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This is the vision the Cobra Club is built on. We are a collective of like-minded individuals that are keen to build a strong network for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, people want more customers, but there is so much more to running a business than just getting customers, and so many ways to be more effective in your marketing efforts. We fill those gaps at the cobra club, providing support and advice to empower with knowledge and accelerate growth through connection.
The pandemic put a halt to most face-to-face activities. Andrew and Ed quickly realised that business would need to be done differently and virtually, so the Cobra Club was born. Described by some as a lighthouse in a dark storm. Now that storm has passed, we continue to be the lifebuoy that keeps many businesses afloat. Going from strength to strength as we continue to evolve and serve means we are attracting an exciting mix of business owners from across the globe.
What sort of businesses are in the Cobra Club?
We welcome anyone with an ethos that fits ours, which means we enjoy a diverse mix of businesses. If you’re friendly, ethical and willing to give, not just take, you’ll fit right in. We aren’t industry-specific, and we don’t lock you out if you offer the same service as an existing member. Why? Because we love to see collaboration, and our members enjoy having the freedom to choose the people that are a good fit for them. We all put our own unique spin on whatever we do, so there’s plenty of work and opportunities to be found with the people you resonate with most.
How does it work?
Once you sign up to the cobra club, you’ll be on a rolling monthly contract. You’ll pay £25+VAT a month on a direct debit until you inform us you wish to cancel. You aren’t tied in or committed to anything. Once you’re a member, you can book a virtual tour if you wish, where one of our founders, Andy Hatcher or Ed Williamson, will show you around the Cobra Club and explain all the additional benefits you can now enjoy.
You’ll have access to the member’s lounge on the website, and from here, you can see what’s on and when. You’ll also access each meeting and reception from here with a single click. All meetings run on a drop-in basis. You don’t need to register or sign up; just turn up!
Our Reception
Our virtual reception area is open during office hours. This means you can pop into the zoom reception and be greeted by one of our Cobra Club leaders at any point during opening hours. Some people pop in for a chat if they fancy a quick break or just need someone to talk to or utilise one of our co-working spaces. You can also use the Cobra Club to hold meetings, so there’s no need to pay for a premium Zoom subscription. Simply give your guests the reception link, and we’ll pop you both into a breakout for as long as you need. We also offer the ability to host workshops and training here as well.
You’re now free to come and go as you please. You can start to meet other members, take some speaker slots, expand your network, build relationships and do great business.
Why attend networking events?
A strong network can play a crucial role in the success of your business. It should be made up of people you mutually know, like and trust. People you are confident to refer to others and who refer you, too. These can be people to bounce ideas off and turn to for help, support and advice in all aspects of your business. Because, often, running a business requires that we wear numerous hats. We need to deal with marketing, sales, customer service, IT, copywriting, content creation, accounts… the list is endless. So having people around you with varied experience and knowledge is vital to success.
It isn’t all strictly business, though. With more people working remotely or becoming solopreneurs, it can also be lonely sitting in front of your laptop all day, plugging away and not seeing anyone. Being part of a community, attending online meetings and having conversations with real people can make a huge difference to your well-being. Sometimes you may be going around in circles trying to figure something out that just needs a fresh pair of eyes, and we provide the perfect place to simply get a fresh perspective on something, too.
So how do you build a strong network?
Well, not by adding as many randoms as possible on social media just to get your numbers up! Not by blurting your pitch into cold inboxes and definitely not by staying in your comfort zone and giving in to the fear of meeting new people!
Connecting with new people is fine, but it isn’t very effective if you just leave it at that. The important part comes afterwards, in the relationship building, getting to know one another, finding ways to help each other, engaging with each other’s posts etc. Once you start to do this, magical things can happen. You’ll resonate with people for different reasons. Some will want to work with you, others will make great referral partners, and others will want to collaborate. More and more opportunities will present when you take the time to build a network rather than just a list of followers.
Attending a regular event is the perfect way to build these relationships. You’ll see some of the same people, but you’ll also meet new faces, so you’re always strengthening and expanding your network.
Benefits of online networking
Networking virtually is here to stay due to it being hugely successful and popular, and with good reasons.
- Reduce Carbon Footprint – In the race to Net Zero, what better way to reduce carbon emissions than to attend virtual events and meetings? Whilst face-to-face still has its benefits, reducing the amount of travel is a great way to reduce your company’s carbon footprint.
- Save time and money – Whilst we’re at it, reduced travel also reduces the associated costs in time and money. For a face-to-face meeting, you’ll have to get ready to leave, allow plenty of time, pay for the mode of transport, parking if you’ve driven, then there’s the time at the event, hanging around afterwards, then get back home. Phew! A 90-minute event could end up eating into easily 3 hours of your day plus the extra money for travel! Compare this to an online event, where you click a link just before the start time, and you’re ready to roll, and it’s clear to see how you can now squeeze so much more out of your week… or even knock off early once in a while!
- Broaden your geographical reach – If you aren’t restricted by location, online events are a fantastic way to reach a wider audience because you’ll meet people from all over the country – or even the world!
- It’s less intimidating – It’s a rare breed of human that can swoop into a room full of strangers without an inkling of anxiety. Yet this is massively reduced when entering a virtual room. You feel less exposed, you can frantically twiddle, fidget or tap to self-soothe, and nobody will know!
- You can still network whilst away – If you want to, that is! Maybe you’re on a business trip or staying with relatives but still working a little. You can still attend any virtual meeting you want to, wherever you are.
The Cobra Club really is a valuable tool in any business owner’s arsenal. With numerous benefits and no tie-in, it’s easy to come and try us out for a month and experience it for yourself. See what makes us different to other online networking. See why our members stick around and why we feel like a family. It might not be for you, but if you’re looking for a fun and relaxed way to do business and you like a warm welcome… it might be.
Some other online business communities to consider
- LinkedIn – a professional networking platform that connects professionals from various industries: https://www.linkedin.com/
- Reddit – a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website that has many subreddits dedicated to different business topics: https://www.reddit.com/
- Quora – a question-and-answer platform where users can ask and answer questions related to business and other topics: https://www.quora.com/
- StartupNation – a community of entrepreneurs and small business owners who share advice and insights on starting and running a business: https://startupnation.com/
In Conclusion
The Cobra Club really is a valuable tool in any business owner’s arsenal. With numerous benefits and no tie-in, it’s easy to come and try us out for a month and experience it for yourself. See what makes us different to other online networking. See why our members stick around and why we feel like a family. It might not be for you, but if you’re looking for a fun and relaxed way to do business and you like a warm welcome… it might be.
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