Hoe kan ik effectiever netwerken?

Summary

In this video, Bart offers practical advice on how to make the most of networking events. He emphasizes the importance of being strategic with your time, ensuring that you attend events with the right people—potential clients or collaborators. Rather than focusing on quantity (like collecting business cards), he encourages building meaningful relationships and making concrete plans for future collaboration. Bart advises against vague promises of future opportunities and instead advocates for concrete, mutually beneficial next steps. His tips are designed to help entrepreneurs optimize their networking efforts for greater business success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Before attending a networking event, ask yourself if it's the best use of your time, considering whether it connects you to potential clients or business opportunities.
• 😀 Only attend networking events if you can connect with people who could potentially lead to valuable business relationships or opportunities.
• 😀 If networking events don't have relevant contacts, attend them only if you enjoy them personally, not for business purposes.
• 😀 Avoid the mindset of collecting as many business cards as possible. Focus on building meaningful relationships instead.
• 😀 When attending a networking event, seek out individuals who are genuinely relevant to your business and who you could collaborate with.
• 😀 Make concrete follow-up plans after networking events, focusing on mutual benefits and real collaboration ideas, rather than vague promises to 'have coffee sometime.'
• 😀 Avoid wasting time on casual or vague follow-up meetings; instead, ensure any future interactions are focused on achieving specific business outcomes.
• 😀 Prioritize quality over quantity when networking—focus on building valuable, meaningful relationships instead of trying to collect as many contacts as possible.
• 😀 Ensure that follow-up meetings or actions you take after a networking event have clear and tangible outcomes for both parties.
• 😀 Reflect on whether networking is the best use of your time and consider focusing on marketing, sales, or other areas that may yield higher business returns.

Q & A

What is the first question to ask yourself before attending a networking event?

The first question you should ask yourself is whether the networking event or open coffee is the best way to spend your time. Time is valuable and once it's spent, you can never get it back.

When is it useful to attend a networking event?

It's useful to attend a networking event when you want to connect with people who are potential clients, partners, or collaborators. If those people aren’t there, attending may not be the best use of your time.

Should you focus on collecting as many business cards as possible at networking events?

No, you should not focus on collecting a stack of business cards. Instead, focus on building meaningful relationships with a select few people who could be valuable for your business or collaborations.

What is a better alternative to exchanging business cards mindlessly at a networking event?

A better alternative is to focus on building relationships with people who you believe could be a good match for a collaboration or partnership, and aim to set up a follow-up meeting with them.

What should you avoid doing when making follow-up appointments after networking events?

Avoid making vague follow-up appointments like 'let's have coffee sometime' without a clear plan. Ensure that your follow-up has a concrete idea of how you can work together and a mutual benefit.

How should you approach making follow-up meetings more effective?

When making follow-up meetings, have a clear idea of how you and the other person can collaborate or help each other. This ensures the meeting will be valuable and worth the time for both parties.

What should be your focus during a networking event?

Your focus should be on the quality of relationships, not the quantity of people you meet. Look for valuable connections where there is mutual interest in working together or benefiting from each other’s expertise.

What are three steps to get the most out of networking events?

1) Stop attending networking events that don’t provide any value. 2) Think carefully about what you can do after the event to take the next step in collaboration. 3) Focus on building quality relationships rather than accumulating business cards.

How can you effectively decide if a networking event is worth attending?

Before attending, consider whether the event is likely to bring you into contact with people who could benefit your business. If not, it's better to focus your time elsewhere, such as on marketing or sales efforts.

What should you do if you're unsure about the potential benefits of a networking event?

If you're unsure, evaluate the types of people who will be there. If potential clients or collaborators will be present, it could be worth attending. Otherwise, consider other ways to spend your time that align more closely with your business goals.