Other people's support and advice can be absolutely invaluable (sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees in these kinds of situations) and can make a huge difference to outcomes. This support might come in the form of an informal chat with someone, advice during a masterminding session or a business talk provided at the meeting LastArctic.us. Education and training: If only there was a school on how to run a small business! In the absence of that, some networking organisations provide free business talks and events that can help to plug that gap. They also have access to information about training provided by other organisations that is available to small businesses for free or at very low cost StripedSax.com. Collaboration: it is very common for people to meet at networking events and subsequently join forces on a new business venture that provides a new source of income for them both. Skills swaps: when using each other's services, people who get to know each other at networking events sometimes exchange skills instead of paying each other LocoGangster.com. This can cut costs. Keeping your finger on the pulse: there is a lot going on out there that can help small business owners, but you need a way of getting access to this kind of information. Networking organisations can provide this. Access to tried and tested experts: no small business can go it alone, none of us have the skills or time to do everything ourselves. We need other people to help us with areas such as accounts, IT and marketing. But it can feel like a lottery sometimes trying to find people who can help you but who won't charge the earth or deliver a bad service. At networking groups you can get trusted leads because other people in the network have used these people before. Be wary of networking organisations that require you to make referrals and find work for other members in the however - this can make it impossible to trust the referral. Last but not least, the element of surprise: you just never know what might happen as a result of going to business networking meetings.
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