3 Tips for Growing Your Professional Network
Growing your network can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. These three networking tips to help you build up a solid base of connections:
Identify the right community. There are millions of small business owners in the United States, and each one is unique in geography, size, revenue and type. By seeking out online communities and networking events created for businesses similar to your own, you’ll enable greater tip sharing and more valuable connections.
Attend speed-networking events. As with speed dating, there’s something about a natural connection that’s hard to quantify, and when you’ve found one, you just know it’s right. Attending a speed-networking event fosters an environment in which you can rapidly go through numerous people to find the connections that are the right fit for your business.
Offer your help first. Many individuals come into a networking event with a problem or challenge they’re facing and immediately seek answers from others. When you meet people, ask questions and discover how you can provide value to them first, instead of the other way around. Ask yourself what you can bring to the table, and share tips with others to be helpful. When you give advice, it’s much more likely to be reciprocated.
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