Your business network is a key part of your company’s growth. It’s one of the most important aspects of your professional life, and it can also help you build a strong foundation for years to come. Having a solid group of connections in every aspect of your industry will give you access to resources and information that few others have. The best way to build your business network is by reaching out to others through connection-building strategies outlined below!
Lead with Goals
Step 1: Set Your Networking Goals
What are you hoping to accomplish with your business network? The first step in building a successful network is setting clear goals. Are you looking for career advancement, like a promotion or new job offer? Or are you trying to grow your business by finding new customers or making more sales? Perhaps it’s both! What you’re hoping to accomplish with your networking efforts, be specific about those goals and how they will help improve your life and career.
Step 2: Craft a Compelling Elevator Pitch
Once you have a goal in mind, craft an elevator pitch that describes what the goal means in terms of tangible benefits—for example, “I want to get promoted at work so I can earn more money.”
Think about what words would go into this sentence if someone asked why they should hire or promote someone like yourself based on something they heard while riding an elevator together. Then turn those words into sentences (and keep them short!) until they professionally explain why they should connect with someone like yourself.
Build a Network
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
There’s some truth to this. I would argue that it’s also about how much help and support you have along the way. It’s super important to build a business network because everyone has challenges and everyone could use help now and then. If you are trying to build your business, there will be times when things go wrong or when things get tough for one reason or another. It might be time-consuming but building a network of people who can assist in your journey is key!
We need others around us who are facing similar challenges as well as ones who share different perspectives than ours so that together we can grow into better versions of ourselves by learning from each other.
Join Local and National Organizations
A great way to build your business network is by joining local and national organizations. Thousands of associations cater to a vast array of interests, hobbies, and professions. For example, associations can be found for:
- Accountants
- Accountants who specialize in nonprofits
- Accountants who specialize in taxes for the construction industry
- Accountants who work with small businesses (less than ten employees)
Use Social Media
Social media can be a great way to discover new connections, especially if you are interested in connecting with people who share similar interests. It’s also a great way to meet people in your field of work. For instance, if you’re looking for someone to hire as an intern or part-time employee, searching through LinkedIn can help you find prospects that are likely qualified and interested in the position.
Attend Industry Events
Attending industry events is a great way to build your network, learn more about your industry, and stay up to date on the latest happenings. It is one of the most important things you can do if you want to grow as a professional.
The first step in attending industry events is finding them! There are so many out there—and it’s easy to forget about them when they aren’t convenient for your schedule or location.
Find industry events through the following sites:
- Meetup
- LinkedIn
- Join groups
- Use the search bar to search for events
- Facebook groups
Reach Out to Current Connections
The best way to start connecting with people is by reaching out to the connections you already have. You already know that there are plenty of benefits to networking, but maybe you’re not doing it enough because it seems like work. It doesn’t have to be! Here’s how you can use your current connections for business:
Ask for introductions: If someone knows someone who can help with something that’s important for your business, ask them if they’ll introduce you! Then follow up after the introduction has occurred (and not before).
Ask For Help: In order for us all on this planet earth (no matter where we live) to thrive together peacefully; we must recognize firstly & foremost among other factors such as genetics etc., that none really knows everything about anything except perhaps God Himself…so why pretend otherwise? Manage Your Fears! Fear is usually rooted in uncertainty which means if something seems scary at first glance but if turned over carefully enough looks harmless after all—then chances are good it probably isn’t worth worrying about too much.
If you’re serious about making improvements, ask for help from someone who you’ve established a relationship with. Don’t take feedback personally! It can be difficult to admit that we need help, and sometimes even more difficult when we’ve done something wrong. The key here is to remember that there are no mistakes, only learning experiences! It’s important to choose to move forward and improve your systems.
Remember, networking is a process, not an event. It takes time to build a strong and diverse network of connections. You can’t just wait for people to come knocking on your door—you have to go out there and make yourself known! But remember that you don’t need to do it alone. More than ever before, we live in a world where technology helps us find the people we need when we need them most. So don’t be afraid of getting out there and making those connections; just use these tips as your guide.