Madison Who’s Who For Creatives

As an employed creative, your job role does not generally involve business networking, but if you decide to go it alone as a freelancer you’ll struggle to find new business unless you regularly attend networking events. We look at how you can forge new and lasting relationships through these organized business events and by becoming a member of Madison Who’s Who business directory.

Networking , by definition,  is creating new links between resources and entities and (in a business sense) this link will form a mutually beneficial relationship. A long-term freelancer in any industry will be well versed in the necessities of creating these relationships and it’s only when you throw yourself in do you begin to understand their value explains Madison Who’s Who.

Many creative types shy away from networking; we leave that to the salespeople who have a tendency to be more extroverted, but there is no reason why a good designer, confident in their abilities, cannot play the role of a salesperson when needed…

Networking Tips for the Designer from Madison Who’s Who

Dress appropriately

You are a creative designer, so it’s cool to turn up to a networking event in jeans and a t-shirt, right? Wrong. If you do this, not only will you stand out like a sore thumb but people will find it hard to take you seriously. It’s okay to dress how you please in employment, but as a freelancer you are a business person, not just a designer, and your clothing should reflect this. In networking, projecting a professional image is paramount, so be sure to dig out that suit!

Take more than enough business cards with you

For each and every person you speak to at a business event, you need to be supplying them with a card which contains your contact details and speaks about your business to some degree. Turning up to a networking event without any business cards renders the whole exercise pointless. Give everybody you meet one of your business cards!

Overcome your fears and talk to people

People are generally friendly and will often approach you first. Take every opportunity to make eye contact with the people around you and don’t just hang around the coffee table staring at the wall. A lack of alertness can make even the most willing of individuals reluctant to introduce themselves to you. Be open to meeting people – you actually have nothing to lose!

Never do the hard-sell

There is nothing worse than a networker-come-salesperson that only talks, never listens and pushes their service or product relentlessly explains Madison Who’s Who. That is not the purpose of business networking. After the introductions it’s a good idea to ask questions and listen before you speak about yourself. Listen first, then ask questions, but be sure to talk about your business too!

Ask the right questions

Ask questions relative to both your businesses , for example; if you are a web designer ask them about their web presence; what experiences they’ve had, how their site is performing etc. This will show them that you are attuned to their needs as a result of the knowledge you have of your own industry, and will, in turn, increase their confidence in you and the likelihood of contacting you in the future says a Madison Who’s Who associate.

Planting seeds

The point of networking is to chat and exchange business details so that they can be kept and used in the future or passed onto a friend (this is called a referral). With everybody you meet and every card you hand out, you are increasing your chances of potential clients contacting you in the future. Every brief encounter is a tiny seed from which a mighty oak tree could grow!

Follow up every encounter

For each business card you obtain, be sure to follow it up with a courtesy email. This essentially keeps you on the person’s radar and hopefully, they will come back to you in the future or refer your details to a friend. Email each and every contact out of courtesy!

Practice makes perfect

To become an expert at networking and to truly reap the benefits, you will need to do it intensely. This means travelling to different areas of the country and reaching out to a wide and varied range of businesses. This can be costly on both time and money, but if you master the art of networking there are no limits as to what you can achieve.

MADISON WHO’S WHO BUSINESS NETWORKING DIRECTORY

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Business success today depends on personal relationships. Indeed to survive in business, you have to get out there and get connected. Business networking involves relationship building, a relationship that is mutually beneficial to both parties explains Madison Who’s Who.

Find below 6 tips from Madison Who’s Who for mastering business networking, referred to as the 6 R’s of Networking.

RELATIONSHIP: To be successful in networking, there is the need to build relationships. Building relationships entails making use of any contacts that come your way. You have to make an effort to build relationships. Every social gathering, every meeting, every interaction, explains Madison Who’s Who, is an opportunity to network. The technique is it to work hard at meeting people. Like a marketer, you have to work on your pitch, master it, and put it to good use.

RECOGNITION: When you meet people you should be able to endear yourself and make a good impression on them. Being recognized does not mean you should behave in a weird, uncultured way. The words to note ‘Good Impression’. Your appearance should be very professional, always smile, and relax around people. When you speak, speak up with confidence and make eye contact. Your points must be short, concise and very clear (But don’t try too hard). As indicated, you must work hard at it.

REACTION: Your objective is to try and get a good reaction from the other party says a Madison Who’s Who associate. Their response must be favourable to you. When you ask for their details (Email, Telephone number, call cards etc.) they must be willing to hand it to you. A good reaction is when people ask for your details and provide theirs without you asking. The best scenario is when you are invited to lunch, dinner, a meeting etc for more interaction.

RESPECT: Aim to gain respect. Work hard at gaining people’s trust. The difference between you and the other person from the street is how you carry yourself according to Madison Who’s Who. Respect is what makes people share information with you freely without hesitation. You have to also reciprocate by respecting the other party. Understand their moods, empathise with them if need be and respect their space. Working hard at your approach will help you recognise when to withdraw and when to push. It should be easy to gain respect if you work hard at your pitch.

RECALL: If somebody can recall an encounter with you (in a positive way), your work is done. Look out for peculiar (positive) things that can be used to your advantage, to serve as reference points for recall. Be assertive and share your thoughts in a confident manner. Ask questions and more importantly ‘listen’. Effective listening allows you to give the right response when it is your turn to speak. Try not to be over imposing, avoid acting in a negative way. Your business cards must be well designed. It helps to have your name boldly displayed on the card. Pay attention to the little things, they are very important.

RESPONSIBILITY: The final step is to be responsible for our actions. It’s one thing meeting people the more important part is to keep the relationship going (Rewards). Be responsible in your relationships, honour your promises , keep on time, respect your partners.

The other side to responsibility is to try not to make others destroy your relationships. There is nothing wrong in introducing others i.e. your wife, your colleague, your mum etc. but make sure they respect the other party. Allowing others into your circle can be good, but be sure to do it right. Always check with people before releasing their details to a third party.

Remember business success today is highly dependent upon your ability to network. Networking can be negative if you don’t do it right. Work hard at networking and make sure that you always keep in touch.

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ANNOUNCEMENT!
Due to significant increase in membership, we extended our biographical correction deadline. Therefore, the 2007-2008 Registry will ship within the next month. We apologize for the delay; however we have placed accuracy over expedience in order to maintain the integrity of our organization.