Networking tips
Your network is your net worth. A sentence often used and very true. I can’t think of any business that doesn’t need to network. And if you are not a ‘natural’ at it you will have to work on it and make sure you get comfortable with it. It is one of the most efficient marketing tools, helps you to broaden your horizon, to get valuable feedback as well as finding potential business partners and suppliers.
Here are a few networking tips for you:
- Your main goal should be to see how you can provide the most value to people around you, not to sell.
- Before you choose a networking environment ask yourself who is your target audience, where can you find them?
- Where to network: trade associations, meet-up groups, events, Linkedin
- Be confident, not arrogant
- Be yourself
- Tell your story
- Smile
- Arrive on time
- Have enough business cards with you
- Wear appropriate clothes
- Have your elevator pitch ready
- Share work you have done
- Provide value without anything in return
- Don’t dismiss anyone as irrelevant
- Listen to what people have to say
- Choose some networking groups and stick to them to build up relationships and trust over time rather than going to one off events
Additional resources