Love it or hate it, savvy networking can be the key to growing your business in the long term. If you approach it in the right way, you鈥檒l begin to build a bigger list of contacts and move a step closer to creating a useful pool of mutually beneficial relationships. So, how do you get it right?
Start by Helping Others
Forging business relationships isn鈥檛 any different from building personal ones. Be generous to others 鈥� offer help and support where you can, even if you鈥檙e not sure if there鈥檚 anything in it for you. It doesn鈥檛 have to be a big favour: recommending a service you value or passing on the details of a trusted supplier, for instance. If others in your network trust and respect you, you鈥檒l receive recommendations in turn.
Size Doesn鈥檛 Matter (Much)
It鈥檚 not always those with the biggest Rolodex that get the best returns. Knowing the right people is more important than knowing all the people. So focus on building relationships with people who are the most relevant to your business. That said, don鈥檛 write contacts off just because there doesn鈥檛 appear to be an obvious connection. It鈥檚 good to know people who offer services like design, PR and marketing, and you also never know who will end up becoming a key decision-maker in the future.
Follow Up After Meetings
Stay in touch with the people you connect with. Drop them an email, forward them an article or resources you think may be pertinent 鈥� or put them in touch with someone you know who may be interested in their proposition. If you鈥檙e likely to meet a lot of people, it鈥檚 worth jotting down a few notes on the back of your business card to remind you of their interests. Don鈥檛 steam in trying to make an appointment to sell them something, though, unless they鈥檝e specifically requested it.
Connect Online
One of the best ways of maintaining a connection is via social media. Most businesses are more than happy to exchange 鈥榝ollows鈥� on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Virtual networking has taken over from real-world networking in some cases and it makes sense if your business can operate on a global basis. Try to keep track of your new contacts and catch up whenever you can.
Some Do鈥檚 and Don鈥檛s
Make sure you take lots of business cards when you鈥檙e networking but don鈥檛 throw them around like confetti. It鈥檚 best to introduce yourself and have a brief conversation before asking for a business card and offering one in return. Listen to what others are saying, ditch the sales pitch and try to have a natural conversation. Smile as much as you can 鈥� everyone will be nervous, even if they network a lot. Don鈥檛 connect with one person for too long; exchange cards, tell them how much you鈥檝e enjoyed meeting them and move on!
