Kate, our creative director recently shared with us her experiences of going back to networking events in Norwich.
“When we came out of lockdown completely in April last year, I was really keen to start attending some face-to-face networking events in Norwich again. I love Norwich, it’s a fun and friendly place, and networking events, in my experience at least, have been no exception.
The transition from the Zoom event to a face-to-face event was a bit rocky to begin with. I had to remember what it felt like to walk into a room full of people and feel like the odd one out at a party. But soon I remembered that I wasn’t alone in this feeling. Everyone in that room was attending for the same reason. To network and connect. And we were all a bit rusty!
I was excited. I’d been to networking events for a previous company I worked for. But never for my own business. Armed with my own, shiny new business cards and an enthusiasm to meet new people and tell the story of Disco Flamingo; I got started.
Free Networking Events in Norwich
One of the first free events I attended was actually a Buy Local Networking event. It had a great format in that you arrived, chatted amongst yourselves and then went around the room to give a brief, 60 second intro to your business. My palms were sweaty for this one as speaking in front of people hasn’t always come naturally to me. But I soon found that the welcome talk and the friendly nature of the organisers and attendees put me at ease.
My next forte into a free event was with the ProspHer network for women. This particular event was smaller. A relaxed evening drink at the Cosy Club. I felt like I had some really meaningful conversations with the other attendees. And my interest for this group was piqued. It lead to me attending their International Women’s Day event which took place at Barnham Broom, and I enjoyed an afternoon of coffee and some truly inspiring presentations from three different female speakers.
I began to find that the more people I spoke to, the more recommendations I would receive for other events. A great addition to my bank of networking was the NWMN. Or Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network – try say that five times faster. Slightly niche again as it’s aimed at women who work in, are passionate about, or interested in marketing. But for me this was a great fit. My first function was at Gyre and Gimble. A cool Gin bar based in the city centre and boy was this event full! It seems word spreads and this group of supportive, open minded women that have only been meeting for around half a year (impressive!) have made quite the impression.
Their latest event took place at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival last week in the band lounge. A blend of great networking, a gin in the sunshine, as well as live music, made for an especially unique and enjoyable event.
Varied Networking Events in Norwich
If you’re willing to part with a few pounds and would like to experience some different variety when it comes to meeting people, I would definitely recommend a Norfolk Chamber of Commerce networking event in Norwich.
Paddleboarding in the Summer. Tubing in the Winter at the Norfolk Snowsport’s Club. A breakfast if you’re feeling peckish. These diverse events are great for the slightly nervous attendee that wants a slightly unique talking point. What better way to ease into a conversation than a shared new experience.
One of my favourite networking events is the Gen-E networking. Again, a very new event that’s been born since lockdown. This group is aimed at young entrepreneurs and professionals looking to expand their network. Not only is it a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, but it’s a great way to connect with others who are just starting on the career ladder and want to compare notes, or hear an interesting talk from one of the event’s inspiring speakers.
My favourite takeaway from this event was chatting to someone about a podcast recommendation. Diary of a CEO by ex Dragon Steven Bartlett. I listen to it when I need a boost during working hours and have found it to be a life saver!
Connections
Since venturing into the world of networking one of the most important aspects is connecting with people after the event. I’ve found that the approach often differs greatly depending on the event.
Some events I’ve been to and it’s strictly classical. Here’s my business card, pass it on, let me take yours.
I’m still very much a great believer in print. I think nothing serves better than a nice looking business card that I can add to my pile and refer to after when I need to.
That said, I’m also aware that some business cards will grow dusty in the bottom of the drawer if discarded and forgotten about.
Linkedin is something that I’ve been using for quite a number of years now but actually since attending networking events in Norwich, I’ve found it’s a great place for not only making connections with people you meet, but also staying connected too.
And the best part? LinkedIn works well for all audiences. I’ve added a QR code to my business card which means that people can find me instantly from scanning a code. Or just typing in my name. Whatever works.
If you’re of a more technical mindset, LinkedIn also has a really handy feature in that it can generate a QR code for you automatically on your phone. This means you can become scan-happy at your next event and be sure to connect with everyone you speak to really really easily.
A follow up is always a great way of staying connected with people you meet too. I find it makes a great impression if, after an event, you can drop someone an email or a message to tell them that you enjoyed meeting them at ‘x’ event and just to touch base about your services or how you can potentially help one another. This may not be relevant for everyone you meet and I wouldn’t advise spamming the inboxes of every person you meet but for the one or two that you really think could generate an interesting lead, an email can’t hurt.
My Takeaways
I find that networking is not only the perfect chance to meet new potential customers, suppliers or contacts, but it’s just a great way to chat to people about careers, opportunities and even podcasts – of all things. I used to believe that networking in Norwich was a strictly business-to-business communication but actually just chatting to people about their lives, their experiences, their fears and concerns is wholly more useful to me as not only a business owner but as just a person too.”
Kate Pritchard, Creative Director
Disco Flamingo
If you’re looking to chat about anything business related, design related, networking related, or anything else! Just let us know. Call 01603 850480 or email hello@discoflamingo.co.uk
