All Blog Posts (781)

Bonfire night again - don’tcha just love fireworks? Now call me old-fashioned, but I miss the old 'Penny for the Guy' routine in the run-up to 5 November. Trick or treat just doesn't do it for me, I'm afraid... But enough of the nostalgia, already - let's look forward to a bright future out there in Networkland :-)

We've had lots of new sign-ups to NiS again this week. A very warm NiS welcome on behalf of all our…

So - is this unseasonably mild, sunny weather a case (geddit?) of 'Last of the Summer Wine'? The final opportunity perhaps, to quaff a glass or two of chilled Sauvignon Blanc out on the patio (albeit in our balaclavas) before the clocks go back this weekend (don't forget!) Whatever the weather, it's certainly peak networking season out there, and if the number of events on NiS is anything to go by, the networking boom shows no…

Yes, very true - your brand, your identity are well connected with your sustainable…

Many people have invested in with-profits funds over the years. When markets are down, with-profits fund managers often exercise something called a Market value reduction (MVR). This is essentially a penalty

for those withdrawing money from the fund. The purpose of an MVR is to reflect the underlying fall in values and to protect those who remain invested in the fund.

At times like this it is often best to sit tight until the markets recover and the MVR is withdrawn. However,…

(This newsletter went out at 01:30 today and it's already out of date, as we've just hit 200 Members thanks to Alan and Matthew who joined this morning...)

Things are still really buzzing here as NiS approaches 200 Members and Networking in Berkshire has passed the 330 mark. Now that NiS membership is free for the foreseeable future, it makes it even easier to recommend NiS to your contacts -…

During the last 16 years Cinnamon active has organised and managed corporate events for clients from all industry sectors.

The corporate event is seen as a function by many as either a reason to deliver information to the team through meetings and conferences or just a "jolly" day out. An expense to the business.

In truth a corporate event is an investment, a strategic part of a Business Development plan.

A powerful tool to the development and…

Sponsorship gives the impression that only international brands and high salary footballers can benefit from these strategies, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Sponsorship by its nature is a partnership opportunity for two organisations to create synergy. Synergy creates savings for both businesses and so should really be something every company should undertake – especially in an economic climate such as ours. Small businesses are even better…

Just received the Business Link newsletter with this little tip list - handy for first-time networkers and a good reminder for the rest of us.. take a look here -.7 habits of effective networkers

Thought I'd post my weekly Member email here on the blog for general viewing - so here it is...

Well, we’re certainly ‘hot to trot’ here in the NetworkingIn bunker, with both Surrey and Berkshire sites seeing record visitor numbers in September – 480 and 790 unique visitors respectively– fantastic! And our combined membership’s about to sail through the 500…

Just had a note here on the site from my old pal Paul Maung Maung - we used to work together in the travel industry many moons ago.

"Hi Keith, how about offering Surrey Networking free tour of the 2012 Olympic Complex available now - details on …

Know any one over 50 trying to start their own business in the South East? Suggest they join the Silver Academy…

My thanks to NiS Members Andrew Widgery and Len Goss for alerting me to this great scheme to help mature entrepreneurs to become self employed, perhaps because they’re…

The deal is done and the agreement is set. It is now time to bring the sponsorship to life. This is known as "activation" or sometimes leverage or implementation.

Many marketers believe that activation is what the sponsorship is all about. In some circles it is viewed as so important as to have an activation strategy in place before seeking the right opportunity to sponsor.

Activation includes any activity that is performed in conjunction with the sponsorship…

As the parent of two children who were both told by teachers to 'help the less…

Sponsoring is a friendly way of marketing. It's much friendlier than advertising.



When prospects are on the receiving end of your advertising they know that you are trying to sell them something. So naturally their guard goes up. They prepare to deflect your advertising assault. And they are looking for the fine print. They are searching for the lie in your claims. Mass market advertising can be the least effective form of marketing and it's very expensive.



Sponsoring is…

An increasingly common form of promotional activityeven at local and grassroots level is sponsorship.

However there are many kinds of sponsorship:

• Television and radio programme sponsorship (e.g. Cadbury’s sponsor broadcasts of Coronation Street). The increasing fragmentation of television in the UK through new digital channels is providing many more opportunities for sponsorship of this kind

• Sports…