Online Business Networking, they think it’s all over!

By Chris Burn , Founder, B2B Networking Online

The recent pandemic has caused many of us to change the way we live and the way we work. Some will argue that this enforced changing of the guard is a good thing, even if the circumstances that brought it about were not. Some will hanker for the good old days, with counter arguments by many, as to whether they were in fact good old days at all.

As the founder of B2B Networking Online, I was intrigued when the business world was forced online in April 2020. I am after all an entrepreneur, I say things as I find them, I try to challenge the status quo (for good), and I try to do this with an injection of humour and realism.

I sat back in April 2020 and watched the business world fumble around for the right online business networking format, very often playing on the fear of change, seemingly deciding that if it was online it needed to be ‘free’ or had reduced value. I mean you could not possibly start to build a business or social relationship online; this has never worked. We will ignore the plethora of successful online dating sites and social media sites (business and otherwise) to allow this wild challenge to stand!!!

Then at the end of April 2020, I relaunched our formerly in-person B2B Networking Events and titled the new format B2B Networking Online. I am a simple guy at heart! For B2B Networking Online to work, there are three key non-negotiables for me, and I will enlighten you on these now:

Etiquette

So many online business networking businesses fail here.

It was crucial I instilled in our B2B partners (visitors would follow), with their buy-in of course, that the business etiquette demonstrated online need to be no different to the etiquette you would proudly demonstrate at an in-person event.

Here is a quick list of some of the horrendous things I have experienced as a member or visitor to other online networking events early in 2020 (and some continue sadly to this day):

• ?People arriving late
• People leaving early to go to another meeting
• People doing something else whilst in the meeting
• People turning their video off
• People having conversations (in the location they are sitting in) during the meeting
• People answering their phones or making outbound calls during the meeting
• People being allowed to join a meeting 10-20 minutes after it has started by the host
• People coming straight from one meeting to the networking meeting
• People not doing any preparation at all

Now without this moving towards a rant, I put it to you, that if you did any combination of those to me during an in-person client meeting, I would politely stand up, shake your hand, thank you for your time, and leave the meeting. I make no apology for this stance either, and neither should you.

As a once successful advertising campaign for some delicious soup said “there is a time and a place, and this is quite clearly not it” or words to that effect!

Courtesy, etiquette, manners, and decency are non-negotiables of mine. I and 30 plus other B2B partners demonstrate these values to each other every week in 2022 and will continue to do so.

People

Any business networking organisation needs the right people to thrive. I am not talking about job titles, market sectors, or even how successful they are. I care not for these labels.

What matters most to me when bringing people together to build long-term relationships are core values – decency, honesty, integrity, and transparency.

Very similar to the values of my data protection business CSRB Limited, which was set up way before B2B Networking Online was a sparkle in my eye. For me bringing people together and giving them the sense, they are partners in a thriving online business community, rather than a cog in the same old wheel, means everyone reaps the benefits.

I am also passionate about the need for those people to be decision-makers, who are looking for business in complementary market sectors and value collaboration and supporting others.

Anyone looking to join us at B2B Networking Online goes through an interview-style process and it is an ‘invite only’ approach. As the founder, I have a responsibility to 30+ other B2B partners and any addition must fit the culture of B2B Networking Online and this also must be right for them moving forward.

The Host

This is the hardest part of this blog to write! Anyone that knows me, will know I hate talking about myself and especially find positive feedback hard to take on board.

So, all I will say is that I host both the weekly B2B Networking Online meetings, and these default in my work diary, are non-negotiable and are two of the most important client meetings I attend each week, whether from a B2B Networking Online or CSRB Limited perspective.

Energy, honesty, and transparency are key for any online networking host. Who wants to attend a networking meeting where it is flat, scripted to an inch of its life and you feel you are on the edge of a timeshare pitch at any given moment? I do not.

The host is a connector, an opinion leader, and a former. They bring the online community of outstanding individuals together, they do not dictate, they should merely be a facilitator. This is after all a business community, not a dictatorial relationship. We all set up businesses, well most did, because there was some element of not being treated like an adult!

If this element fails, everything unravels very quickly, and the buy-in of the people to the etiquette also diminishes.

I would love to talk about my fourth non-negotiable, that of ‘follow up.’ However, one feels that deserves a blog on its own, so I will leave it for now!

So, to wrap this blog up. If you maintain high standards of business etiquette, have the buy-in of very decent people, and have a very good community facilitator and host, you will be doing more than OK.

I have not even talked about what benefits and USPs the above bring the B2B partners and this is a story for another day.

So is the argument about the value of online business networking over? It is now, well in my opinion at least.

Thank you for reading!