Networking for Success: Building Relationships in Your Industry
No matter your industry, there’s a lot of competition out there. The key to standing out isn’t just your skills but who you share them with. (Yes, the old saying “Who you know, not what you know does apply.) Career growth, mentorship, and collaboration are all possibilities with great networking.
Are you ready to expand your network and work with fun and interesting industry experts? We thought so! We’ve curated tried and true methods of networking just for you.
Networking Tips for Any Industry
So how do you do it? There’s no one way to do networking “right,” but a combination of actions that make the difference. We have the basics for you to browse and start implementing right away.
1. Have a Plan
To network effectively, you need to understand why you are networking. There’s the prominent part about making connections that could benefit you now and in the future. However, meeting a lot of people and adding them to your network isn’t necessarily helpful without a bigger picture.
Have a goal in mind. Do you want to meet more people in your industry? Find potential new clients? Want to get your new business name out there? All of the above? Make a plan and stick to it. If it doesn’t work, make a new one!
2. Attend Industry-Specific Events
Conferences and workshops are immensely beneficial for both educational development and for meeting like-minded professionals. Remember, it’s not enough to simply attend. Make an effort to contribute to discussions and give out business cards.
If there aren’t any relevant events nearby, think about hosting your own. If you don’t have experience hosting events, start with something simple, like a dinner meet-up. Or create a virtual meet-up and promote it widely. Either way, it shows you aren’t afraid of taking initiative.
3. Follow Industry-Specific Organizations on Social Media
Does your industry have an official organization (or several)? Keep tabs on their social media pages. Like and comment on posts you enjoy.
When searching for organizations to follow and learn about, search “[Industry] organizations” into your choice of search engine or see what fellow connections make an effort to follow.
LinkedIn can be a valuable place for making business connections since it is made with networking in mind. You can see who works for companies, who they fellow, and organizations you’d like to partner with. Then, simply introduce yourself virtually.
4. Don’t Be Fake
It sounds silly, but being genuine is the best way to find people who are a good fit for your network. How can people trust you long-term if you’re not yourself from the moment you meet? There’s a lot of pressure in networking to be someone you’re not, but it will backfire in the long run. When you’re yourself, you find connections that can also be lifelong friends.
5. Continue the Conversation
Networking is never a one-and-done event. Just like friends and other connections, you have to keep up with your relationships. Send a friendly message, ask your connections for advice, or invite them to come to a professional event you’re hosting.
What If I Don’t Have Time to Network?
Making time for networking is essential for you and your business. But you have a lot on your mind and much to do.
What if we told you there is a way to do it all?
Hiring a virtual assistant can take the busywork off your plate and free up time for you to make new professional contacts. Luneer Mgmt has virtual assistants that can handle everything you don’t want to do so you can thrive in your everyday and business life.
Automating routine tasks can also be a solution to your problem. Don’t know how to do it? We’ll carve out time for you so you can get a workflow system set up for you that eliminates annoying, repetitive tasks.
WRITTEN BY: GRETCHEN GALES