Ways to Improve the Quality of Your Business Networking

For some, networking generates images of nervous introductions and intimidating social settings, while for others it simply means collecting business cards and accumulating online contacts. In reality, networking is one of the best techniques for promoting yourself and your business, and ultimately reaching growth and success. But in order to be efficient, networking has to focus on meaningful engagement and good relationships that lead to new ideas and opportunities, and here are some simple ways you could achieve just that:

Tell your personal story

Your story should consist of your path so far, where you currently are in your journey, and the direction in which you are headed. Apart from providing a timeline of past experiences, this story should also offer important information and implicit cues of your decision-making abilities, your ambition, and the traits that make you unique.

To that end, consider your journey, and your main goals and objectives. Get clear on your core values, strengths, contributions, and the messages you’d like to convey. This will allow you to tell a clearer, more concise story about your personal brand, as well as the demands you have from your network and other connections.

Invest in your online presence

Considering the fact that most aspects of our lives are now captured online, potential business connections and employers can easily access much more information about you than was previously possible. For that reason, thinking about what other people might find when they search for your name is key.

It might be wise to take the necessary time to change privacy settings on personal social media profiles, update and refine your LinkedIn account, and make sure that all the content you put online tells a compatible story with the brand you are attempting to demonstrate. These efforts will help to build more trust and reliability in your business, as well as you as an individual.

Known how to share and connect

Networking is a brilliant way to gain new clients, learn new information, take advantage of potential job opportunities, and even generate innovative ideas. Regardless of your intentions, sharing is always great for making new and meaningful connections.

For instance, you could use a Gmail CRM tool that will allow you to create a clean, organized, and easily accessible contact base. That way, you and your team members can have centralized contacts you could easily share, update, and access from anywhere, thus making anything from networking to email marketing campaigns easier to manage. Similarly, sharing content, reaching out to interesting people, and even visiting conferences and other events can all be great for making new connections.

Be open to receiving help

Making it easier for others to help you can be another good way to improve the quality of your networking. Whether you are making new contacts, reaching out to your existing network, or even following up with those you met in person, providing a bit of background about yourself could be quite useful.

For example, you could share your reasons for getting in touch with them, mention shared interests that might spark a conversation, suggest follow-up options to ensure a response, and even thank people in advance for the help they might be able to offer. This way, you will come across as more genuine, authoritative, and professional, increasing your chances of a successful outcome.

Step out of your comfort zone

When networking, it’s crucial to go beyond the individuals you already know very well, as there may be many more in your extended network with more useful connections. Weak connections might actually be more likely to refer you and offer new opportunities compared to your primary ties, although they could be quite helpful as well.

In any case, staying open-minded and not being afraid to ask questions will be essential for success. While asking to connect with entirely unknown individuals might seem a bit intimidating at first, making small, specific, and reasonable requests, such as asking for an introduction, can be a great exchange opener that might even improve your credibility and open you to new possibilities.

After all, people prefer working with people, instead of businesses. By utilizing the helpful tips mentioned above, you will be able to create stronger and more t