Will you follow the 'The Path to Networking Nirvana'?

Readers of the Morgan PR monthly newsletter 'Creating Reputations' will already know about 'The Path to Networking Nirvana', which we will be revealing at the Faringdon Business Breakfast Club's meeting on February 2nd.

However, the numbers of people who subscribe to the newsletter via this blog (see left hand column!) suggests that plenty of you read this who don't get that! Hence mentioning it on the blog.

It actually expands on a free download we offered through the newsletter entitled 'The 12 Ways to Networking Nirvana' and includes a 'One Minute Masterclass', which is essential if you want to make and impression with your elevator pitch.

We are seeing an interesting trend with networking over recent months. Some of the faces that you sometimes saw and being seen no more. Perhaps they have a different focus - or perhaps it is in response to the recession. On the other hand, we are seeing a more dynamic, determined networker emerge with clear outcomes and a recognition that hiding will not make it go away.

Whether you are a networking novice or a professional seeking to polish, why not expand your network at this event next month? It costs £10, which pays for a buffet breakfast. Visit the FBBC website for directions and to book your place.

Backing up over breakfast at the FBBC

A breakfast that is both satisfying, fun and even educational? Yes, it was that once a month trip to the Faringdon Business Breakfast Club this morning.

The satisfying breakfast was a tasty bacon and sausage affair expertly prepared and served by Sadler's Catering
and the fun was more than 20 like-minded local business owners gathered at the Faringdon Gateway Centre for this regular networking event.

David McCarthy from IDEAS-right treated the audience to the education when he shared his expertise on backing up computer systesm, carefully leading us through the need, methods and best practice of this vital part of any business.

He also pointed us to the IDEAS page on his website which is brimming with links to services that he personally has found useful.

I feel special mention should go to Andrew Hoon from CareerFit, who alongside being something of a guru for those thinking about life changing career moves, also has the best sign off line among the many one minutes I hear... he's a professional stalker! Hopefully obviously not in the sinister sense - unless your name happens to be Bambi that is!

4Networking in Newbury

Another day another network breakfast! Well not quite daily, but after the Faringdon Business Breakfast Club on Monday and with Newbury Business Group on Friday, it feels a little like that! Not least as I was asked to act as a sub at BNI Kennet tomorrow, but have a prior appointment. Back to today I was at the Hilton Newbury North for 4Networking Newbury to see how this flourishing group worked.

Readers with long memories may recall I was at the original launch of a 4Networking group in Newbury in May 2007 where I was quite enamoured with the group - read all about it here - however that group crashed and burned over some internal problem.

Version 2.0 however is thriving and as I have said before the 4Networking model is an appealing one. The obligatory 'one minute presentation' is actually 40 seconds and the killer app is the three one-to-one meetings you can have. Each lasting 10 minutes it effectively turbo charges the part of networking so easily glossed over that involves actually understanding what it is that person does.

My first such meeting was with Julian Wellings from Expertise on Tap. He had given the informative 'foursight' 10 minute presentation on email newsletters, highlighting good practice and warning of the dire consequences of amateurish attempts at this affordable marketing tool. Our meeting gave us the opportunity to explore where the synergy could be between Morgan PR and Expertise on Tap, which for me is as important in networking as the referrals that it can bring.

Next I chatted with David Whittingham from Media Fusion a full service agency in Newbury. Once again it was about the value we could add to one another clients.

Finally I spent 10 minutes chatting with Philippa Syme, Development Manager at The Corn Exchange & New Greenham Arts and was fascinated to discover how affordable and relatively unique the opportunities are for promotions at the Corn Exchange and to its diverse audience.

So as you can tell, a very busy morning indeed. Some things did grate. It is held within the main restaurant of the hotel which while providing easy access to the buffet breakfast, it was shared with other guests and quite noisy, which meant it was difficult to hear people and it was also an odd L shaped table which made it tricky to enjoy eye contact with some members, however there was a good atmosphere and I would go again when the Morgan PR diary allows.

Discovering The Secrets of Great PR over breakfast at the Faringdon Business Breakfast Club

Networking is key to the success of many businesses and Morgan PR is among those breakfast warriors who shun the embrace of goosedown for the scent of bacon and a referral.

One of the groups I regularly attend is the Faringdon Business Breakfast Club, which meets on the first Monday of the month at the Faringdon Enterprise Gateway Centre, and this morning I was responsible for the education slot, and offered 'The Secrets of Great Public Relations'

I guess the real secret is that there is no secret ingredient, to borrow from one of the summer's blockbuster movies. The reality is that every business out there is brimming with stories that would capture column inches or airtime. This presentation was about giving hints and tips on how to spot and exploit their opportunities.

Questions, as they often do, focused on blogging. Business owners can grasp PR and marketing, search engine optimisation and so on, but blogging is still on that fringe (albeit a very large fringe indeed) of 'you know you really should, but you're not sure you could'. I know it works! This blog works and the fact you are reading it now is proof it works!

The caption competition almost stumped the group and it was left to guest and Business Link Advisor Rob Banfield to come up with a witty line for the photo below of a clearly gruelling occasion from my Thames Valley Police days. What was it? That would be telling and besides, I use this caption competition quite often when I give this presentation!

He scooped a box of ultra fresh eggs from the Morgan PR chickens, another cracking idea from the foremost public relations company in the Thames Valley!

Maypole madness at networking event

Morgan PR attended a networking event with a difference bright and early this morning: the FBBC, or Faringdon Business Breakfast Club, was been relaunched with a new look and a maypole - yes, a maypole.

It isn't every morning you experience flashbacks to your previous life as a savvy eight-year-old all too aware of the social stigma attached to dancing around the maypole - not least in front of my peers at a Hampshire primary school in the 1970s! However, at the FBBC, for one day only I am assured, we speed networked by 'dancing' around the maypole.

It was more mayhem than maypole as we ducked and weaved around one another but we did come close to the ideal of spending two minutes with each of the other members at the group.

There was also the crowning of the FBBC's very own May Queen, which was Chartered Occupational Psychologist Samanthan Scott, of Freshwater Consulting Ltd, who won the popular vote and received a bouquet of flowers from organiser Andy Holt of web designers OSX Ltd, that had been donated by Faringdon florist Thanks a Bunch. Samantha is pictured below:


We are indebted (not least as we appear to have escaped being photographed around the maypole) to Graham Hill from Verbatim for the invite to attend; call handling supremos Verbatim, who are based at New Greenham Park in Newbury, sponsored the event.

The next FBBC meeting will be on Monday 2nd June at the Faringdon Business Centre in Faringdon and will run from 0730 to 0900. It costs just £10, which includes a hot and cold buffet breakfast, and bookings can be made via the website. Perhaps we'll see you there? And certainly not around the maypole!

Pictured below is the maypole mid mayhem - with Morgan PR not pictured! We are grateful to Joy McCarthy of WORD-right Copywriting for these photo... and not photographing us!