Adventures In Networking

How LinkedIn and online networking are redrawing the networking landscape, why we’ve forgotten how to small talk and reflections from the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.  It’s the ONLE Networking Show - episode 4, with hosts Kelly and James West and special guest LinkedIn coach and trainer, Alice Fewings.

Networking tips from the members, Kelly's Networking Gem, building a network that gives you what you need and our Spotlight interview with Naomi Light, relationship coach. It's the ONLE Networking Show - episode 3. With hosts Kelly and James West. Show notes Networking tips from our members: Denyse Whillier - ask how you can help Gary Morgan - don’t pre-judge Kierney Frampton - enjoy talking to people and finding out about them Tracey Howes, meet people at network, develop the relationship on LinkedIn by having convos, has led to many opps Henri Ghibjen Progressive Property Networking https://progressivepropertynetwork.co.uk/event-southampton/ Keith Ferrazzi - Never Eat Alone And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Eat-Alone-Relationship-Portfolio/dp/0241004950/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=keith+ferrazzi&qid=1638456445&sr=8-1 Does your wife know you’re a financial advisor? Why we often miss the obvious in networking. Do you get what you need from your network? Who energises, who teaches, who supports etc? Kelly’s networking gem - the difference between a referral and a recommendation “A bloke down the pub needs a website - ring him” Naomi Lights story - how we think is the most important thing about us. - Look at the opportunity in every conversation - to learn, grow, understand etc - Naomi’s networking lessons: positioning, building anchor relationships, learning how to connect - The difference between James & Kelly’s goldfish bowls. https://naomilight.com/ Meet Kelly and James and learn how to network by joining our free online workshop. Book here: https://theonle.network/shop/how-to-network-effectively

For the first-ever ONLE Show, Kelly and James West explain the story of how and why they founded ONLE, as well as revealing details of new group launches which will prove how far online networking can take our members. Joining them is special guest Andy Wood of Pulse8 who explains his networking story and how it has helped grow his business - and his friendship circle. - Find out how ONLE became the network for people who like people. - Discussions on why networking needed to change. - The story of how Kelly & James were networking on their wedding day in New York. The ONLE Networking Show brings you business networking news, advice and member spotlights from ONLE - the business network for people who like people.

Building relationships online, why most business social media is a waste of time, Kelly’s Networking Gem on how to build credit with your network without spending money. And most importantly, find out which four NBA players the James’ put on their basketball Mount Rushmore (Kelly even chips in with three of her own!). With hosts Kelly & James West, founders of ONLE Networking.

In the latest ONLE Podcast, we showcase the bold, brave and brilliant brand designer, Daniel Moore of Iron Dragon Design. Learn about Daniel’s journey from video game design to brand building, why chainmail and swords are an important part of his life and why your brand needs to be so definitive that you'll happily turn work away.

We're the network for people who like people and the ONLE Podcast showcases the extraordinary people of ONLE. This month, our guest is Lee Hill of Insightful UX. With an extensive career in marketing running teams for the likes of Ageas UK, Gallagher and WeClick, Lee launched Insightful UX alongside his co-directors in 2016, with the aim of helping businesses improve their conversion rates by focusing on user experience and the myriad factors which define why customer choose to buy. In this podcast, Lee explains that our approach to websites is often wrong, why website conversion should be given as much attention (if not more) than marketing and SEO and how he solved the worked/life balance equation. 

ONLE is the network for people who like people and our showcases the extraordinary people of ONLE. This month, James' guests are Alan and Emily Braithwaite, the dynamic husband and wife team behind digital visibility specialists, Yellow Tuxedo. They bring expansive business experience, pragmatism and an all-important sense of fun to a marketing world that often gets lost in talk of algorithms and the race for likes. We find out their business story, their working dynamic, and how they juggle a phenomenal amount of client work and social media activity while giving ample time to their young family.

A website was previously our primary and in some cases only digital shopfront. Now social media allows us to share content with customers and prospects, it facilitates two-way communication and even lets us sell. Does this mean that websites have had their day? Geoff Roy of Leapfrog Internet Marketing joins James West to explain the value of a website today, the advantages it has over social media and how to make sure your website is working hard for your business.

Is it possible to run a business that makes money and makes the world a better place? Whereas once these goals were seen as mutually exclusive, a new generation of businesses are proving that it is possible. In fact, changing consumer attitudes and preferences mean that not only are purpose-led businesses winning, they are creating a differentiation that competitors working on traditional principles cannot possibly compete with. We’re joined on the latest ONLE Podcast by Katie Newman of Rewilders to discuss why purpose-led businesses are making money AND making things better.

How much of business is about creativity and how much is about "getting stuff done"? We're joined by Jodie Newman of the Business Allotment to chat about the importance of creativity in areas that we don't think about (creative processes anyone?), the best conditions to uncover the best ideas and why ideas are crucial to giving businesses differentiation. 

Social media is a powerful tool to network, sell and raise brand awareness. Yet the questionable ethics, saturation of content and demands on time mean that many business owners are questioning whether social media is indeed really useful - or simply something that we should do. We're joined by Tracey Howes of Blue Mind Social to discuss wrestling back control of social media and whether indeed we should be questioning our business investment.

How can businesses communicate with customers and prospects when there is so much ‘noise’? Welcoming our guest Darren Northeast of Darren Northeast PR, James, Kelly and Andy explore techniques for standing out online, creative ways to ‘breakthrough’ and how networking fits into the communication puzzle. www.theonle.network

The distinctive line between our professional and private personas that has been eroded for many years has almost disappeared as working practices and social media have blurred the boundaries. Or has it? How much of our authentic and private selves should we share? Is gaining attention to yourself and your business desirable at any cost? Laura Payne Stanley is our special guest for this podcast. Visit ONLE website: www.theonle.network Watch the video podcast over at: www.theonle.network/podcasts Your hosts: James West: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking Kelly West: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-west Andy Wood: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wood 

The decision to fund business expansion through organic growth, lending, investment, or a combination of these options, has long-lasting implications. Hatty Fawcett from Focused for Business joins us on the ONLE Podcast to talk about the various growth paths we can take as business owners, including ways to appeal to investors.

Online networking is no longer the stop gap until we return. It has introduced a new time-efficient way to reach a more geographically dispersed network. But it does have limitation that need to be overcome. James, Andy and Kelly are joined by Emma Mills of FG Marketing to discuss the opportunities of online networking, how to stand out when attention is more limited than ever and ways that LinkedIn can be used to develop the relationships met at networking into valuable business connections. Visit ONLE website: www.theonle.network Watch the video podcast over at: www.theonle.network/podcasts Your hosts: James West: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking Kelly West: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-west Andy Wood: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wood  Emma Mills: www.linkedin.com/in/emmajmills/

For most people, networking is about making business connections and finding sales opportunities. While that is certainly a key part of networking, its impact is more profound. In this podcast, we talk about the challenges of running a business, the impact it has on mental health and explain why the connections, purpose and friendship that networking provides will be vital to avoid an incoming mental health crisis. Visit ONLE website: www.theonle.network Watch the video podcast over at: www.theonle.network/podcasts Your hosts: James West: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking Kelly West: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-west Andy Wood: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wood  Andy Taylor-Whyte: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-taylor-whyte

Business isn't going back to normal and neither is networking. In this episode, we explain why we've made a radical decision to how we deliver business networking, the importance of looking forward instead of back and how to get value from the blended approach to networking. Visit ONLE website: www.theonle.network Watch the video podcast over at: www.theonle.network/podcasts Your hosts: James West: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking Kelly West: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-west-4aa05290/ Andy Wood: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wood 

James and Andy talk to Paul Hill of Everyday Hypnotherapy about mental health, specifically how business owners lose sight of the traits and qualities they were born with.  This podcast looks at the power of language, the damage caused by disconnect and offers advice on how to train your mind to work more efficiently. Visit ONLE website: www.theonle.network  Your hosts: James West: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking Andy Wood: www.linkedin.com/in/andy-wood Guest: Paul Hill: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-hill-everydayhypnotherapy/ Website: www.everydayhypnotherapy.co.uk (This podcast was recorded in February 2020 before Covid-19 forced the UK into lockdown)

James West from ONLE Networking discuses disruptive business with Sean Toomer of Diverso and Andy Wood of Pulse8 to understand how to disrupt the market, irrespective of your business size or starting point.

Most people think networking works by luck, by being in the right place at the right time, or by hoping serendipity will strike. But the reality is far more practical. Every successful networker repeats specific behaviours consistently. In this episode, Kelly and James discuss the inconvenient truths of networking – the uncomfortable but essential habits that make the difference between “turning up” and actually building opportunities.