Managing Your Networking Growth

You’ve mastered the basics. You’ve sharpened your messaging. Now it’s time to scale your influence.

Managing Your Networking Growth is where your networking activity matures into strategy. Building on the foundations of Parts 1 and 2, this volume is about momentum—how to keep it, grow it, and use it to your advantage.

Whether you’re an established networker or feeling the first signs of networking fatigue, this book will reignite your energy, offering practical, insightful methods to maintain consistency and become the go-to expert in your field.

What You’ll Learn:

How to Plan Your Recon Meetings for maximum long-term value (without burning out or blending meetings together).
Why Props Matter More Than You Think – and how to choose ones that get you remembered (for all the right reasons).
How to Engage Your Team – turning staff into brand advocates and sources of new referrals.
Creative Tools Like Piggyback Marketing & Selfie Recons – smart techniques that elevate your personal brand and your group at the same time.
The Three Laws of Networking Motion – timeless truths that explain why referrals build on themselves, and how to trigger that momentum.

Why It Works:

This isn’t a rehash of the basics. This is a seasoned guide for professionals who understand that networking isn’t about just turning up—it’s about showing up with purpose. Managing Your Networking Growth gives you tools to:

Avoid stagnation.
Build professional credibility.
Maintain visibility (even when you can’t attend).
Educate your peers and be educated in return.
Keep your networking fun, fresh, and effective.

If you’re serious about making your business networking sustainable, scalable, and strategic—this is the book for you.

Sample chapters

Referrals On Your Doorstep

Referrals On Your Doorstep One of the aspects of networking that I hear complaints about the most is finding referrals. The trouble is, by having ...

You Want A ‘Member’ Discount?

You Want A ‘Member’ Discount? Offering a discount to your fellow members can be a powerful way to promote yourself within the group. While it ...

Are You a Sparrow?

Are You A Sparrow? Within our networking group, the business coach mentioned that at any given time, one-third of your workforce is actively seeking new ...

Tony Allwood

I’m Tony Allwood, a web design and marketing professional based in Hamilton, New Zealand. I’ve been actively involved in business networking since launching my first company in the UK back in January 2000—just three days after opening my doors, I joined my first networking group. Since then, I’ve spent over two decades applying and refining practical “word of mouth” marketing techniques through consistent, hands-on experience in networking environments.

What started as a personal challenge—balancing the demands of business life with the desire to be a better networker—led me to develop a simple, day-by-day guide to help myself stay focused and effective. That guide eventually became Beyond the Comfort Zone, a practical book for small business owners who want to become more referable and give better referrals—without gimmicks or expensive strategies.

Unlike theoretical approaches, my methods are grounded in real-world experience. The book is packed with practical tools, exercises, and straightforward advice you can use immediately—from attracting more visitors to your networking group, to handling tricky referrals, and everything in between.

Over time, the book has evolved based on feedback from readers and my own ongoing experiences. As I continue to run my marketing business and attend networking meetings every week, I’m constantly updating and expanding my approach—and now, I’m sharing it all here, so other business owners can benefit from the same tools that have helped me build lasting relationships and grow my business through networking.