Whether you’re a freelance web designer or the director of a fashion start-up, networking is an indispensable component of modern business growth. You may have built a wealth of knowledge at university, you may have a bank of skills through work experience, but now it’s time to build your network of business connections. The surmise, ‘it’s not what you know it’s who you know’ can certainly be applied to 21st century business practices, and networking is one way to get who you know ticked off.
The contemporary importance to network has resulted in a wealth of opportunities available for businesses and freelancers. We can all attend networking meetings, groups and other interacting events, the trick is knowing how to make the most of them.
Take a look at the following ten way to get the most out of networking.
1- Decide what you want
Before you attempt to network, it is important to decide what you want to gain from interacting with other professionals. Do you want to secure more work? Do you want to find employees to help you with your own work? Or do you want to be offered a job by a lucrative company that’s going places. Once you have decided what you want out of networking you can begin to formulate a plan of action.
2- Create a networking plan of action
Anna Runyan, leadership coach for ambitious women, says the key to networking success is to form a networking action plan. The plan should include listing people you want to connect with. Naming the organisations you want to join. Identifying ways to improve your networking skills. Highlighting specific plans and commitments. Keeping yourself accountable my reviewing your goals each month.
3- Combine traditional networking with online networking
Online networking, such as building up contacts on LinkedIn has the advantage of being convenient. You can do it from anywhere and at any time. You have exposure to a wide pool of potential contacts and can build a network fairly quickly.
Despite the obvious advantages of online networking you should not neglect physical networking opportunities. Attending networking events, workshops and meetings can help build longer-lasting relationships than virtual contacts. As the Marketing Donut states:
“Networking online is a ‘virtual handshake’, not a replacement for face-to-face networking.”
4- Ensure you are noticed and remembered
As Patricia Fripp of Fripp & Associates, one of America’s most prolific professional speakers, writes:
“There is no point going anywhere if people don’t remember you were there.”
At a networking event, Patricia Fripp warns that if people don’t remember you after the event, you’ve wasted your time. Fripp advises to arrive looking your best, wear your name tag so people can see it, wear something distinct and develop an unforgettable greeting.
5- Ask the right questions
Asking potential contacts the right questions not only gets the ball rolling, but also elimin some of the pressure of you carrying the conversation.
As Ivan Misner, founder and chairman of BNI says in his article titled ‘Master Networkers Ask the Right Questions’: “Everyone has a story, so make it your job to find out what it is.”
Questions – the right ones – demonstrate you have a genuine interest in another person’s business, which can be invaluable to cultivating a working relationship with that individual.
6- Be open-minded
In order for networking to be successful you should approach it with an open mind. Instead of being too pushy and desperate when you are involved in any form of networking activity, go along with the aim to meet new people are see what happens – naturally.
7- Write notes on the back of business cards
It’s not uncommon for a networking event to go really well and you walk away armed with plenty of useful contacts and potential assets for your career and business development.
Several days later the conversations you had at the networking event become hazy and the names of the people you spoke to begin to escape you. This is why it is vital to not only remember to take someone’s business card but also jot down a few notes about the conversation you had and why you think staying in contact with this person will be beneficial.
8- Follow up leads at networking events
Once you’ve attended a networking event in Leeds or anywhere for that matter and got somebody’s business card, it is important to follow up with them not long after the event. As Passion For Business advises:
“If there is an obvious win-win connection with someone you’ve met at an event, call them up and invite them to lunch to explore the connection further.”
In other words, strike whilst the iron’s hot!
9- Run meetings
Of course you don’t have to rely on others to mingle with potential business assets and nurture business growth. On the contrary, why not run a networking meeting yourself? This way you can direct the meeting exactly the way you want it to be ran.
One of the most effective outcomes of a networking meeting is when each member gets leads from another member. This would therefore be a good route to go down when running a business meeting. A final activity at the meeting could be ensuring nobody left the room without the contact details and a legitimate reason for getting the contact details of another person.
10- Regular meetings
By a similar token, don’t make the network meeting you’ve hosted a one-off event. Hold regular meetings. Hosting and attending regular meetings will not only help you build up your bank of contacts but it will also ensure you become a credible figure in your local business world.
Instead of taking on the burden yourself, get others to help you organise the event. Talking of maintaining momentum and interest at such meetings, Andy Lopata a public speaker coach says:
“Don’t take on the entire organisation yourself. Involve a team of people and spread the burden. I have seen so many groups start off wonderfully but lose momentum because the only person running them has lost enthusiasm and been taken for granted.”
Networking is unquestionably an instrumental means of building business relationships, generating new leads and keeping up with industry trends. With a little effort, practise and the above knowledge on-board, your networking ventures can be much more lucrative and worthwhile.
Are you a serial networker? Are you a networking novice? Whatever your networking stature we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
If you are looking to set up a networking events in Leeds, Carrwood Park can provide you with a well-facilitated, state-of-the art meeting rooms that will put you well on your way to networking success.
