Wondered what IFA's do on the third Friday of the month ?

Netwalking 2nd birthday cake by Red Velvet Baking.

What a thoroughly enjoyable way to enjoy the fresh air, meet up with old friends and be introduced to new ones. Nothing beats word of mouth marketing, a fact that graduates from Harvard Business School will be keen to tell you, when they talk about the value of networking and social capital.  

Yet this  networking "event" was established with a slightly different ethos to impart valuable marketing and PR advice to fledgling businesses and solopreneurs not yet in a position to buy in the full services of a PR agency.  Faye Smith, a keen walker and owner of Keep Your Fork PR agency says, “I offer free marketing and PR advice as a way of ‘giving back’ to small and start up businesses who are brilliant at what they do, but often have little experience of selling their product or service to clients or the media and can’t afford expert advice”.      

Two years on,  I found myself walking alongside a translator, image consultant, organisational project manger, crisis coach, social media expert.  Everyone had the same spirit of sharing fresh ideas and encouragement whilst walking up the Porter Valley before returning to the cafe at Endcliffe Park for refreshments.  As it was also a bit of a celebration we were all treated to some amazing home backed cake from Jessica  of Red Velvet Baking.

Net-Walking is run jointly with childcare specialist Lucy Lippolis, who says, "Net-walking has been brilliant, it certainly gets me up and walking every third Friday of the month! We have some great members many of whom attend regularly and obtain fabulous advice and contacts. Its such a pleasure to be involved in the connections being made and the development of relationships."

Net-Walking was recently nominated for two awards in the national What’s On For Me Awards, as  best networking group and best hobby to business support, by avid Net-walker Gemma Daniels, from Hydra Creative. “The group has been such a help to local producers, craftspeople, small businesses and professionals alike”, says marketing director Gemma.  Faye was also recently a finalist in the Yorkshire Women of Achievement in Business Awards,

The next net-walk leaves Endcliffe Park Cafe at 9 am on November 22nd and every third Friday of the month thereafter.   Net-walking has to be one of the best free networking events where you can bring your children and your dogs.  Perfect.  I'll see you there.

---