108:BlogPost:5309922022-01-08T10:58:05.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9991013299?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9991013299?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300"></img></a></p>
<p><strong>HAPPY NEW NORMAL!</strong></p>
<p>Yet again we start a <strong>New Year</strong> in a state of flux, unsure of how things are going to <em>pan out</em>.</p>
<p>Some <strong>industries</strong> and <strong>sectors</strong> are under <em>severe pressure</em> and have seen their <strong>markets</strong> decimated. This will doubtless have…</p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9991013299?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9991013299?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="300" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><strong>HAPPY NEW NORMAL!</strong></p>
<p>Yet again we start a <strong>New Year</strong> in a state of flux, unsure of how things are going to <em>pan out</em>.</p>
<p>Some <strong>industries</strong> and <strong>sectors</strong> are under <em>severe pressure</em> and have seen their <strong>markets</strong> decimated. This will doubtless have unpredictable <em>knock-on effects</em> throughout the <strong>economy</strong>, both here in the <strong>UK</strong> and <strong>globally</strong>. Not <em>out of the woods</em> just yet, then.</p>
<p><strong>In-person networking</strong> and <strong>businesss events</strong> suffered another <em>body blow - </em>not because of a <strong>Lockdown</strong> this time, but simply from a <em>collapse</em> of <strong>public confidence</strong> in the face of the <em>Ohmygod Variant.</em> At an <strong>online meeting</strong> I attended this afternoon, <em>exactly half</em> of those present said they were <em>unlikely</em> or <em>unwilling</em> to go to <strong>face-to-face networking events</strong> in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>This will only serve to <em>perpetuate</em> the dominance of <strong>virtual events</strong> in the <strong>Networking Calendar 2022 </strong>- just how long for remains to be seen...</p>
<p>One <em>immediate casualty</em> of this <em>risk-averse</em> mood is <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/PaulABridgland?xg_source=activity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Bridgland</a><span> 's <strong>Surrey Business Expo</strong> - already deferred from 2021, and now further <em>postponed</em> until <strong>April</strong> (Covid permitting).</span></p>
<p><span>Whatever develops, </span><a href="http://networkinginsurrey.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Networking in Surrey</a> will continue to <strong>Go With The</strong> (<em>Lateral</em>?) <strong>Flow</strong> and keep highlighting brilliant <strong>networking opportunities</strong> whether on- or offline<strong>, </strong>for the benefit of <strong>all businesses</strong>: local, national and global (<em>you're welcome</em>!)</p>
<p>---------------------------------------------</p>
<p><em>[The <strong>What's On Bulletin</strong> is sent to all NiS Members each Friday evening, to help you plan your networking week ahead]</em></p>FREE LinkedIn Tip #26 - Adding a photo,graphic or video to a Post...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2021-07-29:4626108:BlogPost:5285132021-07-29T12:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>LEARN2LOVE LinkedIn - Today's FREE Tip from Keith...</strong></p>
<p>Sharing valuable content on LinkedIn is a great way to help others and demonstrate your expertise - a win-win way to get yourself noticed and respected by your networking connections.</p>
<p><strong>HOW TO ADD A VISUAL</strong> - <em>Photo, Graphic or Video</em> - <strong>to your LinkedIn Post</strong>:</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to your <strong>Home Page</strong> on LinkedIn and at the top you'll see 'Start a post'. I…</li>
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<p><strong>LEARN2LOVE LinkedIn - Today's FREE Tip from Keith...</strong></p>
<p>Sharing valuable content on LinkedIn is a great way to help others and demonstrate your expertise - a win-win way to get yourself noticed and respected by your networking connections.</p>
<p><strong>HOW TO ADD A VISUAL</strong> - <em>Photo, Graphic or Video</em> - <strong>to your LinkedIn Post</strong>:</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to your <strong>Home Page</strong> on LinkedIn and at the top you'll see 'Start a post'. I suggest having the post already written rather than typing it in live, and pasting the text in.</li>
<li>You'll see buttons to <strong>add a photo, video, or event, or write an article</strong>. This is a bit like attaching something to an email. <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9328085469?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9328085469?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="266" height="120" class="align-center"/></a></li>
<li>You can only attach <strong>one graphic or video</strong> and although you can edit the text of a post after posting it, you can't change the photo or video.</li>
<li>The graphic appears at the bottom of the post when viewing the whole thing, but in people's feeds they see the graphic or video and just a couple of line of the text, so make that a headline to grab interest and get them to click through.</li>
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<p>For more <strong>FREE dollops of LinkedIn Loveliness</strong>, book into one (or more) of my half-hour group sessions - currently every Wednesday 2-2.30pm online... <a href="https://bit.ly/LinkedInFreeClinics" target="_self">https://bit.ly/LinkedInFreeClinics</a> You're welcome!</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9328088476?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/9328088476?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="192" height="44" class="align-center"/></a></p>It's a No-o-o Brainer... LinkedIn4Networkers!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2021-01-30:4626108:BlogPost:4994002021-01-30T12:04:19.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>THE WORLD’S BIGGEST, NEVER-ENDING, FREE NETWORKING EVENT!</strong><br></br><span>Networking event Organisers get very excited about attendee numbers - ‘Great meeting – 45 in the room today!’ (45 Elevator Pitches? NO THANKS!)</span><br></br><span>They’ll NEVER match the 700 MILLION at the Global LinkedIn Meeting, running 24/7/365 -and</span><br></br></p>
<p><strong>EVERYBODY’S THERE ...</strong><br></br><span>‘Transactional Networkers’ complain they never meet ‘senior corporate decision-makers’ out…</span></p>
<p><strong>THE WORLD’S BIGGEST, NEVER-ENDING, FREE NETWORKING EVENT!</strong><br/><span>Networking event Organisers get very excited about attendee numbers - ‘Great meeting – 45 in the room today!’ (45 Elevator Pitches? NO THANKS!)</span><br/><span>They’ll NEVER match the 700 MILLION at the Global LinkedIn Meeting, running 24/7/365 -and</span><br/></p>
<p><strong>EVERYBODY’S THERE ...</strong><br/><span>‘Transactional Networkers’ complain they never meet ‘senior corporate decision-makers’ out networking – but they're on LinkedIn, as are their colleagues - alternative gateways into </span><span>corporate citadels...</span><br/></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8496432686?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8496432686?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><strong>SELL ‘THROUGH’ THE ROOM</strong><br/><span>Meeting attendees rarely become customers – it’s who they know, and refer you to.</span><br/><span>So, FOLLOW UP on LinkedIn, messaging Connections by consent, not spam. They’ll see your activity - post regularly, and COMMENT on their posts to stay front-of-mind.</span><br/><span>CONNECT with the genuine, committed professionals who showed up and took part in the (ZOOM) room, then get to KNOW them, building LIKE and TRUST.</span><br/></p>
<p><strong>BRIDGES TO NEW NETWORKS</strong><br/><span>Most have ‘500+ Connections’ - all added to your 2nd degree network. 1,000 new connections during Lockdown brought up to half a million professionals into my LinkedIn orbit.</span><br/><span>LUCKILY, I DON’T HAVE TO ENDURE THEIR ELEVATOR PITCHES! I'll find out all about them and their business (and Connections) on LINKEDIN...</span></p>
<p><strong>It's a No-Brainer!</strong></p>Happy New Normal! My Predictions for Networking in 2021...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-12-23:4626108:BlogPost:4677552020-12-23T18:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
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<tbody><tr><td><p><strong>My last What's On Bulletin of 2020...Signing off for 2020 – and looking forward to an exciting New Year ahead in Networkland... </strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8352840052?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8352840052?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="78"></img></a></strong></p>
<p>First, I wish all you lovely <strong>2,300+…</strong></p>
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<tbody><tr><td><p><strong>My last What's On Bulletin of 2020...Signing off for 2020 – and looking forward to an exciting New Year ahead in Networkland... </strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8352840052?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/8352840052?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="78" class="align-center"/></a></strong></p>
<p>First, I wish all you lovely <strong>2,300+ Members</strong> a<span> </span><em>relaxing</em><span> </span>(and hopefully <em>Zoom-free</em><span> </span>:0)<span> </span><strong>Christmas break</strong>! Thanks for being a Member of<span> </span><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Networking in Surrey</a>, and<span> </span><em>giving me a reason</em><span> </span>to carry on running this<span> </span><strong>free resource</strong><span> </span>for businesses across the county, and increasingly, all over the UK (and beyond).</p>
<p>Secondly, a huge <strong>thank you</strong><span> </span>all those<span> </span><a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profiles/members/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NiS Members</a> who have<span> </span><strong>advertised</strong><span> </span>or taken<span> </span><strong>paid listings</strong><span> </span>to sponsor<span> </span><strong>NiS</strong>, keeping it free for everybody in business to use as a resource to plan their<span> </span><strong>networking diaries</strong>. ->->-> Click the <strong><em>current ads</em></strong> here to check them out...... -> -> -></p>
<p>It looks like<span> </span><strong>online networking</strong><span> </span>will be the<span> </span><em>only game in town</em><span> </span>for the foreseeable future, despite the valiant efforts of a couple of small organisations and individual groups to meet<span> </span><strong>in-person</strong><span> </span>with<span> </span><em>limited numbers,</em><span> </span>in a frustrating<span> </span><em>on-off</em><span> </span>cycle.</p>
<p>Even when we get back to<span> </span><strong>face-to-face events</strong><span> </span>more consistently, the <span> </span><strong>networking landscape</strong><span> </span>will have changed<span> </span><em>forever</em><span> </span>- and gazing into my<span> </span><em>crystal ball</em>, here are a few of my<span> </span><strong>best predictions</strong><span> </span>as to the state of <strong>networking in 2021</strong>...</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Online is here to stay</strong>,<span> </span><em>BIG TIME!</em><span> </span>As with retail (<em>Amazon, home shopping</em>), and media (<em>Netflix, Facebook , Twitter, Apple</em>) the Covid Slingshot Effect has catapulted business into cyberspace, and there’s no going back.</li>
<li><strong>Zoom will grow more versatile</strong>, and dominate networking and meetings for smaller businesses, leaving the other online platforms (<em>Teams, Hopin, Remo et al</em>) struggling for market share. Zoom will buy out any of the smaller ones that succeed.</li>
<li><strong>The established major players in Networkland</strong><span> </span><em>(BNI, 4N and their clones)</em><span> </span><strong>will struggle</strong><span> </span>to justify their subscription fees, especially for new recruits, now that all networking events have much the same look and feel (one Zoom Room looks much like the next). Missing the supplementary income from breakfast sales to offset their operating costs, they will need to diversify and expand their offering to maintain membership levels.</li>
<li><strong>Brad Burton</strong>, having decimated BNI in the UK by introducing 4Networking, is now going after the core BNI market with his exclusive referral offering, 1Networking. Expect blood on the carpet!</li>
<li><strong>Online tech</strong><span> </span>makes the cost of setting up networking groups miniscule, with every business person now comfortable in ZoomWorld. There’s no barrier to entry, so expect an ongoing flow of new free groups, which over time will try - and mostly fail – to make the transition to paid membership.</li>
<li><strong>Imaginative innovation will be the key differentiator</strong><span> </span>– people will need a reason to pay, when there’s always a tempting free alternative waiting in the wings.</li>
<li><strong>As with cars, ‘hybrid’ is the keyword</strong><span> </span>when in-person returns, with groups using free online taster sessions to attract paid subscribers, or extend their scope.</li>
<li><strong>Geographical boundaries</strong><span> </span>have disappeared now that we can network anywhere in the world with no travel time or expenses. The world is our oyster - but every competitor now has access to our markets.</li>
<li><strong>Most of our core networks will remain largely locally based</strong><span> </span>for some time to come, as they have been built up that way over many years.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Networking in Surrey</strong><span> </span>will continue to bring you the<span> </span><em>best networking opportunities</em>, and they will be<span> </span><em>more diverse and exciting</em><span> </span>than ever...<span> </span><strong>Hooray!</strong></p>
<p><strong>MERRY CHRISTMAS - and a HAPPY NEW NETWORKING NORMAL!</strong></p>
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</table>Has your LinkedIn Profile Frozen to Death?tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-08-26:4626108:BlogPost:4088472020-08-26T14:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #660099;">IS YOUR PROFILE ‘FROZEN IN TIME’?</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7622214484?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7622214484?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="350"></img></a></p>
<p><strong>When did you last update your LinkedIn Profile? (Please don’t say ‘ages ago’ – or ‘no idea’!)</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>A LINKED IN PROFILE IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS...</strong></em></p>
<p>It’s for LIFE! Your Profile - ‘the website of…</p>
<p><span style="color: #660099;" class="font-size-5">IS YOUR PROFILE ‘FROZEN IN TIME’?</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7622214484?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7622214484?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="350" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p><strong>When did you last update your LinkedIn Profile? (Please don’t say ‘ages ago’ – or ‘no idea’!)</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>A LINKED IN PROFILE IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS...</strong></em></p>
<p>It’s for LIFE! Your Profile - ‘the website of professional you’ - remains your faithful friend throughout job changes, promotions (and redundancies !), starting your own business – all the highs and lows of your long career: [CAREER (verb) - to swerve from side to side in an uncontrolled fashion - often downhill].</p>
<p><em><strong>IT’S ALIVE!</strong></em></p>
<p>Building an All-Star Profile is the essential first step towards LinkedIn Loveliness - but then we need to spend time on the platform to bring the full power of LinkedIn to life. Making new connections is a given – the more <em>GOOD</em> connections we have, the more we benefit from the <em>NETWORKING</em> power of LinkedIn. You’ll find trusted suppliers, customers and collaborators, and build great working relationships – obvs!</p>
<p><em><strong>YOUR PROFILE’S ABOUT YOU - BUT NOT FOR YOU</strong></em></p>
<p>Don’t let it freeze to death! It’s not a static CV (Resume or résumé? You choose!) You can and should change it regularly to target the specific audience you want to attract and engage with – today! Your About (née Summary) section can be a covering letter for a job application, an introduction letter to a prospect focused on their industry sector, an ad for your event... Your Featured section can signpost people to your content that shows them you’re exactly who they’re looking for RIGHT NOW.</p>
<p><em><strong>...ADOPT AN ALGORITHM!</strong></em></p>
<p>LinkedIn’s algorithms will help you by suggesting great new connections, but they can only do that if you feed them by being active and engaging with the platform – and that includes making regular updates to ‘fine-tune’ your Profile. Warm leads don’t come from frozen Profiles... so let’s turn up the heat!</p>Hats off to LinkedIn for the New Name Pronunciation Feature...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-08-14:4626108:BlogPost:4085312020-08-14T18:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7462618659?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7462618659?profile=RESIZE_710x"></img></a></span></p>
<p><span>HATS OFF TO LINKEDIN...</span><br></br> <span>...for the NEW ‘Name Pronunciation’ feature – BUT it may clash with another NEW feature (for the solution, read on)...</span><br></br> <span>A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...</span><br></br> <span>...would smell as sweet (Romeo & Juliet Act II Scene 2) but getting somebody's name wrong rarely smells…</span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7462618659?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/7462618659?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-full"/></a></span></p>
<p><span>HATS OFF TO LINKEDIN...</span><br/> <span>...for the NEW ‘Name Pronunciation’ feature – BUT it may clash with another NEW feature (for the solution, read on)...</span><br/> <span>A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...</span><br/> <span>...would smell as sweet (Romeo & Juliet Act II Scene 2) but getting somebody's name wrong rarely smells of roses! Bad enough mis-spelling it in a message - even worse if you mis-pronounce it to them (maybe in the Zoom Room!)</span><br/> <span>LINKEDIN TO THE RESCUE...</span><br/> <span>...with the ‘Record your Name’ feature! You can only do this on a phone using the LI app, but it’s then available in your profile everywhere.</span><br/> <span>YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS...</span><br/> <span>...so you can do more than just say your name (check out <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithgrover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my Profile here...)</a>. WARNING: Just ike recording a voicemail or answerphone greeting, you might need several goes! A glitch that I found is that it can conflict with...</span><br/> <span>YOUR NEW EXTENDED PRO HEADLINE...</span><br/> <span>...can now be up to 220 characters on all platforms (previously only possible on IoS devices). You now have more keyword opportunities – but beware! Only the first 80 characters appear in Invitations to connect, viewing profiles, search results etc.</span><br/> <span>AND THE GLITCH?...</span><br/> <span>... the LI app may reject your Recording, saying your Headline has too many characters! SOLUTION: Cut down your longer Headline, make your Name recording, then re-instate the long headline. Ta-daa!</span></p>How to be a Whizz @ Zoom!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-04-09:4626108:BlogPost:3471552020-04-09T17:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p>Omni Local's <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John?xg_source=activity">John Gower</a> has created this helpful Guide to using the Zoom virtual meeting platform, and asked me to share it with you... enjoy!</p>
<p>Please <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4373093584?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to download it…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Omni Local's <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/John?xg_source=activity">John Gower</a> has created this helpful Guide to using the Zoom virtual meeting platform, and asked me to share it with you... enjoy!</p>
<p>Please <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4373093584?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE</a> to download it</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4373093584?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Omni%20Zoom%20Guide.pdf</a></p>LinkedIn making Online Courses on Working from Home FREE!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-04-04:4626108:BlogPost:3447662020-04-04T11:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-makes-linkedin-learning-courses-on-working-from-home-available-for/573963/l" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4322012263?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="254"></img></a></em></p>
<p><em>"<span>In the coming days, we will make 16 LinkedIn Learning courses available for free including tips on how to: stay productive, build relationships when you’re not face-to-face, use virtual meeting tools (M<strong>icrosoft Teams, Skype, BlueJeans, Cisco Webex and Zoom</strong>), and…</span></em></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><a href="https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-makes-linkedin-learning-courses-on-working-from-home-available-for/573963/l" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4322012263?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="254" class="align-center"/></a></em></p>
<p><em>"<span>In the coming days, we will make 16 LinkedIn Learning courses available for free including tips on how to: stay productive, build relationships when you’re not face-to-face, use virtual meeting tools (M<strong>icrosoft Teams, Skype, BlueJeans, Cisco Webex and Zoom</strong>), and balance family and work dynamics in a healthy way."</span></em></p>
<p>Watch this space..!</p>
<p>UPDATE 19 June: And here's the link to access these free courses:</p>
<p><a href="https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/productivity-tips/new-to-working-remotely--these-resources-can-help">https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/productivity-tips/new-to-working-remotely--these-resources-can-help</a></p>Face-to face Networking Moves Online...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-03-23:4626108:BlogPost:3377052020-03-23T12:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>For over 10 years Networking in Surrey (NiS) has provided a free resource helping local business people to optimise their networking activities.</strong></p>
<p>We now have more than <strong>2,300 Members</strong>, and listed <em>over 100</em> face-to-face meetings around the county each month - until now!</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4223565614?profile=original" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" height="280" src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4223565614?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="432"></img></a></p>
<p>Now meetings are moving…</p>
<p><strong>For over 10 years Networking in Surrey (NiS) has provided a free resource helping local business people to optimise their networking activities.</strong></p>
<p>We now have more than <strong>2,300 Members</strong>, and listed <em>over 100</em> face-to-face meetings around the county each month - until now!</p>
<p><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4223565614?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4223565614?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="432" height="280" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Now meetings are moving online, NiS has by default become a hub listing virtual events, mostly using the Zoom platform, run by groups that used to meet in person across Surrey.</p>
<p>There are logistical limitations on the numbers who can take part in such online networking meetings (as opposed to mass audience webinars). Typically we're seeing 25-30 participants given as the viable maximum for the format, and organisers are giving their existing subscribed members priority booking rights.</p>
<p>How this will all pan out in practice remains to be seen, but I shall be monitoring the situation closely, and providing up-to-date information via the site and social media to support all our NiS Members and site users.</p>
<p><strong>Good luck - and Happy Virtual Networking!</strong></p>Do you have a ZOMBIE PROFILE on LinkedIn? 5 Tips to fix it...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2020-03-06:4626108:BlogPost:3271162020-03-06T15:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<div class="feed-shared-update-v2__description-wrapper ember-view" id="ember1045"><div class="feed-shared-inline-show-more-text feed-shared-update-v2__description feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--minimal-padding feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--expanded ember-view" id="ember1046"><div class="feed-shared-text relative feed-shared-update-v2__commentary ember-view" dir="ltr" id="ember1047"></div>
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<div id="ember1045" class="feed-shared-update-v2__description-wrapper ember-view"><div id="ember1046" class="feed-shared-inline-show-more-text feed-shared-update-v2__description feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--minimal-padding feed-shared-inline-show-more-text--expanded ember-view"><div dir="ltr" id="ember1047" class="feed-shared-text relative feed-shared-update-v2__commentary ember-view"><div id="ember1048" class="feed-shared-text__text-view feed-shared-text-view white-space-pre-wrap break-words ember-view"><span><span id="ember1051" class="ember-view"><a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4025873521?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4025873521?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="650" class="align-full"/></a>If you set up your Profile long ago but never go back to update it, nor engage with the platform to grow your networks and your business, you probably qualify as a <strong>LinkedIn Zombie</strong>...</span></span></div>
<div class="feed-shared-text__text-view feed-shared-text-view white-space-pre-wrap break-words ember-view"></div>
<div class="feed-shared-text__text-view feed-shared-text-view white-space-pre-wrap break-words ember-view"><span><span id="ember1051" class="ember-view"><strong>Don't worry</strong>, you're not alone - there are millions of you! But you don't have to stay <em>undead</em> forever, as there's plenty of help out there. </span></span><span><span id="ember1051" class="ember-view">Connect with a friendly local LinkedIn Coach or Trainer, and resurrect your LinkedIn presence. <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6641417181500362753&keywords=%23linkedinworkshop&originTrackingId=vufL6CvVSzeg3g%2FiRbVfew%3D%3D" id="ember1054" class="hashtag-link ember-view" name="ember1054"><span dir="ltr" id="ember1055" class="hashtag-a11y ember-view"><span class="visually-hidden">hashtag</span><span>#</span><span class="hashtag-a11y__name">linkedinworkshop</span></span></a> <a target="_self" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6641417181500362753&keywords=%23socialmedia&originTrackingId=vufL6CvVSzeg3g%2FiRbVfew%3D%3D" id="ember1058" class="hashtag-link ember-view" name="ember1058"><span dir="ltr" id="ember1059" class="hashtag-a11y ember-view"><span class="visually-hidden">hashtag</span><span>#</span><span class="hashtag-a11y__name">socialmedia</span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<div id="ember1060" class="feed-shared-update-v2__content feed-shared-image feed-shared-image--single-image ember-view"><div class="relative"><div class="feed-shared-image__container"></div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>5 TOP TIPS</strong></div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>1</strong>. Upload a recognisable <strong>headshot</strong> that reflects your professional values (not a holiday or wedding snap, or that party animal photo you use on Facebook.</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>2</strong>. Complete your <strong>About section</strong> (formerly called the Summary) with a personalised overview of what you do and why - and who you're looking to connect and collaborate with.</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>3</strong>. Add <strong>Rich Media</strong> (videos, pdf documents, slideshows and more) to the <strong>new Featured section</strong>, and in all your Experience sections</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>4</strong>. Ask satisfied Customers for <strong>Recommendations</strong> using the built-in function on LinkedIn. These are powerful testimonials because they come from identified and accountable LinkedIn Members - you can't <em>fake it</em> to <em>make it!</em></div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>5</strong>. Create a Page for your business (formerly called a Company Page) which is actually a free mini-website on this massively visible global platform.</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container">-------------------------------</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"><strong>BONUS TIP:</strong> </div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container"> And if you're available on <strong>Thursday 19 March</strong>, come and join me for my Learn2Love LinkedIn Workshop at the Fairmile, Cobham. In just two and half hours you'll learn how to use LinkedIn to grow your business, and where all the buttons and settings are.</div>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container">And you'll be ready to complete your All-Star Profile and build a powerful network of like-minded local professionals.</div>
<img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/137162191?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="250" class="align-full"/><br/>
<div class="feed-shared-image__container">For details and to book, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learn2love-linkedin-morning-workshop-in-cobham-tickets-92953146363?aff=erelexpmlt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE NOW...</a></div>
</div>
</div>What’s the latest 'big deal' with LinkedIn?tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2018-04-05:4626108:BlogPost:974282018-04-05T11:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #0a588c;">What’s the <strong>big deal</strong> with LinkedIn this time?</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372095?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372095?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450"></img></a></p>
<p>Well, as we speak <strong>LinkedIn</strong> is undergoing <em>another</em> big makeover - remember how radically it changed when <strong>Microsoft</strong> bought it for $26 billion? (Now that <em>was</em> a <em>big…</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font-size-5" style="color: #0a588c;">What’s the <strong>big deal</strong> with LinkedIn this time?</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372095?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372095?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Well, as we speak <strong>LinkedIn</strong> is undergoing <em>another</em> big makeover - remember how radically it changed when <strong>Microsoft</strong> bought it for $26 billion? (Now that <em>was</em> a <em>big deal</em>!) So, if you haven't got your <strong>Profile up-to-date</strong> and <strong>optimised</strong> to be easily found (either on <strong>LinkedIn</strong> or in a <strong>Google search</strong>) by <strong>prospects</strong> looking for what you offer, now is the <em>perfect time</em> to put that right in the <em>new format</em>. It's <em>rolling out</em> across the platform as we speak!</p>
<p>Don’t worry - you can still <strong>find your ideal customers</strong> <u>using LinkedIn's powerful search </u><u>features</u> – they are available even with a <strong>free account</strong> if you know where to look!</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">And another thing...</span></strong></p>
<p>Hate to mention a <strong>four-letter word</strong> at this point - but here goes... <strong>GDPR! </strong>OK, not a <em>word</em> as such, but a <em>bit of a curse</em> for every business, kicking in on <strong>25 May </strong>(right after the <em>Royal Wedding</em>).</p>
<p>You'll have plenty to deal with in managing your critical <strong>customer</strong> and <strong>prospect</strong> data compliantly, but at least If you use <strong>LinkedIn</strong> to communicate with <strong>connections</strong> across your <em>networks,</em> you won't need to <em>hold all their data</em> yourself too - they're <em>voluntarily sharing it</em> with everybody on the platform. I confidently predict that <strong>LinkedIn</strong> will be <em>more heavily used</em> than ever as a result, which is <strong>good news</strong> if you're <em>up to speed </em>on the platform.</p>
<p>There's plenty of <em>help and advice online</em> about using LinkedIn effectively in your business, so have a look around using Google to find out how to make the new-look <strong>LinkedIn</strong> <em>your winning hand!</em></p>
<p><em>---------------------------------------------------</em></p>
<p><em>Alternatively, take a look here at my <a href="http://www.networkinginsurrey.co.uk/events/member-promo-learn2love-linkedin-morning-workshop-cobham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Learn2Love LinkedIn Workshops</a> on Thursday 19 April in Cobham... saving time and enjoying learning as you network! Missed them? Keep an eye out for future sessions listed here on Networking in Surrey...</em></p>Making an Exhibition of Yourself!tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2017-05-17:4626108:BlogPost:889032017-05-17T12:00:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>As a solo-preneur, I don't take a stand at Exhibitions and Expos, preferring to make an exhibition of myself as I wander round my captive audience of Exhibitors and engage in passing conversations with other Visitors. Being static on a stand would cramp my style - but I can see how they work well for other businesses, provided they do it right.…</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372356?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372356?profile=original" width="670"></img></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>As a solo-preneur, I don't take a stand at Exhibitions and Expos, preferring to make an exhibition of myself as I wander round my captive audience of Exhibitors and engage in passing conversations with other Visitors. Being static on a stand would cramp my style - but I can see how they work well for other businesses, provided they do it right.</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372356?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2544372356?profile=original" width="670" class="align-full"/></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: right;"><span class="font-size-1"><em>[Photo: Woking Means Business Expo</em>]</span></p>
<p>Here's a few random thoughts on how to make the most of having a stand...</p>
<p>Manning a stand is not a grunt job for junior staff. Have a couple of experienced people there to show how it's done, by example, on the job.</p>
<p>Break the eye-avoiding daze visitors walk around in.</p>
<ul>
<li>If you have a <strong>big team</strong>, rotate them so they are always fresh, and send the reserves 'on the bench' around the expo to meet other exhibitors (having trained them as to what you expect from them).</li>
<li>Have an <strong>offer</strong> and <strong>call to action</strong> clearly visible on the stand - 'Claim your free XYZ here on our stand today!'</li>
<li>Jeremy Webb and his associates selling business consultancy services once branded their stand 'Stop and Talk!' and staff wore badges with that on them. What a great <strong>conversation starter</strong>!</li>
<li>One stand at an expo I visited employed a person with excellent eyesight who could read a name badge at twenty feet away and <strong>greet visitors by name</strong> as we walked by. 'Good morning, Keith!' stopped me in my tracks.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you offer a <strong>prize draw</strong> to gather business cards, make sure that as well as the main prize (usually champagne or better) you offer other prizes (don't call them second, third etc) affordable enough for there to be <strong>lots of winners.</strong> There's nothing worse than that <strong>'Dear John'</strong> email the next day telling me I haven't won but would I like to buy their stuff? Make one of the prizes a free report or ebook that you can send to all entrants (<strong>not</strong> a 'free assessment' aka sales appointment please) so everyone's a winner.</p>
<p>And finally - it's all about the <strong>follow-up</strong>. An expo needs to be the start of <strong>two-way conversations</strong> with your prospects, not a dead end and a shoebox full of business cards...</p>Always go 'own label' - make a badge and take it to every networking event...tag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2017-05-05:4626108:BlogPost:883612017-05-05T16:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><span class="font-size-4" style="color: #339966;"><strong>One of my favourite networking tips is to always take your own name badge along to events...</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAngAAAAJGUzNjMzZTYxLTM2ZjYtNDMxNy1iYTZlLWVkZDFmNGU1NmEyOQ.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAngAAAAJGUzNjMzZTYxLTM2ZjYtNDMxNy1iYTZlLWVkZDFmNGU1NmEyOQ.jpg?width=275" width="275"></img></a></p>
<p>If you have a badge, you are always prepared for meetings where the <strong>organiser</strong> either doesn't issue badges, or just hasn't got one for…</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4" style="color: #339966;"><strong>One of my favourite networking tips is to always take your own name badge along to events...</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAngAAAAJGUzNjMzZTYxLTM2ZjYtNDMxNy1iYTZlLWVkZDFmNGU1NmEyOQ.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAngAAAAJGUzNjMzZTYxLTM2ZjYtNDMxNy1iYTZlLWVkZDFmNGU1NmEyOQ.jpg?width=275" width="275" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>If you have a badge, you are always prepared for meetings where the <strong>organiser</strong> either doesn't issue badges, or just hasn't got one for you...</p>
<p>They may kindly offer to <em>hand-write</em> one for you, which inevitably has a <em>downmarket</em> feel about it, however elegant their script may be (<strong>CLUE</strong>: it's probably not great, whether in biro or felt tip!)</p>
<p>The 'badge' provided may just be a <em>sticky label</em> - which will take the surface off your smart leather jacket - or have a pin that's positively dangerous... <strong>magnets</strong> are definitely the way to go!</p>
<p>You can design a badge to print off on your inkjet and slip it into one of those <em>plastic badge holder</em>s we all collect at events over the years.</p>
<p>I have acquired a few <strong>magnetic badge</strong>s (as supplied by some of the bigger networking organisations) but if you don't have one to hand,you can buy just the magnets online.</p>
<p>I put the <em>magnetic badge</em> into the back of the plastic holder, with my printed <em>own label</em> in front of it. I can have <strong>different versions</strong>, swapping them around depending on which of my businesses I am representing on the day!</p>
<p>As you can see on my example above, the first name is <strong>BIGGER</strong> so people can see it. Putting a business card in a badge holder is a <em>waste of time</em> - the print is usually <em>too tiny</em> to read.</p>
<p>If you make your own badge you ensure the <strong>business nam</strong>e and your name are correct and spelt properly. This is <em>free advertising space</em>, Folks!</p>
<p>When I wear <strong>my badge</strong> at events where nobody else has one, people often say <em>'Everybody seems to know you'.</em></p>
<p>I wonder why?</p>
<p>---------------------------</p>
<p><span>TIP: These good folk will send you a <em>free sample magnetic badge</em>... <a href="http://www.staffbadge.co.uk/">http://www.staffbadge.co.uk/</a></span></p>
<p><span>I suggest you send them your logo attached to the email and just ask them to put your first name as large as possible...</span></p>Don't play Snakes and Ladders on Facebooktag:networkinginsurrey.co.uk,2016-02-17:4626108:BlogPost:775392016-02-17T17:30:00.000ZKeith Grover, NiS Founderhttps://networkinginsurrey.co.uk/profile/KeithGrover
<p><strong>Here's a great blog post by NiS Member and Social Marketing Queen Veronica Pullen <span style="font-size: 13px;">on the perils of Facebookk like ladders... you can read the original post <a href="http://veronicapullen.co.uk/author/veronica_pullen/" target="_blank">here on Veronica's Blog</a></span></strong></p>
<h1><span class="font-size-2">Why Participating in Like Ladders is Hurting Your Business!</span></h1>
<p>February 15, 2016 By …</p>
<p><strong>Here's a great blog post by NiS Member and Social Marketing Queen Veronica Pullen <span style="font-size: 13px;">on the perils of Facebookk like ladders... you can read the original post <a href="http://veronicapullen.co.uk/author/veronica_pullen/" target="_blank">here on Veronica's Blog</a></span></strong></p>
<h1><span class="font-size-2">Why Participating in Like Ladders is Hurting Your Business!</span></h1>
<p>February 15, 2016 By <span><a href="http://veronicapullen.co.uk/author/veronica_pullen/" target="_blank">Veronica Pullen</a></span></p>
<div id="socialBuzzLine1"><div><div>What's This?</div>
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<p>Like ladders are a firm favourite with business owners who want to rapidly increase the number of likes on their Facebook page.</p>
<p>A like ladder is a post on Facebook, typically on pages or in groups, where followers and members are invited to tag or link to their Facebook page within a thread, and then work through the thread liking each other’s pages.</p>
<p>Before I continue, let me quickly explain the difference between tagging and linking: you tag your page by typing @ then the page name. You link to your page by posting the page URL, e.g. facebook.com/VeronicaMPullen.</p>
<p>Anyway, the end result of participating in a like ladder is that you’ll gain a flood of new likes from your fellow like ladder participants, and you’ll reward those likes by liking their pages too.</p>
<p>So, there are two elements to participating in like ladders; the pages you like, and the people who are liking your page.</p>
<p>Each element has its own pros and cons, so let’s examine them in more detail.</p>
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<div class="readableLargeImageContainer"><img src="http://veronicapullen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fotolia_57781733_Subscription_Monthly_M-300x188.jpg" alt="Why Participating in Like Ladders is Hurting Your Business!" width="144" height="90"/></div>
<p><strong style="font-size: 1.5em;">I’ll start with the pages you like during a like ladder:</strong></p>
<p>In order for your like to register and be counted, you have to like the page from your personal Facebook account.</p>
<p>Whilst you can like pages while using Facebook as your page, the “like counter” doesn’t increase for page to page likes.</p>
<p>Hence, the “rules” of participating in like ladders is that you do the liking as yourself, not your page.</p>
<p><strong>Benefits:</strong></p>
<p>The only benefit to you that I can think of (aside from the reciprocal like) is that<em>theoretically</em> you will visit their page to perform the like, and while you’re there you’ll browse around and learn more about their business.</p>
<p>I say, “<em>theoretically</em>”, because, for pages that have been tagged in the thread, you don’t need to visit the page to like it, you can just click on the tick next to the page from within the thread itself.</p>
<p><strong>Negatives:</strong></p>
<p>Facebook advertisers can show you adverts based on what you have indicated an interest in. So, because you’ve gone through and liked a bunch of random pages of a bunch of random businesses, you’ve indicated an ‘interest’ in a bunch of random interests.</p>
<p>This means that you’re now going to be shown a bunch of random ads that have little relevance to what you really are interested in.</p>
<p>Albeit you can find out what interests you’re being targeted for, and edit your settings by visiting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/edit" target="_blank">this page</a>, it’s an issue that wouldn’t necessarily exist, but for your liking of random pages.</p>
<p>The final negative is that with the Facebook algorithm deciding what you see in your newsfeed, these random pages you’ve just liked will potentially hinder you seeing posts from friends and pages that you do want to see.</p>
<p>Some people counter this by immediately unfollowing a page that they’ve just liked as part of a like ladder. That works for you, because unfollowing a page or person will stop you seeing their posts in your newsfeed.</p>
<p>But what many don’t realise is that the “unfollows” get counted, and play a part in determining the reach of that page’s posts.</p>
<p>So now you’ve just unintentionally penalised the page reach for that page owner.</p>
<p>Oh dear.</p>
<h2><strong>People liking your page during a like ladder:</strong></h2>
<p><strong>The benefits:</strong></p>
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<div class="readableLargeImageContainer float"><img src="http://veronicapullen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fotolia_72651450_Subscription_Monthly_M-200x300.jpg" alt="Why Participating in Like Ladders is Hurting Your Business!" width="141" height="212"/></div>
<p><strong>A ton of new likes in a short space of time. Woohoo! Party time!</strong></p>
<p>However, there is only ONE TIME when these new likes don’t prove to be a poisoned chalice for you.</p>
<p>That is when your page is brand new, and you need to hit a minimum number of likes to choose your username, get access to page insights or to boost a post from your page.</p>
<p>Once you’ve achieved 100 likes, this benefit no longer applies.</p>
<p><em>(Btw, you can boost posts from Ads Manager (my recommended strategy) before you’ve reached 100 likes.</em></p>
<p>Another potential benefit is that people who visit your page to like it, will see what you do, opt-in to receive your lead magnet, call you to make an enquiry, or become a customer – bearing in mind what I’ve already said about tagging and linking.</p>
<p>While this is entirely possible, because only a very small percentage of your fellow like ladder participants will be your enquiring or buying audience, I’d wager that it only happens 0.01% of the time.</p>
<p><strong>And the negatives?</strong></p>
<p>Now, you’re the page owner in the earlier situation. If people like your page then immediately unfollow, you’re the one being penalised for reach when you post from your page.</p>
<p>Facebook’s algorithm determines that only approximately 5%-10% of the people who like your page will see your page posts in their newsfeed organically (when you don’t pay to promote the post.)</p>
<p>As such, that 5%-10% of people who are seeing your posts is being diluted by the like ladder page likers who have no interest in what you do.</p>
<p>The genuine fans who liked your page because they ARE interested in what you have to say/offer, are potentially not seeing your posts because the algorithm is favouring the non-fans.</p>
<p>Pointless.</p>
<p>The news gets worse, though.</p>
<p>When the day comes that you do decide to pay to promote/boost a post so that more than the organic 5%-10% of page fans will see your post in their newsfeed, you are now PAYING to show the post to more of your non-fans too!</p>
<p>Even paying to promote a post won’t put the post in the newsfeed of 100% of your page fans.</p>
<p>The risk that the algorithm is favouring showing your (paid for) post to more of your non-fans than your genuine fans, still exists too.</p>
<p>Participating in that like ladder doesn’t seem quite such an appealing idea now, does it?</p>
<h2><strong>So, who really benefits from these like ladders?</strong></h2>
<p>The page or group admins that are hosting them. That’s it.</p>
<p>If the like ladder is being hosted from a <strong>Facebook page</strong>, the page administrator is benefitting from the glorious, extended, organic reach of the like ladder post as a result of your comments.</p>
<p>When you (as a participant of the like ladder) comment on their post, you are pushing their post into your friends’ newsfeed.</p>
<p>Page administrators are also benefitting from the “<em>algorithm juice</em>” that their page is getting from attracting a ton of comments and likes. ‘Likeability’ is part of how Facebook determines the relevance of page posts, and comments and likes indicate likeability.</p>
<p>This algorithm juice will help them get a better reach for their later (non like ladder) posts because it will view that they must be sharing interesting and relevant content – for a while, at least.</p>
<p>But it’s ok, because when their reach starts to decrease, they can just post another like ladder to bump it up again!</p>
<p>When the like ladders are hosted inside an ‘<strong>open’ Facebook group</strong>, the group owner benefits in the same way as a page administrator, as the group posts are public.</p>
<p>For <strong>closed and secret groups</strong> the group owner benefits from all the extra goodwill that offering an “<em>amazing opportunity to get more likes</em>” to their members will bring them.</p>
<p>They’ll be enjoying that nice, warm glow they feel as a result of ‘<em>helping</em>’ you.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not saying that anyone who promotes like ladders has deliberately set out to hurt you.</p>
<p>I choose to believe that for most people, the intention behind promoting like ladders is good. They are following a strategy they’ve seen used ‘<em>successfully</em>’ elsewhere, without any knowledge of how Facebook actually works.</p>
<p>This lack of insight means they don’t realise the longer term implications to you when you participate in these like ladders.</p>
<p><strong>I’m sorry to say that there is NO shortcut to real, sustainable success with Facebook – organic or paid.</strong></p>
<p>You do have to put effort in to get in front of your ideal clients, and build and nurture relationships.</p>
<p>Then, when your connections feel confident enough to call you or buy from you, they will.</p>
<p>And no amount of like ladders or posting your links in tons of Facebook groups is going to shortcut that process.</p>