Tammy Sons is the CEO of TN Nursery and an expert plant advisor who studied horticulture. She enjoys her family, the outdoors and nature.
Relationships with other business professionals are crucial for growing your company or advancing your career. Business networking can have a significant positive impact on your company or career.
The Ins And Outs Of Business Networking
At its core, business networking is the art of developing professional relationships with individuals in your industry. However, expanding your contact list outside your field can also be advantageous. Some industries overlap; cultivating relationships with individuals in these industries can help grow your business or advance your career.
Need help figuring out how to start a business network? It’s easier than you may think.
An excellent place to begin developing your network is by joining a group in your industry. The group may meet in person or be entirely online. Whether you join one or both types of groups, you can connect with like-minded individuals, get industry tips and learn more about the business, to name a few benefits.
Don’t forget about business seminars. They can be excellent places to meet industry leaders and vendors. You can also develop a social media presence. Sites like LinkedIn are good places to cultivate a contact list. You can even take your social media presence a step further by writing about your experiences in the industry.
Ready to start a business network? Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Tips For Creating A Business Network
Know What You Want Out Of The Network
It isn’t easy to know who to connect with when you do not see what you want from a business network. Are you trying to grow your business or advance your career? Maybe you want to transition to another company. Your answers to these questions determine who you want to include in your business network.
For example, connecting with experts and leaders in your industry can help advance your career. Vendors may be the ideal contacts to help you improve brand awareness. Are you ready to switch to another company? Look to connect with leaders in the companies you are interested in.
A good tip is that leaders are not just company CEOs. They can be anyone with industry knowledge and experience.
Create An Introduction
Your business relationship may develop into a friendship over time, but you do not want to start and end the introduction by saying hello. You want to create a memorable pitch that will stay in their minds.
While you do not want to create a sales pitch, you want to highlight your positive qualities. Think of three key points that summarize or highlight your abilities.
The primary goal of your introduction is to let potential connections know the purpose of your business network. Are you trying to increase foot or online traffic, boost brand awareness or take your career to the next level? Including these essential points in your introduction will help the conversation flow more easily.
Don’t Be Afraid To Put Yourself Out There
Shyness and business networking are not compatible. You must be willing to initiate conversations with individuals you want to add to your professional network.
While starting a conversation with an industry leader can be daunting, most are friendly and willing to meet new people.
Before going to an industry event, list who you want to meet. Researching the individuals ahead of time can make it a little easier to develop conversation openers. For example, if you learn that a leader is also passionate about gardening, brush up on a few local plants and growing tips. However, do not pretend to be an expert on the topic. You only want to show interest in their hobby.
Eye contact is also crucial and can be difficult if you are shy. Practicing in the mirror at home can help you feel more comfortable. Eye contact is vital for developing a business network—individuals you want to include as contacts should feel you are trustworthy and authentic. Maintaining eye contact throughout the introductory conversation is an effective way of doing so.
Keep The Conversation Going After The Event
The event was a success. You connected with individuals capable of helping you reach your business or career goals. The next step is to keep the conversation going. Chances are, you are not the only person connecting with these leaders and experts. You cannot expect them to remember every new person they meet at networking events.
Since you have their contact information, don’t hesitate to reach out via email. You may want to forego more personal methods of communication, like texts and phone calls, until you have something to offer to the potential business relationship.
Following up afterward shows your interest in the industry. It also helps you stay memorable and can help you land a new position when one opens.
Be Ready To Offer Support
A successful business network is a two-way relationship. Both parties should be giving and receiving equally. A business relationship functions similarly to a personal one. The relationship tends to fail when both sides are not giving and receiving equally.
Your network contacts provide knowledge, support, advice and opportunities. You must give something in return. It can be as simple as letting your connections know about a unique business opportunity. You are more likely to get what you need to advance your business or career by providing them with support and assistance.
Business Networking: A Powerful Tool
Business networking is more than handing out business cards and hoping someone calls. It takes time and diligence. Discussions with industry experts and leaders are a vital part of the process.
Be of assistance whenever possible, and you’ll see the favor returned. It may not happen overnight, but when you take the time to cultivate the business relationship, you should start seeing results.
Business networking is a powerful tool, especially when done correctly.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
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