Networking is the perfect opportunity to build relationships and connect with new people! From advice to self-development to gaining opportunities to collaborate with others, networking is KEY. There are so many opportunities to find events and meet people that you never would have found without networking in your community.
When you start a new business, we will tell you to write a long list of your friends, family, coworkers, and just about anyone who can help you lift your business off the ground. This is your hotlist or your warm market list. This is great to do when you’re first starting out. But what happens when you go through that warm list? We also talk about networking through social media by building out our friends lists, groups, and so on. Yes, these are all great tools, and we should utilize them all. We are building an audience. We’re building a network. So find a networking group that will help all of these areas. The purpose of a networking group is to help you build your network. It is important to do so outside of social media, and your immediate circle can help you make those connections you would have never before.
How do you find a networking group?
Google is one of the greatest tools for anything. Start by googling local networking groups to see what you have near you. From there, you can decide what type of networking groups would best support you. Some networking groups are women-only, or they have men and women. Some are very business-oriented or more focused on a specific industry. There are all kinds of networking groups. COVID has normalized virtual groups, so maybe you want a national or global group that you would be able to attend virtually.
There are so many options out there!
Find the one you like best and check it out. Most groups have a trial period where you can take some classes or come to a meeting to visit. I highly recommend doing this with as many different groups as you can find, so you can see what the best fit is for you. Once you find the one you like the best, it is crucial to engage! This is now your support system, so use it. You might be that saving grace for someone else’s business, and they might just be yours. If you are not quite sure what that looks like, here are some tips!
Be prepared!
Have your business cards and your elevator speech about your business ready to be pulled out at a moment’s notice. This is all about making contacts and sharing information. People will want to know what you do and how knowledgeable you are in your industry.
Get to know others.
Don’t go into a meeting thinking that you’re going to get all these new customers. Get to know the people around you and find out all about them. First and foremost, you are there to serve in your business. You will make relationships in your business by making that personal connection with others. Then you’ll start being that connection between others when you network with more people. You’re building a little army of ears and eyes to help you. When you need additional business, people will keep you in mind.
We work so hard to build our audience by working through our warm list and building out on social media. Then we feel stuck, not knowing what the next move should be. There are hundreds, thousands, millions of people out there for us to connect with. So find those people to network with and set your business on FIRE!
Time to start making those connections, Goal Diggers!
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