6 Steps to effective networking

6 steps to effective networking

I recently attended a networking session where Hazel Walker was presenting.   The presentation was about the 6 steps to effective networking.   My first reaction was “what there are six steps to networking?”.  According to Hazel the six steps are:

• Trust
• Knowledge
• Need
• Solution
• Appointment / connect
• Follow-up

Hazel then went on to unpack the six steps:

1. Trust
   In order for a referral to take place there needs to be trust.   The referrer must trust the person they are referring to.  You do not build trust at the first meeting.  Trust is built over time.  You therefore have to invest time into relationships.
2. Knowledge
   You need to know the person whose services you are referring to and you also need to know the person that you are referring services / solutions to.
3. Need
   In order to receive a referral you need show others how to identify the need for your product or service.
4. Solution
   Once the person has identified the need for you product
5. Appointment / connect
   Take the next step and setup a coffee meeting and connect.  Again the only way you will increase referrals are to connect with people.  Make sure you connect on a regular basis and make sure people remember your and the services your offer.
6. Follow-up

Make sure you follow up! Follow up with the person you were referred to as well as the person referring work to you.   This way all parties will be informed and you will gain more referrals.

Once I sat down and thought this process through it made perfect sense. I have one thing to add to this though and that would be “givers gain”.  Networking is not a one way street so in order to get referrals you need to give them.

Thank you Hazel!

Tags: Effective networking, Hazel Walker, Networking

Rentfin

The rental finance market is an established one in the financial services industry. The major and mercantile banks all have rental finance division, with Sasfin holding the biggest book in the industry. Apart from the banks, there are many private companies who are active in the market place, often with ties to the banks through brokerage agreements.

RentFin was started up to fill a niche in the market where banks and the established companies were failing to provide finance for peripheral business assets. These assets include CCTV, Coffee Machines, Electricity Management Systems, Security & Access control systems, amongst others. We have gone in specifically targeting these assets and providing rental solutions for them. Basically what we do is buy the asset from the supplier and then rent it to the client that requires that asset.

RentFin focuses on building strong relationships with it suppliers, as the services that we offer are of great benefits to the supplier in terms of increased sales through a new avenue. Rental Solutions also offer the client some major benefits when compared to a hire purchase agreement. When a client rents an asset they receive the following benefits:

- The client does not need to outlay any capital for the equipment.

- The rental amount is a fully tax deductible expense.

- Rental is a form of off balance sheet financing.

- The client has easier access to upgrades when the time comes.

We strive to provide an effective and transparent service for both our suppliers and clients, as the service we provide is of benefit to all. If you have any questions, please email us on info@rentfin.co.za and we would be happy to assist.