Networking in Surrey News – week beginning 20 February 2012

It's been well over three weeks since my last NIS newsmail – but I have been sending out regular brief bulletins with details of events coming soon on the site, which several members have said they’re finding very useful in planning their networking diaries, so these will continue.

However, it's now time for a longer message from the NIS bunker, so grab a cuppa and brace yourself! I'm using my new software package – Dragon Naturally Speaking – which means I can waffle into the mike to my heart's content – soz! :o( - and the words simply appear on my screen – magic!  (No, Keith, it’s tech – get over it...)

There's certainly lots to talk about, with the Membership here on NIS rising to 854 – meet the newest Members here. By the way – if you haven’t posted a photo to your NiS profile – PLEASE do yourself a big favour and get it done asap – let’s banish the blue silhouettes. Networking in Berkshire has 895 (grrrr!:0) so it looks like our target of 2000 members by Easter is well within range (hooray!)

Sharp-eyed members will have noticed I’ve added a Surrey Twitterstream to the NiS home page (just below the inspirational Quote of the Day, and I've just uploaded my favourite YouTube video of the talking dog on the NIS video page – worth a couple of minutes if you haven’t seen it yet! There are some useful business-focused videos there too of course.

We've had some great blog posts lately – and we know how Google loves our cheery bloggers! Our advertisers are benefiting from our great site traffic with over 1700 unique visitors each month as the sponsor NIS to keep it free for all – send some ‘lurve ‘ their way... click on their ads to see what they do!

PS There’s one last ad slot left for March - if you’re interested  please email keith@networkinginsurrey.co.uk right away...)

Events are in full swing as you can see in our featured EVENTS listings and Regular Group Meetings section. 4Networking has just launched its new programme with evening events and Monday morning strategy networking, and a limited time special membership open to all - check out the 4N site for details. I reckon Brad’s bidding for the UK Number One slot, so watch this space!

Which leads me neatly to Networking in Surrey Networker Plus, our new optional paid for NiS Membership upgrade.There’s not room to do it justice here it here in a news mail, so I'm about to post a blog with a PDF setting out all the elements included. It explains how NIS Plus will supercharge your networking to produce an enhanced return on your investment of time and money in all the networking you do. This ‘Network of Networkers' is a kind of inner circle of like-minded Members, working closely together with my help to support and grow each other's businesses. NIS Networker Plus Membership will be by invitation only – and it’s designed to be affordable for all, with a special deal for early adopters. Check it out!

Diary of a Networker...

It's been all systems go here in the NIS bunker, with my copywriting business ramping up just as I’m starting my new Marketing Strategy Consultancy (more later!) and launching Networker Plus – phew! But as you'd expect, I'm still managing to get out there and network – because I love it, and it works...

Over the past couple of weeks I've been to buzzing Business Biscotti in Weybridge, Cobham and Wentworth – by the way, this time I won't be doing my usual ‘name check’ of all the NIS members I've been meeting out there... there's just too many of you these days (only kidding!)

I went to Elaine Hickmott’s Commercial Connections evening at Gorse Hill and 4Networking Walton & Weybridge in the snow (gorgeous!) I met Gudrun Wiedemann at Weybridge Biscotti and she told me about the Independent Networking Forum meeting monthly in the Onslow Arms at Clandon. I went to check it out and It turns out that the group is run by Sally Rule, who I worked with in the holiday industry, and haven't seen for 27 years – small world! Great marketing presentation there by Maurice Watts, by the way!

I was at the Trafford Elmbridge dinner on Monday evening, and on Tuesday this week I gave the 4sight presentation (about guess what? – Networking Skills) at 4N Godalming. This evening I'll be at the Surrey Business Club meeting and tomorrow evening at Tessa Hood’s free online video workshop in Cobham. Never a dull moment out there in Networkland, is there?