The coffee revolution

One of the great misconceptions about the internet is how it isolates people from society. The truth is the net is a window on the real word that allows you to discover the networks that can help your business.

A good example of this are the “coffee mornings” springing up in our cities and towns where business people are using internet channels like Twitter and web forums to organise meet ups at cafes, which in turn develop into new business and social networks.

Because the coffee mornings are informal and have no organisers, obligations or rules, beyond making sure you pay for your coffee and eggs benedict, people feel free to come and go. They are perfect for time poor or isolated business owners, particularly those working from home or trying to juggle their family and business commitments.

The great thing with these coffee mornings is how they help develop useful business networks. People who otherwise would have never met are now becoming friends, mentors, clients and business partners.

There are always some losers from new opportunities and in this case it’s the structured business networking organisations, as there are no stiff membership fees or obligations to network and get referrals.

Unlike many traditional chambers of commerce the coffee mornings lack committees and officials, so they aren’t dominated by the small cliques you often find in formal business groups.

A whole way of doing business is changing from something as simple as groups of people deciding they have enough in common online to get together for coffee.

While this is bad news for those who’ve paid for networking type franchises, it’s a wonderful opportunity for business owners to connect with fellow entrepreneurs they otherwise wouldn’t have connected with – particularly those in regional areas.

If you want to organise a coffee morning in your suburb or town, get on the internet. You’ll be surprised at the like-minded business owners, customers and supporters who are on services like Twitter and Facebook.

Should you find there is already one happening in your neighbourhood, go along. The lively, intelligent people you meet might help you see some of the opportunities, and threats, on your doorstep.

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Paul Wallbank is a writer, speaker and broadcaster on technology issues. He founded national support organisation PC Rescue in 1995 and has spent over 14 years helping businesses get the most from their IT investment. His PC Rescue and IT Queries websites provide free advice to business computer users and his monthly newsletter has over 3,000 subscribers.