The power of networking should not be underestimated – especially when it comes to growing a business. In today’s digital world, making connections and building relationships is easier than ever before. And with the right approach, networking can be a powerful tool for generating new leads, driving sales, and boosting your bottom line. If you’re looking to grow your business in 2023, here are four tips to help you make the most of networking opportunities:
1. Get involved in online communities relevant to your industry.
2. Attend events and meetups in person.
3. Make use of social media platforms like LinkedIn and Alignable.
4. Use technology to your advantage – several excellent apps and tools can help you network more effectively (such as Alignable, and Meetup). These tips will set your business up for success in the coming year!
Define your target market – who are you trying to reach with your product or service?
When determining our target market for our product or service, we identified speakers, coaches, trainers, and entrepreneurs as key groups who stand to benefit from the offering. We aim to empower these professionals with the skills, resources, and connections they need to succeed and make their mark in the industry. Through thoughtful information curation and collaborative initiatives with industry professionals, we are committed to providing resources that cater directly to this audience.
Research the competition – what are other businesses in your industry doing to succeed?
By researching the competition, speakers, coaches, trainers, and entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights into what is working for other businesses in their industry. Learning from the successes and failures of those who have gone before can help tailor effective and bench-marked strategies against industry standards. Furthermore, having a bird’s eye view of industry trends can be essential for staying ahead of the curve and setting your business apart. Ultimately, research your competitors to ensure you make the best possible decisions to succeed.
Create a list of potential networking contacts – these can be people you know or want to know.
Networking with like-minded professionals can be a great way to enhance your career or business. It’s worth creating a list of potential networking contacts with whom you can connect. Create a list of people you have done business with in the past, review wedding lists, party lists, and Christmas card lists, then go through your social media accounts and see if you would like to connect with these individuals at a meetup event if so, add them to your list. You want to keep a running list of people you want to connect with in 2023 and then be strategic about how you make it happen.
Attend events and meetups that focus on your industry or target market
Finding the perfect event or meetup for you can often be the key to unlocking professional success in a specific industry. BNI (Business Network International) is an excellent resource for professionals looking to get in the door in an unfamiliar market or industry, as BNI offers local networking groups across most parts of the world. Attending BNI meetings and events provides networking opportunities with other business owners and professionals. It gives members access to educational materials and program updates that can help them stay on top of industry trends. If BNI isn’t available at your location, consider joining a more localized industry meetup, such as your local Chamber of Commerce, or signing up to Alignable – an online platform designed to make it easier for small business owners to connect and share knowledge. You never know who you’ll meet or what connections might come your way while networking during the event.
Get involved in online communities related to your business
Joining LinkedIn, Alignable, and Clubhouse are excellent ways for businesses to become involved in the online community. LinkedIn is a great platform for networking and building professional relationships, while Alignable allows users to find local business events and connect with other businesses. Clubhouse is a powerful tool that enables businesses to gain real-time insights from conversations with industry-specific experts. All three are valuable resources that can give your business the competitive edge it needs. It’s never been more accessible or important to get involved with the online community, so take the initiative and join these platforms today for virtual connections!
Follow up with potential contacts after meeting them – send an email, or a text message, connect on social media, or set up a coffee chat.
It is always important to follow up with people after meeting them; not only will this leave a positive lasting impression, but it could potentially create the opportunity for a long-lasting business relationship. Following up can be done in many ways; an email is often first and easiest, as it allows one to quickly add information and provide any additional resources needed. Text messages have become a popular communication method if you collect a mobile number during your interaction. Social media provides an engaging platform to connect further; whether you’re connecting on LinkedIn, joining their network community, or just liking/sharing their posts, having some presence in the digital world can be another great way to interact. Lastly, setting up a coffee chat has one of the greatest impacts because it shows that you are genuinely invested in getting to know someone better over a more personal conversation. However you choose to follow up with your contacts, always keep the communication open and consistent!
Defining your target market and researching the competition is important to succeed in business. It’s also essential to network with potential contacts and get involved in online communities related to your business. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to achieving success.
