The importance of networking cannot be overemphasized. Networking is essential for starting or growing a business.
It’s how you get to meet people who can help your business by either offering a mentorship or at least putting you in touch with the people who can steer you in the right direction.
The interesting part is that it doesn’t have to be just exchanging business cards and making small talk, networking can be fun as well, you might just make a few new friends.
An article by Rasheed Ogunlaru who is a business coach, speaker, and author and runs events with the British Library on networking has helped with the compilation of 4 tips to Network Effectively.
1. Be prepared and have a strategy to help you focus.
Entering a room full of strangers can be a difficult experience. Devise a short, simple way to describe your business, and think about who will be there. Keep it informal and interesting. Serial entrepreneur Shazia Awan recommends “ it should be informal, brief, interesting and leave people wanting to know more”
Before you go, list the types of contacts, connections, support and suppliers that you need, and check if anyone will be there who can help you.
2. Get rid of worry
“Oh Lord, I don’t know anybody here”, ” how do I introduce myself”, ” if I start a conversation, how will i end it”. Don’t entertain such thoughts.
Going through the list of attendees in advance and having a short elevator pitch of who they are and what they do might help. However, the most effective way is to just get talking. It’ll surprise you that majority of the people there feel exactly how you feel and they’re also looking to network.
If you’re worried about spending too much time with one person because you don’t know how to end the conversation, you could simply just tell them how it’s been nice talking to them and you need to talk to a few more people before you head out.
3. Networking is a two-way street
Be a connector and an introducer and help others. Don’t go in with the mindset of meeting people for the sole purpose of growing your business. What do you have to offer? Do not assume that a successful contact already wants nothing from you. It’s always worth the trouble to find out a contact’s desires and concerns, you’ll definitely find something worthwhile you can offer.
People will always remember who pointed them in the right direction and put them in touch with someone useful, they’ll also be happy to do the same for you.
4. Nurture and maintain relationships
Follow up! And do so promptly. It’s a key way to make sure your networking makes a difference in the long run. You want to make sure you made an impact.
Keep in touch on a regular basis. Remember that short business plan we talked about in number 1, you can send it via e-mail, share a relevant article or a career update.
You can also check-in with contacts from time to time because you never know when that person could be of assistance again and you might meet them at another networking event.
