Fantastic Turnout for Networking Hub
This week we hosted April’s Networking Hub and were absolutely thrilled by the fantastic turnout. The Networking Hub is free to attend and is open to all businesses. It provides a great opportunity to meet new people and build successful business relationships.
This time, around 30 representatives from the local business community joined us to listen to presentations and to network with likeminded individuals, while enjoying a delicious buffet lunch.
Our speakers for this event were Steve Jones, Sales Director of Branching Out Europe Ltd and Ian Edwards of Ian Edwards Consulting.
Steve is an exceptional leader and speaker with over 30 years’ experience in building and managing multi-disciplined teams across UK, Europe, Middle East & Africa in the fields of social media and digital marketing, business development and sales. Steve presented on successful selling in today’s digital world. Forbes estimate that 57% of the sales process has disappeared. With this in mind, Steve gave valuable insight into how the buying process has fundamentally changed and how to use digital marketing and social selling to fuel sales. He gave lots of useful hints and tips, encouraging us to think as buyers and about the decision-making processes we use before making a purchase. He highlighted the importance of third party referrals and of building our own online ‘communities’, using the social media platform that best suits our business. Steve rounded up his presentation with three key messages:
1. Focus on 1 or 2 social media platforms only
2. Start Sharing
3. Join debates/forums and make a positive contribution
Steve Jones was followed by Ian Edwards. Ian helps B2B businesses that 'sell the invisible' to re-ignite sales. Typically, these are service, knowledge and technology businesses where their clients cannot see the benefits until the service is being or has been delivered. Such businesses heavily rely on the trust of prospects before they decide to become clients. Ian's presentation focused on how to attract more clients by building trust into your marketing and selling. He pointed out that prospective customers want to know, like and trust you before committing to buy from you. He encouraged us to slow down the sales process and work at the prospects’ pace, all the while actively listening and making the product fit the exact needs of the customer. He stressed the importance of realising the ‘lifetime value’ of a customer, which often means waiting for the opportunity to provide them with exactly what they need, rather than jumping in for the sake of an immediate sale that might not entirely fit their requirements. He also talked about the benefits of customer testimonials, but emphasised the need to keep them focused on results to be really effective.
Delegates then had an opportunity to network, while reflecting on the presentations and enjoying a buffet lunch. There was also a business card prize draw, which was won by Ian Scott, a Relationship Manager from Santander’s corporate and commercial division - he was delighted to take away the prize of a bottle of Prosecco.
The next Networking Hub will be held on 29 July. For more information on the Hub, or on any aspect of Basepoint Chepstow, please don’t hesitate to call Chloe or Tina on 01291 635500 or email [email protected]