THE GOLDEN RULES OF BUSINESS NETWORKING

Secrets of success revealed by global beauty giant Avon and top businesswoman Karren Brady
Karren Brady is sharing some of the secrets of her success in a collaborative new campaign with Avon to help guide women to achieve in business.
Avon mentor Brady has worked with the brand’s most experienced and successful independent representatives to draw up Avon’s Golden Rules of Networking in Business, capturing and sharing essential ‘must-dos’.

The campaign, launched in Avon’s 125th year, sees the global beauty giant reinforce its commitment to improving the lives of women across the globe. 

Brady, along with some of the UK’s most dynamic independent Avon representatives, have taken the time to share their hard-earned insights in a short video version of the Golden Rules to be posted on YouTube, making them accessible to women worldwide.  

Extending its help to women even further, Avon has shared the Golden Rules with bloggers and industry bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the Direct Selling Association.

“I’ve been an Avon mentor for over a year now and have truly been inspired by the talented Avon representatives I’ve had the pleasure of meeting,” says Brady.

“I realised there was a huge wealth of knowledge within these business women that could be tapped into and shared.  Networking and contact building have been crucial to my career and with increased competition in the job market it’s never been more relevant for women to identify and leverage relationships that may help them succeed in business.”

Avon’s Golden Rules to Business Networking - compiled with Karren Brady:

1. LIVE BY THE ‘THREE FEET’ RULE
Talk to anyone that comes within three feet of you - whether you’re at the school gates, the bank or out shopping. There are thousands of potential customers or recruits out there who don’t know what they are missing.

2. USE YOUR FINGERS
Twitter is a great way to communicate with customers and potential customers about sale items and new products as more and more people now use smartphones and want to receive information at the touch of a button. Don’t forget to invite your customers to sign up.

3. SPREAD THE WORD
Giving away simple tips and sharing knowledge is the key to successful networking.  Supply a great training schedule or a fantastic service and people will be inspired to talk about you and recommend your business services - the term networking is just another word for sharing

4. EMBRACE NEW IDEAS
Lots of people are afraid of the internet and new technology because they have little or no knowledge of it, but the best thing to do is jump in, get online and start learning.  Be ready to give your ideas to anyone who is willing to listen – from uploading and downloading of videos to blogging, creating newsletters, websites and other innovative ideas that reflect you as a businesswoman.

5. IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…
Success in business is often a numbers game - a lot of people won’t listen to your ideas and you will be rejected, but the more people you speak to the more potential clients you find.

6. FORTUNE IS IN THE FOLLOW UP
Never neglect a lead and never be shy about calling on a contact who can help you.

7. APPROACH DIGITAL AS YOU WOULD ANYTHING ELSE
When networking through social media, maintain the same approach and apply what you have already learnt from face-to-face networking into this new environment.  The same skills apply online as offline.

8. APPLY THE THREE-MINUTE SPEED DATING MAXIM
At a social or business gathering, try and speak to each person for at least three minutes before politely moving on to talk to someone else.  That way you make sure you won’t miss out on any potential new contacts that could help boost your business.

9. FOLLOW THE CROWD
Facebook can be a really useful tool; the networking potential is unlimited and offers the opportunity to reach new clients.  Start a group, set up a business page, post reviews, videos, photos and written collateral and engage more people with less legwork.

10. BE A NETWORKEE
The old adage ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’ still holds strong.  If you are active in facilitating relationships between people you’ll soon reap the benefits when it comes to calling in a favour like a request for an introduction to a useful contact.