What is networking? Networking is an information exchange between you and another person. It involves establishing relationships with people who can help you advance your career, business, or your art. Networking is reciprocal. Not only are you being helped, but can help others succeed. The perfect networking scenario provides a win-win situation for all parties.
There are at least a hundred ways you could network. Join an association in your field of business or interest. A local Chamber of Commerce or business association is a great way to meet a variety of business owners who may need your skills and service. Attend events defined as networking events. Social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter can help you network by increasing your audience. Create a Facebook or LinkedIn group that offers helpful advice and tips.
Create a company page on LinkedIn for your services and invite people to it. Search for people with issues and help them. Join online forums and groups in a related field. An interfaith minister joined a hotel group because they book weddings at their locations. A copywriter joined publishing groups filled with hungry writers and editors looking for assistance. Remember, help first.
Networking Tip 1: Networking is about selling yourself, your programs, or your services, or not. You go to an event to get business, otherwise what is the point? However, networking is NOT just about you and what you’re going to get out of it. It is important to remember people want to feel seen and heard. They want to know you can take their pain away or make them feel good in some way.
You can have a goal to land new clients, make x number of new sales, or give out at least 15 business cards, but when you meet someone with that only that agenda in mind you can forget the most important part- networking is about building relationships, starting conversations, asking questions, listening, getting to know people, and maybe learning something you haven’t known before. A connection is made, and the rest is what you do with it.
Networking Tip 2: Get Out of the Office and Shake Some Hands. Safely, of course. Live events are critical to your business growth and your growth as a business. Social media is a wonderful way to make connections, or it can be a way to hide behind technology.
Live events provide you with an opportunity to meet a range of people that you might not encounter chatting on social media. Meetups can provide local events without breaking the budget. Better yet, create your own group that solves problems or provides a support network.
Search out local events through the library, business groups, or local associations. Choose one or two events each month- get some business cards, make friends, and meet new people. Can’t make a live event? Consider virtual events. The range of options is vast and you get to see and hear people if you can't meet them in person.
Networking Tip 3: Use Your Voice: Speak at Local networking events. Speaking at a local event is a great way to meet potential clients and a wonderful way to show off your expertise. Local networking events help you gain confidence in speaking about your business and helps in refining your message. Small local events are a great way to build your resume for larger events, with even more potential for meeting people and making money.
Networking Tip 4: Show Up the Way You Want to Be Perceived. When you attend a networking event, seminar, workshop, or conference, other attendees will size you up before they even speak with you. Your appearance, eye contact, and body language, business cards, confidence level, and even the way you speak to others will send a message to the other attendees. Make sure you show up how you want to be perceived.
Be on time and with a smile on your face. Give people the experience someone would have if they work with you. Be kind, polite, and helpful. You don’t need a top-notch wardrobe; wear clean and well-pressed clothes. Try to be inventive and interesting. Wear a signature color, a special piece of jewelry, or a great watch. It can be a conversation starter and a way for people to remember you. Even if you are an introvert, you can fake it for a couple of hours. Be yourself, but also stretch beyond your comfort zone.
Networking Tip 5: Get Involved-Be a Leader If you belong to a group or organization, consider joining the leadership team. Spearhead a committee, plan an event, donate your products, or volunteer your specialty services and time. Be of service in any group, sometimes making the coffee or manning the front desk. But be ready to step into a leadership position.
The more you get involved, the more impact you will make in the lives and business of others. The more you create stronger relationships, the more people get to know you and your business. Be the go-to person for future business, by being the person groups can count on. It also looks good on a resume.
Networking Tip 6: Follow up wisely Make certain to follow up with people you meet at events. If you promise to send them something; then do it as soon as you can. Don’t dump people into your email list without first getting their permission. Build a relationship with them.
If you listened well at an event, you might have heard of a need that a participant had- maybe it was an item they were looking for or a person they wanted to meet. If you can help them, do it without hesitation. It will impress them you listened, and that you cared enough to help.
If a person asked about your services and asked for your fee structure, send them a pleasant note with a reminder of the benefits you offer; don’t assume they will remember what you spoke about the day before.
I offer an example of a bad follow-up. I had a long extended phone call with a lawyer interested in my social media services. She asked me to send along my fees, which I did. However, I didn’t reiterate the benefits of social media for her business. Her reaction was that Social Media was important, but not urgent. She had dismissed the need for my services in that comment. I think if I had followed up with a kinder and more informative email instead of just my fees, she would have felt what I offered was what she needed.
Networking Tip 7: Diversify There is great comfort in interacting with like-minded people. But remember that if everyone is in the same field with the same interests, they are also going for the same work. I had a friend who joined an organization to increase his network for more business. What he didn’t consider was that the people in the organization were mostly people he knew from another group, a group that didn’t have any business for him. The members had been long retired, and no longer had the contacts he needed. He wasted a lot of time before realizing he was at a dead end. Consider joining groups outside of your area of interest. Consider volunteering locally where you can meet a variety of people in different businesses. Networking doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be an opportunity to meet new people and have some fun. It’s up to you to make the best you can.
Circle the three tips you can work on right away.
Networking Tip 1: Networking is about selling yourself, your programs, or your services, or not.
Networking Tip 2: Get Out of the Office and Shake Some Hands.
Networking Tip 3: Use Your Voice: Speak at Local networking events.
Networking Tip 4: Show Up the Way You Want to Be Perceived.
Networking Tip 5: Get Involved-Be a Leader.
Networking Tip 6: Follow up wisely.
Networking Tip 7: Diversify.