Guest Article: What I’ve gained from business networking in London with IWant2Network

Guest Article: What I’ve gained from business networking in London with IWant2Network

Business networking in London can be overwhelming. There are SO many different groups to choose from but there is none quite like IWant2Network. This group, run by Lizzie Allen Phillips, takes all the best bits of other formats and ditches all the worst bits. What Lizzie has created is unique, as far as I can tell (and I’ve tried a lot of groups over the years).

I first met Lizzie over 10 years ago in 2013 at a Women In Business (WIBN) networking meeting. I could immediately see that Lizzie was a bit different to other networking group leaders I’d met. She had relentless energy and boundless enthusiasm for providing high quality services. At that time, she was running several groups for WIBN in Central London while I had joined a group closer to home in North London.

A while later I joined Lizzie’s Liverpool Street group and attended until COVID hit. Since the return from COVID, Lizzie has run her own IW2N groups in Central London and online as well as pop events in iconic locations around the capital. Here’s my take on why IW2N is the best networking group in London at the moment.

Business – actual cash in my bank account

Let’s be honest. The real reason people join a business networking group is to find more clients and make more money. You need to see a return on investment when you spend on marketing. Networking is no exception. While it’s true there are other benefits, such as helping alleviate the loneliness of being self-employed, the numbers have to play out in your favour over time.

Since I’ve been attending IW2N, I’ve made my annual fees back multiple times, so it definitely works. But, like any networking, it can take a little time. People need to get to know you, so it’s important to show up to all your meetings and do your 1-2-1s to really form solid relationships.

Referrals – to potential clients

Arguably, the most important thing you get from networking is referrals to potential clients. After all, you can’t just be selling to the people in the room. Your networking group is your virtual sales and marketing team so make sure your fellow members properly understand what you do so they can tell others.

Suppliers – high quality help for my business

One of the first things I did when I joined IW2N was to use one of my group member’s services. Falguni Desai, a business coach helped me plan and focus for the future. This relationship was fundamental in tripling my profits during the first year of working with Falguni. The benefit of using someone in your network is clear – you know, like and trust them to be who they say they are.

Support – everything from international tax to booking a holiday

IW2N has six membership groups called N90 networking – 4 online and 2 face-to-face. Among the 85+ monthly members, there’s a vast array of different businesses. Each meeting offers a speaker slot called Ask the Expert to help you learn more about a specific business-related topic. Over the past year we’ve learned about personal finances, ChatGPT, copywriting, employment law, social media management and many other topics.

Connection – creating a social connection too

One of the best things about this networking group is the IW2N event pass which gives you access to six events over a five-month period. I’ve networked over breakfast at The Savoy, brunch at Native and supper at Dishoom as well as across the top of Tower Bridge, in a little boat around the canals in Canary Wharf and at the London Transport Museum. These informal fun and sometimes quirky events are a great opportunity to get to know other business owners in a social setting. In fact, I picked up a great website copy project just by sitting next to someone at a Dishoom event. No hard sell there!

Why not try IW2N for your next business networking in London?

Contact Lizzie for information or check out the N90 membership option which is the monthly group or the IW2N pass for the ad-hoc events. Personally, I’ve found a great combination for me is the online monthly group and the ad-hoc pass because I get the best of both networking worlds.

This article was written for IWant2Network by ??Michelle Eshkeri (ACMA) who is a member in our Networking90 Brunel group. You can find out more about Michelle, here.


Jhulan SEO Expert and Business Consultant

SEO, Social Media, and Google Ads Specialist | My sole aim is to help businesses grow and dominate

11 个月

Networking can yield numerous benefits including: 1. Opportunities: Networking opens doors to new opportunities, whether it's collaborations, partnerships, or even job prospects. 2. Knowledge Exchange: It provides a platform for sharing and gaining insights, expertise, and industry trends, fostering personal and professional development. 3. Support System: Building a network creates a support system of like-minded individuals who can offer advice, mentorship, and encouragement. 4. Visibility and Credibility: By networking, you increase your visibility within your industry or community, enhancing your credibility and reputation. 5. Personal Growth: Engaging with diverse perspectives and experiences through networking can broaden your horizons and facilitate personal growth.

回复
Falguni Desai

Executive Growth Coach for £1M+ Companies I Helping Business Owners Overcome Growth Plateaus I Strategic Planning Expert I Advisory Board Member I Lawyer I Published Author

11 个月

I have been attending Lizzie's events since 2018. She is the "mover and shaker" of the networking world. Come and try out one of her events and see for yourself. You are brilliant Lizzie Allen Phillips!

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Lizzie Allen Phillips的更多文章

  • Top Tips for Networking as an Introvert

    Top Tips for Networking as an Introvert

    If I am an introvert, how can I make the most of networking? Networking events can be daunting for introverts, but with…

    3 条评论
  • A Guide to Maximising Your Networking Potential

    A Guide to Maximising Your Networking Potential

    At IWant2Network we curate a variety of networking events throughout the month. Today, let's tackle one of the most…

    1 条评论
  • Networking in London Guide

    Networking in London Guide

    London, often hailed as the world’s greatest capital, boasts a staggering array of over a million businesses. With…

    12 条评论
  • Networking isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon!

    Networking isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon!

    Attending a business networking event can be a little daunting for a newbie, inaugural networker, which is why at…

  • The Guide to Business Networking in London

    The Guide to Business Networking in London

    They say London is the best capital in the world, with over 1M businesses in London alone, it is the largest nation in…

    1 条评论
  • Networking for Introverts

    Networking for Introverts

    Tips for introverts at business networking events These days networking is all about building those long term…

    5 条评论
  • No tricks just networking treats - October Newsletter

    No tricks just networking treats - October Newsletter

    Spooky season may be upon us, but our networking events are anything but! If you're looking for unique, quality, and…

    2 条评论
  • Guide to rocking your 121’s

    Guide to rocking your 121’s

    Whether you are doing virtual networking, hybrid networking or face to face networking, 121s are really important. So…

    1 条评论
  • Can you be the king or queen of networking?

    Can you be the king or queen of networking?

    Many have called me the queen of networking. Imagine if you will, back to the 12th Century, on the site of Castle Hill…

  • Networking isn't all about the food

    Networking isn't all about the food

    Many networking groups are starting to return to what we call “face to face” which is as it says on the tin -…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了