Networking in person has resulted in acquiring new customers by 24%. If you are in business, then you surely don't want to miss out on this opportunity. Problem is that you are a complete beginner in the world of business networking and don't know how to go about it.
Ready to explore the potential of business networking? Follow these 4 tips in sequence to get started.
1. Start with your inner circles.
Networking is all about building relationships, and this is one area where you need to focus. Start talking about your business in the close vicinity of friends, family members, and dear ones. Also, don’t forget to seek their favour in promoting your company in their respective groups and communities. It can boost your business chances along with offering you a job opportunity. So, take adequate steps to convince people about your business to make a powerful impact in the arena of professional networking.
2. Be active on social media
Do you know around half of the world’s population is now on social media? Linkedin alone has 740 million members with 55 million registered companies, and Facebook is the most dominant social media platform with over 2.8 billion global active users monthly. Now, you know why businesses are making all-out efforts to reach out to customers through social media. These digital platforms allow businesses to interact freely and build a loyal community for better business prospects.
Boost your chances of growth by joining professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, Xing, Meetup, Bizzabo, etc that provide you the right business environment.
Connect with people on the social networks after you meet them in person and vice-versa. As a networking beginner, make the best possible use of social media, community platforms, forums, and other platforms to tap the full potential of business networking.
3. Start attending networking events
Wondering where you could get all the relevant business owners and corporate bigwigs together in one place? Well, the answer is a networking event. Make it a habit to attend networking events like business seminars, career fairs, trade shows, luncheon meetings, social meetups to explore plenty of business opportunities.
These networking events are an enriching experience for any networking beginner. So, get ready in your professional attire, polish your communication skills and try to connect with well-known professionals in your business domain.
4. Join a networking platform immediately
Once you have honed your networking skills and are ready to invest, it's time to formally join a business networking group. The best places are the local business networking groups that charge annual membership for joining for a list of benefits. We have covered this topic in details in our blog - Easy Ways to Find the Right Networking Groups for You.
Well, whether you want to elevate your career, boost your chances of sales or build new prospects for your business, networking can take you to places. A Forbes study revealed that 85% of people consider networking as an effective tool for building stronger and more meaningful business relationships. Whether you are a beginner or a pro in business networking, the key is to stick to the Rules of Professional Networking. If you can follow the above steps without a miss, you are bound to excel in your networking efforts sooner or later. To all networking beginners, pay attention to these golden rules, and you can be off to a flying start without a doubt.