Networking as an Educational Tool

Networking can be a great educational tool. Networking can be a great way to learn new things and of course teach others as well.

I recently went to a networking event to be “educated”. Turns out it was a sales pitch. I learnt something as I had zero knowledge on the topic being discussed, but minimal time was spent on educating, and the majority was spent on the sales pitch. The event was not as advertised.

If you want to treat your potential customers right – if there is going to be a sales pitch at all, it should be the other way around and kept to a minimum. Alternatively, if people are expecting it to be a sales pitch they don’t mind. They are getting what is expected and what they have come for.

Be honest in your event advertising/description.

People literally walked out and left this event. I stayed even though I found the event incredibly frustrating. Additionally it was not helped by the speakers repeatedly stating “We are hear to educate, not sell”. If that was genuine – they wouldn’t have needed to say it.

So remember – if you are making your event an “educational event” such as a seminar, presentation or other type of talk – teach. Don’t sell.