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 set up on his own. After all, how hard could it be? After attending two networking events, where he just didn't fit, Brad decided to launch his own - 4Networking.

Brad's vision from the outset was to put the members' interests first and to reinvest continuously in the network. He knew what he didn't like about networking and decided that 4Networking should be:

It's not just about networking, it's not just about the breakfast meeting in your town and it's 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:

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 where it is asked for, make new friends and pick up 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" in that section - don't try to immediately sell, just 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. 
• Enjoy it! This is a networking group like no other - and don't be afraid to ask for help if you're stuck.

BIG TIP: Make sure you have a photo of you, not your company logo, in the Forum Photo. 

People buy from people, not logos.

What is networking

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Networking is a rewarding way of marketing your business and expanding your support network.

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.

You can also meet other people who run businesses themselves and share the same experiences as you, helping reduce the isolation and lack of support felt by a lot of new businesses.

Networking puts you in contact with people that you would 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 broadening their reach.

We like having fun at our meetings...

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Expect the unexpected at a 4Networking event. We like our events to be fun.

4Networking Works

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	"I found a business I didn't even know I had! After answering a 'Can You Help' request from another 4Networker, he posted a testimonial for me and, as a direct result, I have found extremely profitable business in offering this service!" Stefan Thomas The PR King theprking.co.uk
	"I was never really a fan of networking... events that I attended seemed stuffy and boring and full of hot air! Then someone suggested I take a look at 4Networking.biz. I 'lurked' for a while and then tentatively joined in and very soon plucked up courage to attend a meeting. It was so friendly adn such a different to the ones that I had been used to, that I signed up on the day!" Helen Silver The Property Styling Company propertystylingcompany.co.uk
	"Since joining 4Networking I've had great fun, met loads of lovely people and as a consequence, increased our client base by over 30%! 4Networking - 50% business, 50% social - absolutely true. What better way to do business than with people like and trust!" Karen Thurley Kendlebell kbswindon.co.uk

During each and every 4Networking meet you have 3 appointments.

It's during these 10 minutes that the process of getting to know someone begins.

Think about the people you currently do business with. You met them, liked them, got to know them, then trusted them. It's at this point you work together. You can't jump the stages.

MEET > LIKE > KNOW > TRUST

20 minute video into the world of 4Networking

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Grab a cup of tea and get a real insight as to the organisations, it's beginnings, it's characters and the future.

How to get the best out of the 4Networking

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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 it's 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 come to our networking event, everyone will refer business to you.

4Networking will have a huge effect on your business when treated property. Here are some ways 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?
• Sell through the room, not just to the room - don't think 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 the 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 ALL business - it's just not the 4N way! People are people, get to know them, join in with some of the banter at the meeting and on the website. Friends will become clients and clients will become friends.

4Networking Works

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	"My turnover has tripled as a result of bring a member of 4N. There's no way I would consider not being a member and being away for a couple of weeks really showed what an impact 4N has had on both my business and personal life." Zoe Cook Sunshine Health sunshinehealth.org.uk
	"4Networking has been great for my business, in the last month alone we've gained 3 new clients from contacts we've made through the meetings and 2 sales from the website alone. 4N works." Ian Driscoll NewCarsAndVans.com newcarsandvans.com
	"Shortly after joining 4Networking I mentioned one of my services on the forum, within a few hours I had 12 orders!" Chris Hatch Zedoary zedoaryonline.co.uk
	"Like so many we became involved with 4Networking because we saw it as an effective method of increasing sales. Nothing wrong with this but 4Networking has really given us far more." Paul Howes Kontrolit.net Kontrolit.net

4Networking - getting involved

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Would you like to massively increase your business profile?
Do you actively seek out new people to add to your personal network?

Each 4Networking group is run by a small team of 3. They're the people who make sure the venue is expecting us, that there are enough breakfasts, that we have a 4Sight speaker at each meeting and that new people are invited to attend every fortnight.

Promoting your own business whilst showing that you are an active part of the country's largest joined up networking group can make a huge difference to your profile and that of your business.

Interested in getting involved?
Contact Brad Burton now at brad@4networking.biz.

4Networking Works

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	"I attended my first 4N meeting in 2006. At the time I was in full time employment. A lot has changed since then, thanks to the encouragement from 4N, I now have my own business and I can honestly say that in my first two weeks of 'going it alone' I had 12 new clients, all as a direct result of 4N contacts. It's certainly worked for me." Dawn Catlow Apples & Oranges applesandoranges.co.uk
	"4Networking has boosted my profile locally and nationally, and I'm doing business right now that'll give me a return on my membership after just five weeks" Jon Dean Jon Dean Marketing jondean.co.uk
	"4N has been amazing for me, before joining I didn't know if I had it in me to be self employed. With 4N's help I have built a business, made some awesome new friends and have greater confidence and belief" Kim Hambley Call the Office calltheoffice.co.uk