Whether you are an entrepreneur starting out or an employee for someone else, networking can be a tool to enhance your business through expanding your reach inside your industry and out. Sometimes knowing where to go and what to do once you get there can keep us from getting out and doing it. Today I want to go over each step of the networking process to ensure that we are involved in good business networking.
The first step is figuring out where to network. Some questions to ask include; How much time do I have to devote to this? Do I have a budget that I can spend on networking? Where are the best places to go for my industry?
Finding the places to network can be the most difficult task during this initial process. You can start simple with joining your local Chamber of Commerce and start attending their events. There are other groups that you can join for a fee like BNI, Corporate Alliance (a local Utah group), CEO Space, etc. In addition to the pay events, there are several places that host free networking events, such as area colleges and universities. Two suggestions on finding events right now: Ask business people you know if they network and where and even more scientific is to just use Google and look for events that way.
Once you find events to attend it’s important that you come to these events prepared. Find out who typically attends the events and what the structure is. Put together a game plan for what you want to accomplish at the event. In addition this is where you need to make sure that you are clear about your business and what it does and be able to articulate this. I have had many situations where after talking to someone for 15 minutes, I have no idea what they do. I have also gone to networking events with people where in the car they are wondering what they should say when people ask them what they do. Don’t waste your time and money on not being prepared. There are great tips available for networking even is you consider yourself to be shy and introverted. The important part is implementing these tips.
After the event, make sure that you also have a system in place for follow up. I would be clear about your follow up system before you go to the event not after. You need to be able to follow up within a couple of days of the event so people still remember who you are. Make notes on your business cards at the event so you remember what they do and what you want to follow up with them about. Having a follow up system in place is the best way to maximize your experience and make networking worth your while.
It takes some time to develop good networking channels. The key is good planning at each of the steps so that you are not wasting time or money. Most importantly, put together a good business networking plan and start executing now.
How have you had success with networking? What has been challenging? What other advice can you offer to networkers?
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