We're part of the only truly joined up national business network

With 192 vibrant breakfast groups across the UK and 11834 members - online and face to face.  It really is a different way of doing things.

Be yourself with 4Networking’s relaxed, informal style; yet structured for efficient and effective use of your business time.

The beginners guide to 4Networking

The 1-2-1s in action at a 4N breakfast.

What is networking?

Networking is a rewarding way of marketing your business.

You can raise your profile and increase your sales by meeting new, like minded business owners who want to learn more about you and your product or service. Networking puts you into contact with people that you might not otherwise meet and creates a supportive environment where you can establish trust and friendship.

In addition to the extra sales gained from the new people you meet, your ever expanding network of friends will recommend you to their friends, further
increasing the awareness of and sales for your business.

No, it's not just another network.

Why 4N is different!

• Members attend because they want to.
  
  
• Network up to 4 times a week if you want.
  
  
• 3 appointments within group time.
  
  
• Website links members & groups together.
  
  
• Massive & constant reinvestment.
  
  
• Largest joined up network in the UK.
  
  
• Members interests first. We work for you.
  

Why did 4Networking start?

Managing Director - Brad “Pizza Boy” Burton

Brad Burton, marketeer, made a decision. On a point of principle, he decided to tell his employers where to stick their job (you can guess) and to set up on his own as a Marketing Genius.

After all how hard could it be? Eighteen months in, Brads vision of self employment wasn't what he anticipated; having to deliver pizzas in order to keep his business, house and head above water. Hearing about ‘Business Networking' he felt this could be just the thing he needed in order to get himself out of the boom/bust of one man banding! After attending two networking events, where the members seemed to work for the organisation, whilst the organisation did very little in terms of working for its members, Brad was left scratching his head thinking surely there has to be a better way of business networking.

Weekends came and went, Brad used his time delivering pizza to formulate a plan. That plan was to create the largest business network in Somerset within 2 years! By chance Brad met with Tim “Top Hat” Johnson, a business strategist with letters after his name and everything.

The odd couple was formed and Brad's initial vision of the largest networking group in Somerset was transformed into Tim's vision of the largest joined up national UK business network. There was just something about the magic of a working class lad with no qualifications, but bucket loads of drive, enthusiasm and willingness to succeed, working with a MBA posh toff; they hit it off personally, they hit it off in business.

The scene was set to launch a business networking organisation the likes of which would change business networking forever – 4Networking. With a vision from the outset of putting the members' interests before those of the organisation, an ethos of helping members, with a culture of massive reinvestment back into the suppliers within the community, 4Networking was born. Having spent 18 months working in isolation, Brad knew exactly what small business owners really needed and with that in mind, decided that 4Networking should be:

• Fun – Let's have fun whilst we're at our business. The 4Networking experience should help every business person start their day on a positive note.
• Productive – for the members first – so the 4Networking structure was created to enable business to be done on the day, at the meeting.
• With as few rules as possible – did you become self employed because you wanted more rules and to be told what to do? Neither did we.
• Honest networking – Allows straight talking, much needed in business.

20 minute video into the world of 4Networking

How 4Networking Helps

Its not just about networking, its not just about the breakfast meeting in your town and its certainly not just about business. 4Networking surrounds you with other people sharing the same experiences as you, who know the stresses, triumphs, lows and highs of self-employment and entrepreneurship.

4Networking provides...

A hearty 4N breakfast.

• A business and personal support network – it gives you a voice. People to bounce ideas off, get inspiration from and moan at when things aren't going well.
• Real business at the meeting – deals being done, alliances and joint ventures being started and, oh yeah, real sales.
• A virtual company – you'll find every service you need to help your business grow.
• Friendship – your business might be you and a laptop in your box room, 4Networking
  helps to get you out of that isolation doing something
  productive each and every day.

Where do I start?

Network online - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

4Networking really is a different way of doing things, you can log onto 4Networking.biz and chat to other members, ask for advice, give advice when its asked for and pick up new friends, ideas, suppliers and clients.

• Click on My Account – top right, just after Home. Once you're in, you'll see a To Do List down the left hand side. You've done the bits with the green ticks and need to do the bits with the red crosses.
• Edit your profile and signature at ‘My Account’: remember – the easier you make it for people to contact you, the more likely they are to do business with you.
• Say Hello on the forum – don't try to immediately sell, just introduce yourself and company tell people who you are.
• Get involved in the forum: See if you can offer any advice in the 'Can you help section', get involved in some of the chat and banter.
• Ask for Appointments, appointments in to see companies you would
  like to get in front of.
• Enjoy it! This is a networking group like no other – and don't be afraid to ask for
  help if you're stuck.

Breakfast meetings

What actually happens?

Average attendance of groups in 2008 was 23.7 members per group. Not bad going, members attend because they want to!

We like having fun at our meetings...

The 4Sight Slot

Your opportunity to present your expertise to 4Networking members.

• Passport members can present at any meeting, anywhere in the country.
• 10 minutes – your platform to demonstrate your specialist knowledge and promote yourself and your business.
• Use it to impart knowledge to other members so they go away feeling they've learned something.
• And remember – its an insight – NOT a sales pitch.

The Appointment Rounds

• Your business needs appointments to survive.
  By attending 4Networking breakfast meetings you have three real business appointments every morning up to four mornings a week.
• No lengthy sales and marketing campaign.
• No trying to talk to people who simply aren't interested.
• Real business, being done at the breakfast meeting.
• No letters, no gatekeepers, just straight to it.

So How Do I Join?

YOU CAN VISIT UP TO 3 MEETINGS BEFORE JOINING

Join online or fill in an application form found on bumf tables during 4Networking meetings...

First-Timer Offer #1 Two Month Mini Passport: £100+VAT First-Timer Offer #2 13 months for the price of 12: £490+VAT (These are only available to visitors who complete their membership online ahead of attending their 2nd meet) Twelve Month Passport: £490+VAT With the twelve month passport membership you could attend over 200 4Networking meetings throughout the UK. That's over 600 business appointments (and a whole load of sausages!). Twelve Month Single Group: £250+VAT IMPORTANT: Membership only begins after payment is received.

How to get the most out of 4Networking

The first mistake that most people make is to think in terms of how much business they will get out of 4Networking and who in the room they can sell to.

Turning all of that on its head is a huge challenge to a lot of people. They have been fed the typical networking myth that each seat is worth so many thousand, and if you attend a particular networking event, everyone will refer business to you.

4Networking can have a huge and profound effect on your business, when treated properly. Here are some thoughts as to how to make it work for you.

Allow people to get to know you – remember the guy you met at that networking event, who asked nothing about you or your business but just tried to sell to you? Don't turn into him! Why should I buy from someone I don't know, or don't know if I like or trust yet?

Be honest. Be yourself. It’s the 4Networking way.

Sell through the room, not to the room – don't think just about the 20 or so people listening to your 40 seconds. They all know other people, they all have friends and families who might also be in business and they might just be Richard Branson's brother in law. Don't pigeon-hole someone by their business; you never know, they might turn out to be the best business contact you have ever made.

Use your 4Networking passport – this is fundamental. Get out there and meet other people across the network. Our most successful members really use their membership and travel far and wide across the network. Have you really not got time to have three more business appointments?

4Sight – this is your opportunity to demonstrate your business expertise, so use it. Every single Group Leader in every single Group loves to have a good mix of 4Sight speakers on varied and interesting topics. If you're using your passport – see if the Group Leader needs a 4Sighter for that day.

Don't be too businesslike – its just not the 4N way! People are people, get to know them, join in with some of the banter at the meetings and on the website.

Friends will become clients and clients will become friends.

Join? But why would I?

"I'm already a member of the XYZ networking group, why do I need to join another."
At 4Networking, you're not limited to just one group and, because of our relaxed approach, you'll find people here who don't network elsewhere. If you're really not sure, join on the 2-month mini-passport to get a flavour as to how 4N will work for you.

"Networking doesn't work."
People who tell us that have either never been, or have approached it wrongly. At 4Networking you'll either get results, or reasons, either way, you'll have taken your business forward.

"I can't commit to coming every time."
Fantastic! We just love our members being busy with real work. We won't ask you to commit to anything, you can come along 4 times a week, 4 times a month or 4 times a year, you decide.

"I need bigger businesses."
Sell through the room, not just to the room. Every attendee has an extended network, friends and family.

4community – 4Networking's very own business to business magazine:

• Advertising available exclusively to 4Networking members
• Editorials all written by 4Networking members
• Circulation to over 20,000 businesses throughout the UK
• Massively increase your business profile

4Development gives you the opportunity to present mini-seminars, following on from 4Networking meetings.

We:

• Invite you to join 4Development *4N Directors Invite Only*.
• Provide a UK network for you to promote your business.
• Provide Advice, support and feedback.
• Promote the event through 4Networking.

You:

• Produce a suitable 1 hour showcase.
• Promote the events through 4Networking.
• Deliver an exceptional showcase.
• Get to promote products and services.

4Networking – the future

So, where do we go from here?

In late 2007, a 3rd Director joined 4Networking, Terry Cooper, brings MD @ Mainboard PLC level experience to 4Networking and is tasked with developing the network throughout the UK and beyond, creating the world's only linked up global breakfast network.

In August 2008 the 4th, and final Director, Tamsen Garrie, joined the team and is proof of the opportunities that 4Networking can present. Aside from her Corporate HR background, Tamsen brings real and exceptional experience of running 4N groups at team, area and regional level.

"4Networking will change the way that business is done. Forever."
Brad Burton

The expansion of the network to make it accessible for businesses all over the UK will continue.

But not just more groups and more members (although they're both lovely), we've got some real initiatives up our sleeves to make running a business much less scary than it can be right now:

• Prolonged reinvestment with a commitment to mainstreaming 4Networking.
• PR, marketing, telemarketing, online marketing of the network.
• More social activity organised – getting small business owners out of the backroom and dealing with the isolation.
• Increased opportunities and constant drive to deliver outstanding value to 4Networking members.

Contact 4Networking

If you would like to come to one of our Business Breakfast Meetings, then please register online & choose an event to attend.

4NHQ 0845 123 4444

4NHQ 2, The Crescent, Taunton, TA1 4EA