"Connecting businesses to achieve positive outcomes for everyone"
After almost six years of promoting business networking events for a variety of networking organisations around Australia and talking to hundreds of business owners about their networking experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly, it became apparent that for many small business owners there are simply no networking opportunities available which meet their needs in terms of format, cost, membership mix, time commitment and expectations.
So we decided to do something about it!
What You Told Us You Wanted In A Networking Group
A survey of over 500 Australian Small Business Owners showed that they are looking for a Networking Group to provide the following benefits:
A mix of event styles to enable:
Opportunities to expand your network by connecting with new members and non-members on a regular basis.
Opportunities to work closely with like minded business owners to develop strong mutually beneficial working relationships.
Opportunities to network with other business owners with the same target market in order to develop strategic alliances, shared marketing strategies and joint ventures.
Opportunities to develop support relationships and work with buddies and accountability partners to help and support one another.
Flexible meeting times and schedules to accommodate business, personal and family commitments.
The option to network within a closed group that provides the opportunity to share ideas and best practice, and motivates and supports without conflict of interest or competition, COMBINED WITH the opportunity to visit and network across groups in order to connect with a wider variety of business owners.
Business education and support and the opportunity to learn and share with other members.
An online network to enable members to connect and continue to develop reletionships between meetings.
Opportunities to improve their networking skills with networking training, resources and programs.
An affordable membership fee.
And What You Said You Didn't Want!
Requirements to commit to weekly breakfast meetings or to send a stand-in when you can't make it.
The "salesy" and repetitive "elevator pitches" expected at many networking activities.
A sense of obligation to give referrals to other networking group members.
The Result - SMART Networking Forums
SMART Networking Forums Provide A Mix Of Networking Opportunities Including:
Regular business forums where you can develop strong working relationships with other business owners, brainstorm and problem solve, and work with buddies and accountability partners to help and support each other in business.
Facilitated networking events where you can meet new people and connect with other business owners who share your target market.
An online network to keep you connected between meetings.
All at an affordable investment for small business owners.
Why did we call them "SMART Networking Forums"? SMART is an acronym (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound).
Theory is great, but it's only results that really count!
Each of the 'Forums' adhere to a common format specifically designed to help each member achieve measurable results.
Who are the Networking World Team?
Brenda Thomson, CEO and Founder
Brenda is the inspiration behind Networking World. Responding to the marketing challenges of a former business, Brenda began researching and working in the field of business networking which ultimately led to the formation of Networking World in 2006. Realising the difficulties faced by many small business owners to not only find networking opportunities that matched their business needs and personality type, but also how to network effectively and make the most of good connections, Brenda developed her own unique systematic approach. In 2008 was awarded Australian Home Based Business of the Year for her services to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Brenda has since become an in-demand speaker providing business networking keynotes and in-depth training on SMART Networking Strategies in addition to establishing an expanding network of SMART Networking Forums.
Colin Ball, Technical Director
Colin is Networking World's technical director and co-founder with Brenda, his partner both in business and in life. Colin is our man behind the scenes who plans and manages our Internet presence and all the 'technical' bits of Networking World. He ensures that our various Internet web sites not only deliver our products and services, but also remain congruent with the company's vision, values and community spirit.
Colin has a graduate diploma in computing from Deakin University and extensive professional experience in commercial Information Technology including many years as an independent I.T. consultant to both private enterprise and various government departments.
How did Networking World get started?
In 2003 Brenda and her partner Colin purchased a web development franchise. She was told that to bring clients into her business she would have to network.
She had no idea about which networking groups existed, where to find them or which events to attend. She was caught in a catch-22 ... until you go to a few events and talk to people, there was no other way of finding out what events are out there or which ones might be suitable for your business.
In her first year, she threw herself into the whirl of attending several networking events a week, armed with her business cards and a 60-second ‘elevator pitch’. She quickly realised that she was wasting thousands of dollars going to seminars, breakfasts and other events and getting very little in return. Often the people at these events were completely incompatible to her business. Many people were there either with the sole purpose of "making a sale" or just as a social outlet and hardly anyone seemed to follow up very effectively. The whole thing seemed to be a pretty ‘hit & miss’ affair.
She decided that there must be a better way to approach networking - and thus Networking World was born.
Networking World started in April 2006 as an independent internet-based business networking, advisory and referral service with the mission to foster new and emerging small business as well as assisting existing business to achieve their strategic goals through the development of strong strategic business alliances and the implementation of low cost no cost marketing strategies created through networking.
Networking World is a supporter of "Buy1Give1" - Who are they?
In 2007 a small, dedicated team set out to do something that had never been done before. It was (and still is) to provide the systems, structure and inspiration to turn our world into a world full of giving and to create a much happier world as a direct result.
B1G1 moves giving from an ad-hoc, event-driven model to a very specific transaction-based giving model - a world where every transaction gives back and makes a difference. B1G1's operations are structured to provide maximum transparency and effectiveness:
• Buy1GIVE1 is a social enterprise established in 2007, headquartered in Singapore, which supports, inspires and educates businesses globally.
• B1G1 Giving is a Not-for-Profit Society registered and regulated in Singapore. It supports many other charity organisations around the world to create sustainable contribution models.
100% of contributions made by B1G1 Businesses are passed directly to the Worthy Cause organisations through B1G1 Giving. B1G1 takes nothing from the contributions nor does it receive funds from charities in any way for the services it provides.
As a result of Networking World's partnership with B1G1 everytime a member or visitor attends a SMART Networking Forum meeting or a 90 Day Networking event, someone in need in Africa receives a nourishing meal, You can see the impact of joining us in the "Our giving impact" box. Now that's a real WIN WIN WIN.
How can we be contacted?
You will find our contact details on the "Contact Us" page.
