Want to skyrocket your growth via business networking? Here's a quick guide
Last updated on:"Your network is your net worth" is a powerful statement by Porter Gale, a renowned entrepreneur, and networker.
The growth of a business typically relies on various factors and business networking is one of them. Despite being a vital step of success, the importance of business networking is often ignored by those who are not familiar with its incredible power that can benefit an individual as well as a business.
A stronger business network group amounts to better business opportunities & B2B leads, thus opening a door to building relationships with people that can foster your business in the long run. This is why influential figures always seek an opportunity to become a part of something significant that holds value in society. This digital era has blessed business owners with simple ways of networking around the globe hassle-free.
We discuss every single detail of business networking to help you kickstart your journey to the sky.
What is business networking?
Business networking is basically establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with other business owners with the motive of turning them into buyers or clients. Business networking is like jumping into a pool full of other big and small fishes that may help you thrive.
The best thing about business networking is that it is not always about finding buyers or sellers. It is about exchanging knowledge, advice, and ideas.
Now, let us take a look at how you can use business networking the right way!
The most practical business networking benefits
Bigger & better opportunities
Business owners regularly seek exclusive business networking opportunities. Because people love to socialize and talk about their business with others. Anne Baker was able to become a diplomat for the United States government through her networking skills. From an administrative assistant, she was able to climb the ladder of ultimate success. Networking helped her connect with Senator Cantwell's Chief of Staff, Congress.
This success story denotes that business networking indeed offers bigger and better growth opportunities.
Increased visibility
All you need to grow is to get acknowledged by the right audience, the right group, and the right client. A successful business is often a result of a great business networking group. It offers you immense value and the opportunity that you can encash to boost your business. A well-known network will assist you in finding a suitable audience so that you can deliver your business pitch.
Countless people have been able to grab great opportunities, thanks to networking. Business networking groups can build impeccable credibility that can ultimately drive business.
Sweetened knowledge
Knowledge is powerful but powerless if you get it and you do not acknowledge it. Enriched business knowledge is always helpful and business networking is one way to do so. Constantly expanding your knowledge and getting insider information can help businesses dominate their competition. One will always learn, and gain valuable pieces of advice from others in a business networking group.
Knowledge can come your way through conversations, lunch meetings, or even casual chatting. Networking naturally opens multiple doors to establishing relationships with the best in the market. Many people owe their success to that one suggestion that they received from someone experienced.
Valuable friendships
Friendship is always beneficial whether at a business or personal level. It is unlikely that you struck a good friendship at business networking groups initially, but continuously connecting with like-minded people will eventually lead to some sort of bond. These high-end friendships often turn out to be extremely useful for both parties mutually. Seeing familiar faces at a business networking event is a good sign of progress.
Find resources or save costs on buying services
“If you fulfill the wishes of your employees, the employees will fulfill your visions.”- Amit Kalantri. This simple quote speaks so much about having a superior team that can boost your business. Finding a new motivated and genuine employee can be a daunting task. But business networking events can solve this problem too.
Did you know that growth-hungry individuals attend business networking events? It is a perfect spot to spread the word about your latest requirement and enquire other business owners about relevant references. Hiring is just one thing where you can save money by business networking, there are many more such advantages that you shouldn't miss.
Get motivated
Motivation is contagious, surrounding yourself with highly motivated people will in turn inspire you. Sometimes a little motivation is what you need to push over the edge and spark creative ideas for your new business. And business networking groups are one of the best places to hear others' success stories so you may write your own.
Best business networking tips to rely on
Identify conversational icebreakers
The ability to spark conversations with a stranger is indeed a great skill that you should learn without fail. Your first impression holds a great weight while networking, so make sure it lasts long. Everyone experiences the initial awkwardness when approaching a stranger but identifying the conversational icebreakers may help you initiate the interaction.
Complimenting someone is a great conversation starter and it works almost always. A positive comment on their shoes, hair, or suit is something you should do. Asking a question is also a nice way to find an excuse for a talk.
Be positive
Positivity attracts people, negativity doesn't and your goal is to connect with as many people as possible. Make sure you don't radiate the negative vibes in an effort to find some cool conversation starters. Also, avoid talking ill about former companies, coworkers, and business partners. You sure don't want to make them think that you'll say bad about them if given a chance.
Help your network
Offering help to your connections will instantly increase your respect and likeability. Helping a connection in need will add value to their life and they'll be thankful for that. It is also possible that you may end up becoming a good friend of theirs. You'll earn a positive reputation that will eventually help. Your connection is more likely to stand by your side in a crisis if you're on their good marks.
So, helping a connection is helping yourself!
Be crystal clear
Being clear about your goal will help you steer forward and socialize in a business network event easily. It is important to be definite about what you're seeking before any conversation. If you're determined then the interaction will run smoothly and you'll end up getting what you wanted.
Attending business networking events
The first and foremost thing to kickstart your business networking journey is to attend business networking events. With time, you should be wise enough to find the relevant events that can serve as a business networking opportunity.
Professional associations and societies are some of the greatest places to stumble upon the most successful and aspiring people of your city.
Top platforms to increase business via networking
LinkedIn is the top social platform to establish B2B connections. It has around 830 million users in more than 200 countries worldwide, India alone has over 82 million users. The economic and business networking opportunity on LinkedIn is quite vast. The free version offers basic features that are useful but a premium version is much more useful.
LinkedIn users can join online business networking groups and can even become valuable members by sharing insightful data. Users can send chat invitations to connect with others on a personal level. It also allows users to set up their profile, upload profile pictures, share posts, and comment on other posts.
LinkedIn is not an ideal platform for advertising, but is the perfect place to look out for talented individuals. It allows you to target a particular group so you may find the most suitable candidate. Further, aspiring and already established business entities are constantly active by making connections with other like-minded people.
Facebook has around 2.9 billion monthly users and over 1.9 billion users log in each day which is approximately 67%. Facebook is not just for connecting with family and friends, business owners have already realized its potential to help them network.
You can create a personal profile just like LinkedIn where relevant information about you along with the desired keywords can be mentioned. Moreover, a separate business page can also be created to build a community and reach the audience as well as entice your networks. Joining business networking groups is a great way to find potential networks by contributing to the group by posting.
Merchant Circle
Merchant Circle is a networking platform founded in 2005 to help connect local businesses. Their target is to assist small businesses in reaching out to the audience and other like-minded people using their tools. Merchant Circle lists more than 1.6 million businesses on its network.
It is an excellent option for business networking for small businesses.
People love reading and Twitter is the place where they go for quick updates. Celebrities and even the likes of Elon Musk use it to convey their message to the masses. Twitter is a relevant place to connect with high-end business individuals. Additionally, Twitter allows you to have your brand voice and reach out to certain individuals on a personal level too.
Hashtags are another benefit of Twitter that helps you find a specific group of people.
Zyapaar- A new way of networking
Zyapaar is India's first ever B2B networking platform designed to cater to the needs of buyers, suppliers, and even service providers.
Zyapaar is a brainchild of 4 visionary leaders determined to change online business networking and transform it into something great. With Zyapaar one can easily jumpstart their business by networking with thousands of verified enterprises and businesses all over India. Zyapaar is a way to connect with online buyers & sellers to generate qualified B2B leads.
Zypaar simplifies the networking process and connects suppliers with buyers effortlessly. It enables you to post your real-time business requirements so you may find a favorable match. Plus, the effective algorithm of Zyapaar works perfectly to increase your brand visibility on the platform.
With Zyapaar Ab Daudega Business!