How to Mingle for Business

Företagsmässan SAK in Malmö, April 2015.

Building Business Networks

Business networks make the world go around and they are to be found extensively and for countless purposes. They innovate new solutions, produce goods and services, build capital, educate, invest, recruit, forms alliances and much more. They all are reciprocal and have one thing in common: people and word of mouth be it in spoken or written form. Successful long-term networks are always based on mutual trust, confidence and ability to create business opportunities with a win-win attitude.

"HRH The King" declared the business fair opened.

People that want to mingle are proactively seeking for fresh ideas, solutions and expertise in order to introduce new technological gains, fulfill unmet demand or e.g. develop sustainable business practices in an ever-changing environment. Their personalities are open-minded, engaged and their visionary approach allocate space for new ideas bringing forward entirely new concepts that can be fun to implement and that produce results (for an overall improved business environment).

Professional and cost-effective APP's.

SAK (Swedish Business and Career Network) is the largest business community network with LinkedIn, Sweden. Their annual pop-up B-to-B business fair, promoted over Facebook, is organized in 10 cities and designed to meet the needs of both new and established business enterprises that want to strengthen their brands and take new business initiatives.

This well-organized event in Malmö attracted 83 exhibitors and 900 visitors this year. The concept that SAK has put up is most appealing due to its (cost) effectiveness limiting the time for mingling to 4 hours including breakfast. The “mingling zone” and lecture forum provide for a compact arena where participants can exchange thoughts, enquire and make proposals, take part in contests, try-outs as well as special offers. The presentations covered three practical topics giving valuable hints to the audience:  “How To Manage The Press, TV and Radio”, “10 Tips on Effective Personal Presentation” and “New Features on MS Office”.

Hyrfoto.se - pictures for rent. Best of Sydsvenskans.

The professional and extensive business solutions on offer this year were e.g. competitive APP development and marketing services including marketing as well as project planning, copy-writing, photographic services as well as web and logo design to mention a few. Promotion was also made for efficient use of websites and social media, training of personal presentation, recruitment and IT skills, public relations and e.g. conferences. Tailor made personal coaching was offered for a broad clientèle including private persons as well as businesses.  The public was also given an opportunity to win opera tickets, carry out a physiological test, offered instructions about Instagram and discuss travelling to the Amazonas via Peru.  The output at this B-to-B fair was considerable, high-class and offered plenty to reflect on paving the way for continued business negotiations.

Amazonas via Peru.

Mingling over a cup of coffee.

Effective Mingling

Mingling is a vitally important business skill that calls for good preparation to ensure that we meet up with people whom we really need to talk to. It is also important to introduce oneself to new faces and remember to give a polite excuse when moving away from one discussion to another. Proper introduction with eye contact and a solid handshake will make for a positive opening. Our full attention during the discussion is a convincing gesture as to the seriousness of the current topic. Obviously any negative comment in a mingling situation is wrongly placed and must be avoided. Mingling is about listening, observing, asking questions and offering solutions. It is a reciprocal event where all give and receive with the aim of helping one-another out. Last of all let’s not forget to follow-up our discussions even if there is no immediate cause for action but because we value an expertise at offer.

Lecturers from PR-Butiken (Henry Carlsson) and Lexicon (Petra von Seth).

Great Mingling! Hope you enjoyed this business event, too. Have a sunny week-end everyone!

:-)