FT Guide to Business Networking: How to use the power of online and offline networking for business success(The FT Guides)

If you’re a busy professional, networking is the fastest and most effective way to build your business or career. Networking is a skill you can’t afford to be without. But what’s the best way to do it? The Financial Times Guide to Business Networking is your definitive introduction to a joined-up networking strategy that really works.  Joined-up networking is the most effective way to win more business, climb the career ladder or set up and grow your own business. In this book, professional networker Heather Townsend guides you through everything you need to know to get the most out of both face-to-face and online networking.

Table of Contents:
PART I THE JOINED UP APPROACH TO BUSINESS NETWORKING 1. Why network? 2. How to create opportunities via networking 3. Behave like a great networker   PART II ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACE NETWORKING OPTIONS EXPLORED 4. Face-to-face options 5. Online networking options 6. Blogging   PART III ESSENTIAL NETWORKING SKILLS FOR THE JOINED UP NETWORKER 7. An introduction to the FITTER™ process for successful networking 8. Making the right first impression 9. How to keep conversation going 10. How to work a room 11. How to build your own community 12. Networking across cultural barriers   PART IV PUTTING YOUR JOINED UP APPROACH TO NETWORKING INTO ACTION 13. Building your own successful joined up networking strategy 14. Writing your joined up networking plan 15. How to fit it all in 16. A final word about networking Glossary

About the Author :
Heather Townsend is a performance improvement specialist for professional services, widely published writer and social media expert.  Over the past decade, Heather has worked with more than one hundred partners, coached and trained over 1000 lawyers, accountants and other professionals at every level, within the UK’s leading and most ambitious professional practices. She is the UK’s foremost expert on how business people can build meaningful and profitable relationships via social media. Heather regularly blogs at ‘Joined Up Business Networking For Busy Professionals’ – www.joinedupnetworking.com and ‘Partnership Potential – How to make partner and beyond using networking and social media’ – http://business-efficiency.theefficiencycoach.co.uk. Heather founded ‘The Efficiency Coach’ – www.theefficiencycoach.co.uk and ‘The Executive Village’ – www.executivevillage.co.uk in 2009. In her spare time, Heather can often be found whizzing along the pavements with her two children on their scooters.

Review :
“Despite years of sales and training experience, when I first started Business Networking I found it really hard to do. Over the last five years, I have learnt a lot about networking; then I read this excellent, highly practical book, only to find out so much more about business networking. It is written in an easy to read, down to earth style that makes it simple to learn lessons (and there are loads of them). Even if you are an experienced networker (combining online and offline), I highly recommend you read this book. If you are new to networking, nervous about or not getting enough results from your networking  - you definitely need to buy this book.” Jon Baker – Business Coach with Venture-now “If you ever thought face to face or social networking was difficult or would not work for you – think again! This book makes it easy and really shows why networking online and offline should be your first choice in how to do more business, more enjoyably than ever before. It should be your networking Bible!” Bruce King - Author of How To Double Your Sales "If you want to achieve workplace success, and build a strong personal brand, then business networking is critical. Take the first step to understanding and implementing networking strategies by reading Heather's book!" Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0 and founder of Millennial Branding, LLC “A great practical guide to all aspects of networking – stuffed with lots of quick and easy tips to help you leverage the power of your network.” Ivan Misner, NY Times Bestselling author and Founder of BNI and Referral Institute “If business networking was an applied science, Heather Townsend’s book would be the curriculum, survival guide and roadmap to this often misunderstood aspect of life and business.  Having studied and interviewed the UK and the world’s top thought leaders on the subject, coupled with her own practical experience, this book offers an objective overview, discussing business networking’s global principles which are clearly laid out and explained.  Whether it be face-to-face, or making connections through twitter, every aspect of connecting with others is uncovered and explained.  Readers can hope to have a shifted perception about how they should view networking but most importantly, to learn how to stop wasting time and invest in the actions which, further down the line, will lead to personal referrals or valuable connections – the end goal.  This guide should be read by entrepreneurs, job seekers, employees on all levels, and, in my opinion, high school kids ready to take on the world.  Nothing evangelical, easy-to-read, practical and highly recommended.” David Stoch, Director, Meerkat PR. “There are few people as proficient as Heather in both face-to-face and online networking. Queen of Twitter and founder of the impressive Executive Village network, she shares her knowledge in a very practical way in this really valuable handbook. It will give you the confidence and tools you need to excel in both worlds, joining up your on- and offline activity for networking success. I’d recommend this book to anyone in business – whether you are looking to build a company or boost your professional career.” Sonja Jefferson, Director of Valuable Content “Heather delivers the ultimate guide for the ultimate business tool of the 21st Century. Business networking is, in the 2010’s, what talent management was during the 2000’s. It is the essence of sustainable competitive advantage for business. As ‘talent management’ was deemed by some, to their detriment, to be a load of ‘mumbo jumbo’ nonsense, the same can be said of attitudes to networking. Networking is one of those areas where you need to ask yourself ‘Can you afford not to?’ rather than ‘can I spare the time for this?’ Heather’s guide to Networking covers all the ‘etiquette’ that enables people to develop in to effective networkers, whilst not being so prescriptive that it stifles individuality. The guide covers all the different ‘medium’ by which networking can take place. A guide for those new to networking, as well as those ‘older heads’ that need to re-evaluate or refine their approach. A must read.” Marc Lawn, Founder of The Business GP “At  the time I reviewed this book, it was the most relevant, current and comprehensive guide to Business Networking available.   For the novice this is quite appropriate as an introduction to Business Networking.  For the seasoned networker the book is a review of current best practice networking strategies and techniques for both offline and online networking.   A reference manual to dip into for guidance, inspiration or a ‘how to’ tip. An excellent, well presented opening chapter on ‘Why Network’ whets your appetite and sets the foundation for a journey from Why Network, through Where to Network and most importantly ...How to Network.  Well researched, the book is punctuated with references and a highly relevant bibliography of books, articles and e-media, allowing the reader to research further any subjects that particularly resonate with them. I particularly like Heathers pragmatic style.  While the book works extremely well as a ‘how to’ network online and offline manual, Heather understands that it is not enough to know ‘how to’ you have to take this knowledge and apply it ... ‘Do It’.  This is where this book excel’s, each chapter closes with Action Points, there are tip’s and idea’s throughout the book, example letters/email templates, processes and questionnaires to help you analyse and review your business networking strategies and so on... Apply what you learn in this book and you will benefit from the competitive advantage that being an ‘A Lister’ joined up networker brings.” Mick Holloway, co-founder of NetLinked This guide introduces an effective joined-up networking strategy. Townsend discusses everything you need to know to get the most out of networking, both face-to-face and online. Finance and Management, 2nd July 2011.