Impressions and the Expert View

Impressions
A company's image is like an orchestra. No single instrument is responsible for an orchestra's succes or failure.Likewise, the image that a company project is not based on a single bussiness card, glossy brochure or fashionable display, but on the total impression created by all of these things and more. There are many intangibles that can be critical, like the reputation you have, your principles and proffessionalism, your creativity and even the warmth of an welcome.

For a company to come across well internationally, it also needs to consider the culture of it's client or customer.A fin might take an instant dislike to extravagance, a Ghanaian might prefer innovation to tradition a Qatari might put personal rapport before anything else.

Images can create a negative impression or a positive feeling in a few seconds. If you get it right, that favourable first impression will hellp iin building a succesful business relationship.

The expert view
networking is a defined here as a two-way relationship-building-promoting what we have to offer and seking opportunities through what others have to offer us. In an increasingly fast-moving and competitive global environment, we all need to communicate clearly and create opportunities to develop a network of contacts. Information is avaliable from all corners of the world, but in business nothing can replace the value of building personal relationships. This process often takes time, particularly in some cultures. But when it is done well, networking can deliver a real competitive advantage.

Business networking with BNI
BNI is a business referral network, which work as a word of mouth promotion tool. When companies join BNI, their representatives attend a local/regional group which hold regular breakfast meetings. At the meeting, members are required to give a' 60 second speech.
Example of networking succes: a printer joined BNI and got to know a real estate company.This company was dissatisfied with its current printer it met through the BNI group.As result, $100.000 worth of business was handed over to him