Teaching businesspeople how to get positive word of mouth is one of the aims of National Networking Week, which more than 2000 businesses from around New Zealand will celebrate next week.
National director of networking organisation BNI, Graham Southwell, said the aim of the week is to celebrate
the key role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses and to highlight referral marketing as one of the most effective business tools around today.
"International Networking Week was celebrated globally from 5-9 February. In New Zealand, however, we celebrate our national Waitangi Day that week, so we rescheduled for later in the month", said Southwell.
"Word of mouth remains the most effective form of advertising, and during National Networking Week we want to help people get word of mouth working for them, by associating with people who make it a daily part of their business behaviour.
"People are coming to understand that networking isn't about meeting as many people as you can. It's about fostering strong ties with a small group of people who act as your referral team – it's not what you know or even who you know, it's how well you know them," said Graham Southwell.
