Networking

NETWORKING

Networking is interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. It is key to a successful and expanding career.

WHY?

Networking is about sharing, creating trust and helping one another reach goals.

Regularly engaging with contacts and finding opportunities to support them helps strengthen your connection. Networking isn’t always with ‘business people’. You can network with friends and family as well. A good networker will invest their time in getting to know people. The more effort you put in, the more you will get out of the relationship.

Your network includes everyone from family and friends to colleagues, professional connections, social media contacts and members of groups or organisations. Regularly interacting within your industry can set you up to progress far in your career. Developing relationships is mutually beneficial. You can raise your professional profile and increase your access to opportunities, and your contacts are likely to experience those same rewards from networking with you.

Social networking has become a significant opportunity for marketers.

HOW TO NETWORK

There are 3 important things to consider when meeting someone for the first time.

1

FOCUS

When you first meet someone, where is your focus? Don’t think about yourself - think about the other person and how you’re making them feel. Confidence and professionalism will set the tone as you get to know people.

2

CONFIDENCE

To get your body language right, give a genuine smile, make eye contact and give a good handshake. Body language makes a huge difference to first impressions.

3

TALK

You have to know when to introduce yourself. A simple thing to remember is the 3 ft | 30 second rule. If you enter a room and are three feet from someone, you should acknowledge them. If you have been near someone for thirty seconds or more, you should introduce yourself.

Drive conversations with questions. Get people talking about themselves. Take interest in the other person by asking questions about family and occupation, for example.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media networking is the use of internet-based social media sites to stay connected with others.

It can either have a social purpose, a business purpose or both. Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter are the most recommended sites for networking, but you may find others that work for you.

It has become a significant opportunity for marketers to engage with customers, as they use can social networking to increase brand recognition and encourage brand loyalty. Companies use social media to drive sales through advertising and promotion, to regulate consumer trends and offer customer support.

Social media is now full of so many possibilities that big companies employ whole teams of people whose jobs are to manage their social media presence.

Strengthens business connections Networking is about sharing, not taking. It is about building trust and supporting one another. Engaging with contacts and finding opportunities to help them makes your relationship stronger.

Builds confidence By regularly meeting new people and putting yourself out there, you are stepping out of your comfort zone and building self-confidence and valuable social skills. The more you network, the more these will develop.

Advances your career Being noticed is a benefit of networking that is important in career building. Attending professional and social events will get you known. Being knowledgeable, reliable and supportive will build your reputation. This might be as simple as offering information or tips to people who need it.

Hear a different perspective Exchanging information on experiences, challenges and goals allows you to gain new insights that you can use to enhance your own performance and can build your reputation as an innovative thinker.