10 top tips for effective networking at the Kent B2B exhibition

*Keeping engaged with the event will:

1 .Keep you up-to-date with all the latest news about the event.

2. Offer you tips and advice to ensure your attendance is a success.

3. Show you how to promote your presence - in local media, online and with existing/prospective clients.

*Keep in touch with us:

4. Join our Kent B2B LinkedIn group we post all the latest event news there, as  well as lots of useful advice from our blogs. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Kent-B2B-Exhibitions

5. Follow and like us on Facebook www.facebook.co.uk/kentb2b - share and comment on our updates.

6. Follow us on Twitter - @KentB2B and #kentb2b - join in the conversation.

*Social Media:

7. Increase your activity across your social media channels.

8. Tweet your plans for the event - a countdown and how you are preparing for it, thank clients that have agreed to come, mention businesses you are looking forward to meeting, speakers or workshops you are planning to visit and retweet our tweets.

*General:

9. Change your email signature to include a message about the event and  encourage people to attend the event.

10. Update your website with the event details, perhaps a banner on the landing page that links to content explaining why you are attending.

Kent businesses report healthy growth through 2014

Kent businesses report healthy growth through 2014

As a growing centre for businesses – of all shapes and sizes – Kent firms are reporting strong trading conditions and burgeoning order books. Its proximity to the Continent coupled with strong transport links to the rest of the country and closeness to the Capital make Kent a great place for producers, manufacturers and retailers along with the leisure, tourism & service industries. With the economy growing well once more it seems that  businesses in the South East are reaping the benefits of this renewed confidence.

A sure sign that businesses are feeling more confident is reflected in the numbers of exhibitors at the next Kent Invicta Chamber B2B on the 8th July in Ashford and the good news stories that they report. Whether businesses are opening new facilities or developing their offering these businesses are certainly feeling the positivity that is being played out across the rest of the economy. 

The Kent B2B is an event that at its heart aims to connect these businesses enabling them to meet new contacts, suppliers and peers – ensuring that the growth of business within Kent continues and is sustainable. The exhibition and conference attracts a diverse range of local, county–wide and national businesses – all of whom have growth and development stories to share.

Positive changes for many businesses in Kent 

For example, The Kent Event Centre in Detling, near to Maidstone has recently opened the Maidstone Exhibition Hall a brand new 3,000 square metre building.  The building offers excellent facilities to exhibitors including a higher height level and of course has state of the art technology including fibre optic WIFI and hard wired points. Equi-Expo and the Kent Garden Show have both used this new structure and the centre has another eighteen bookings through the rest of 2014. An investment of this scale enables the Kent Event Centre to offer a wider range of large scale events, exhibitions and conferences in Kent and the South East.

Chegworth Valley, an organic farm growing fruit, vegetables and salads and producing award-winning farm pressed apple and fruit juices is exhibiting for the first time at the Kent B2B and are excited at the opportunity the event represents in raising their profile amongst the other exhibitors and delegates. Having recently added a delivery service they are keen to make new contacts and show the service and quality of produce that they supply. 

Buckmore Park is a regular exhibitor of the B2B events. Their recent expansion has included the opening of a new Paddock Circuit that provides Turn Up 'n' Drive Karting during most weekends and school holidays. Other key events for them in the coming months include a special Hungarian Grand Prix event being held on July 27th as well as many more individual and team karting events throughout the year - great for friends, colleagues and individuals.

Local company with far reaching ambitions

The diversity of industry in Kent is amazing too - an interesting example of this comes via Zein Marketing who have recently been working with an exciting aviation project based in Lydd. 4x4 Aviation is a local firm looking to revolutionise the transportation of freight in countries with poor infrastructures - a truly innovative venture that could offer huge benefits to developing countries. 

With the range and nature of businesses around the region continuing to grow, events like the Kent B2B have become increasingly important - as an opportunity for businesses to meet and network as well as an opportunity for business owners to hear from industry leaders and take part in informative workshops. These great resources are all delivered in a way that ensures lessons can be implemented immediately, offering useful strategies and plans. The Kent B2B is truly the place to meet for those in business. 

5 top tips to make teamwork simple

With the World Cup well and truly underway and England out of the competition after the “winner takes all” match on Thursday, the concept of teamwork has never seemed so important and has never been discussed quite so much. With the strategy of the beautiful game being talked about the length and breadth of the country the concept of teamwork and how to get the very best from them is a hot topic. As important off the pitch as on - for many businesses a team that isn’t working cohesively is simply not working. So, what are the top tips, networking to make sure that your team works well together.

Teamwork does not mean that all members of the group must be interchangeable and able to do each other’s role. True teamwork is more to do with the synergy of the individuals, about the sum of the parts, and, at its best it will empower the team and lead to better results. Great teamwork should enhance the working structures and promote a sense of pride, achievement creating a motivated workplace as well as the ways and means to operate more flexibly. For any team to working effectively there needs to be leader and that leader is often the linchpin in ensuring teamwork happens.

Top tips for making a team work

1. Firstly, consider your position as a leader and the way that you work. Be aware of how you lead and then be flexible with your team - find the individual buttons that switch them to working the best that they can and work with them.

2. Make sure you really get to know your team well, play to peoples’ strengths even if that means changing their role or moving them to a different team.

3. Within the team ensure that responsibilities and roles are clearly defined - although roles aren’t necessarily interchangeable make sure that there is a connection between each of the team and that they are not too disparate from each other. For a team to work well there needs to be a DRI - directly responsible individual – for each task. 

4. Be involved and give feedback regularly - make it proactive, constructive and positive. Deliver in a way that encourages the opportunity to build dialogue within the team. 

5. And finally leading on from feedback comes celebrating and rewarding success. With the recent tough economy many businesses have felt the strain. As the economy begins to blossom once more take the time to acknowledge when things are great – it’s one of the best ways to build loyalty and trust within your team. 

Ensuring your team works well is one of the most important factors to helping a business to succeed, want to find out more about a World Cup winners take on teamwork? Then head along to the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerces’ Annual Dinner on the 8th July - Gordon Banks is the guest speaker. And as it’s on World Cup semi-final night he’ll also be staying afterwards to watch the match. The dinner follows the Kent B2B – the longest running business to business exhibition and conference in Kent offering great keynote speakers – like the Director General from the British Chamber of Commerce, John Longworth, alongside two world leading keynote speakers; Daniel Priestley and Warren Cass. So, come along and find out from the best how a winning team works together. 

Ten top tips to make your exhibition a success

 Keep these top tips in mind and your exhibition is sure to be a success.

1. Be a great networker and you will do well at an exhibition.
You can refresh your skills and learn how to be a great networker at our FREE Maximise your Exhibition workshops held throughout the year (find out more here).

2. Set your objectives - what you wish to achieve. 
Design your stand to meet your objectives and plan your staffing needs early.

3. Train, train, train.
80% of the success of your stand is down to our staff.
 
4. Exhibiting is not just for leads but also to find suppliers and to ....
Develop customer relations, find business partners, research competitors, launch a new product, and get new ideas.

5. Market your stand to both customer and prospects. 
Invite them to meet you at your stand or in the networking area.

6. Messages on your stand.
Should be simple, visual and in LARGE print which stress the benefits - less is more.

7. Can I help you?
Not a good question, ask open questions that require more than a one word answer.

8. Don’t just wait for visitors to visit your stand
Lead generation can be anywhere, getting coff ee, at workshops and speaker sessions. 
Talk to everyone you can wherever you are!


9. Networking is about helping other people
Hard sell is not appropriate and not appreciated and less effective.

10. Don’t ...
Use a mobile, eat on the stand, sit down, have your back to the aisle, have a messy stand
or have cheap tacky give aways.

Remember to... Follow up leads as quickly as possible after the exhibition.

Networking in a digital age

Networking in a digital age

As the digital world continues to develop and it seems that more and more of our communication takes place online, over email or via social media is the art of networking face-to-face becoming obsolete? The growth of social media and other networking applications such as crowdfunding sites has undoubtedly led to employees spending longer in front of their screen and less time out meeting contacts, peers and clients face-to-face. Unarguably, online has opened up many businesses to otherwise unreachable international markets and information that would have previously taken weeks to research is now available at your fingertips. The growth in this technology has opened up many alternative commercial channels for businesses, large and small; however, it has also meant that employees now spend time sifting through vast swathes of information – making decisions as to what is useful and what is not.

Networking is an important skill

As the tide of social media has continued to grow there has also been a growth in the number of people discussing the need for face-to-face meetings and nurturing those so-called softer skills of networking and developing relationships. Interestingly, Julia Hobsbawm has long heralded the need for businesses to maintain more face-to-face contact and the need for employees to “come out from behind their screens “ and actually meet people. She has such weight within the business community that the Cass Business School based in the City, London have recently made her their inaugural, honorary Professor of Networking. Julia has long argued that the process of building networking skills is integral to the development of a solid, productive team, that networking is less of a soft, additional skill and that is should be brought to the forefront of business skills that firms should be demanding from their employees. Proving that an ability to network matters and can make a difference to the bottom line of a firm takes the skill swiftly away from its lightweight roots or comical images of standing alone in a conference room with a handful of business cards and takes it into the realms of relevant, contemporary business thinking. 

Larger firms recognise the need to network

Hobsbawm argues that, in fact, it is a disservice to think that employees don’t want to or aren’t capable of networking in this way. Large businesses such as BT and Regus have proven business techniques that show that in order for employees to work at their best, face-to-face contact is required. They ensure that new managers go out and meet all their teams – even though their corporate policies rail against “unnecessary travel”. To run a successful business is obviously a far more intricate operation than employing people to sit behind desks connecting through their PC’s. Employees should, and need to be encouraged to take the opportunity to network as and when they can. Hobsbawm comments that these opportunities may also come from the most unusual of places, but are necessary in order to push those employees onto the next stage of their career (and prevent them from becoming disillusioned). Businesses themselves need to aspire to be dynamic and forward thinking – they must remember to look beyond their own walls and engage with the wider world.

Networking whether it is in your social circle, with peers at a curated external networking event (such as those run by the CIPD), or at a focussed business to business conference or exhibition should be a firm and regular fixture of any business. Starting a relationship online is great, but the cement that will hold and build that business relationship into a longstanding, mutually profitable one will be done face-to-face.

5 top tips to make your speed networking session a success

5 top tips to make your speed networking session a success

Most businesses would agree — referrals and face-to-face contact are the best ways to build and nurture business relationships — however, contrary to this many businesses spend many thousands of pounds placing advertising and sending marketing via email or though the post. 

Why you should get involved with speed networking?

If meeting someone is the best way to judge whether you can do business with them why don’t more businesses get involved with networking? Well, for many people it seems to be a little bit of nerves that can keep them away from meetings — so, if a breakfast or lunch seems too daunting how about the best and quickest form of networking — speed networking?

Speed networking is not a new concept, however, in a time when we seem to be spending more and more of our working day communicating online and through email it makes a refreshing and interesting change to your business development strategy. Arguably, speed networking will give you access to more people in one hour than you might normally meet in a month. It’s quite normal to feel a little apprehensive but do a little prep work beforehand those nerves should be calmed.

As ever preparation is key

1. Make sure you have a great opener for each of your pitches — just 10 seconds will do, covering an introduction, what your business is about or what you are looking for.  

2. Try to think about the different types of people and businesses you are going to meet and how you could change your intro to meet their needs — you’ll have far more success if you can slightly tailor your pitch to each person. 

3. Be practical — remember your business cards and a pen to make notes (on the back of each card is a good idea) and remember people’s names!

4. Not everyone is going to seem suitable for you or perhaps be interested in your product or service right now, but, remember to “think outside the box” — the product or service may not be suitable today but what about next month or in year’s time when you have diversified or grown? Consider whether a contact could become a mentor or a partner or a franchisee? The people who gain the most from these sessions are those that are the most open minded. 

5. Although it may seem counter intuitive, do your best to help the people that you meet — try to offer solutions to them and their challenges. You’d be surprised at how this “pay it forward” mentality has helped many businesses — perhaps not immediately but at some point. You’ll impress your new contact and you never know they may well recommend or use you in the future. 

Networking for success

Many of the most successful entrepreneurs are those that have spent their time networking — building trustworthy, reliable contacts across their industry, in support services and a wide variety of geographical locations. Meeting people and developing positive relationships is surely the key to a successful business?

So, hopefully now you should feel a little more prepared for a speed networking session? Well you can book your slot here for the East Kent B2B 11th September. And let us know how you get on ……

West Kent funding opportunities for small businesses

The Escalate scheme has recently made £5.5 million available to micro and small businesses in West Kent and is part of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund. The aim of the scheme is to offer interest free loans to businesses that are experiencing growth and need funding to help them develop further and create new jobs.

The Regional Growth Fund 

The Regional Growth Fund was created by Government to help regional businesses and economies expand. So far, over £1 billion has been made available with around 3,500 firms benefiting from the funding. Aiming to help local businesses protect or create jobs, build on creativity and strengthen their business through investment, the scheme invites local businesses to apply for the fund via their local scheme.

The West Kent Partnership looks after the Escalate fund for the area around the A21 corridor, it hopes to create around 1,250 new jobs in the area through around 150 companies. With business finance still a major issue for many small and micro businesses the programme is looking to support those businesses that are growing, but may be struggling to find the means to accelerate as quickly as they want.

First business receives support

Great news then for DotImpact, who are the first business to receive funding from the Escalate programme. Established to support SME’s that want to increase their online presence but don’t have the budget or expertise to do so, DotImpact is a full service marketing agency that offers a range of services from website design, email marketing, social media & SEO, digital marketing strategies to traditional branding design and print. Amanda Robinson, MD, of DotImpact commented, “Now we have the support of the Escalate fund, our plan is to create employment opportunities within the business with the aim to help further SMEs in Kent achieve their growth potential”

West Kent B2B offering advice and tips on applications

The West Kent B2B on the 30th April at the River Centre in Tonbridge, is backed by the West Kent Partnership. On the day there will be opportunities to hear more about the Escalate programme and how your business could benefit from its’ funding solutions. The event is free to attend and along with local and county-wide exhibitors there is a fantastic programme of key-note speakers and workshops - all with a definite slant to the small business sector. If you pre-register there is also the opportunity to gain free advertising for your business via the on-site screens and a welcome coffee as well. 

To find out more and how to register your place click here.