Business networking events use one of the oldest forms of marketing to build sales and collaboration opportunities – that of referral marketing. Why not find networking events in Bolton to see if this word-of-mouth strategy will work for your business?
You can start with a Google search for “networking events in Bolton”, “referral marketing meetings Bolton” or even use the popular “near me” addition.
Asking friends, work colleagues or family members if they have attended a meeting will provide valuable opinions about events that proved their worth. Social media requests for recommendations may also provide networking communities for you to enquire about.
A referral marketing event might be held online or in-person. Whatever the environment, meetings are run following an agenda. This structure allows attendees to share a short overview about their business in order for everyone to get to know each other.
There will be parts of the meeting where open networking takes place. People in the room will have the opportunity to ask questions and hold individual conversations outside of the structured part of the meeting.
This process of getting to know everyone in the room will lead to trust. Eventually, members (or guests) will recommend each other to their own contacts, which is the concept of referral marketing – I trust this person to do a good job for my friend, colleague, family member etc.
Anyone can attend a referral marketing meeting. Some organisations might operate what’s called a ‘sector exclusive’ policy. This policy protects a paying advocate or member against another person, who operates in the same sector offering the same products or services, from attending the meeting.
Because many referral marketing organisations offer annual memberships this policy offers a huge benefit to people as they become the go-to person in the room.
As you research business networking groups in Bolton you will be able to tell which events are sector exclusive and which are not. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but you will find that structured membership organisations are usually spread over a larger geographical area with multiple groups. A fee-based membership will also ensure that members are more committed to each other.
In addition to the structure mentioned, most referral marketing meetings will include informal networking time as people arrive and during a refreshment break at the halfway point.
Members of a referral marketing organisation will gain the opportunity to have a bigger spotlight shone on their business. This comes in the form of a longer presentation of around 10 minutes to the group.
This offers a chance for the member to share more about how they serve their customers and what would make an ideal referral introduction. If the message is clear, members will receive referrals, opportunities or appreciation during the inputs part of a meeting.
There are other opportunities, such as valuable learning sections where members share information to improve knowledge and support each other.
NetworkIN is a business community referral marketing organisation that launched in Staffordshire and has since expanded into Cheshire and Lancashire.
The NetworkIN Bolton Team meeting takes place every other Wednesday from 7:15am – 8:45am. Advocates come together to share the highlights of their businesses and work together to bring opportunities to the table.
Bolton has a population of almost 160,000. Bolton’s history has sat firmly in textiles, wool and cotton-weaving since the 14th century Flemish weavers settled. At its peak, 216 cotton mills and 26 bleaching and dyeing plants were in operation. The Greater Manchester old mill town is home to the Bolton Wanderers Football Club and its museum is home to the only public aquarium in the area.
If you want to raise the profile of your business in and around the area of Bolton then attending a NetworkIN meeting is the first step.
You may receive requests for 1-2-1 meetings during your visit. If you are unsure about whether the format is right for you, please feel free to attend a second meeting.
Should you decide to become an advocate you will gain many benefits including:
Regular structured meetings
A chance to build your credibility
Free introductory training and business planning
The opportunity to publicise your own events and courses
Access to a return on investment tracking system
Sector exclusivity to become the go-to expert in your field
Additional publicity using online promotional resources
Corporate social responsibility opportunities to work alongside the NetworkIN charity consortium
Pop along to the next networking event in Bolton and gain a feel for what referral marketing is all about.
If the referral marketing way looks like the opportunity for you to get out there and raise awareness, get in touch with the team today.
Be IN the know and IN the now with NetworkIN.
percent of consumers identify word of mouth as a key influencer in their purchasing decision – Ogilvy, Google, TNS.
percent higher profit margins are achieved from a referred customer - Annexcloud
percent increased marketing effectiveness generated using from word of mouth - Market Share
percent of consumers trust referrals from people they know - Nielsen
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