BUSINESS NETWORKING DURING COVID-19

Business networking is the process of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with other business people and potential clients or customers. Business networking benefits are the intangible gains made by communicating with other professionals in or relating to your industry.

It became very hard to network during the beginning of Covid-19 because of social distancing rules. That’s when I thought of bringing a group of business owners together online to support each other emotionally, financially and for knowledge transfer.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BUSINESS NETWORKING? Business networking might allow you to create awareness of or keep abreast of the latest business trends or technology in your industry. A network can also provide you with professional mentors or contacts who might be able to assist you with problems you might need help with. For example, if your business needs the services of a bookkeeper, accountant, or lawyer you may find the ideal candidate through your network. If your business needs equity financing you may be able to find an angel investor or venture capitalist through networking channels.

Networking is ideal for expanding your knowledge by taking advantage of the viewpoints and prior experience of others. For instance, if you are thinking of exporting your products or services, you may be able to get some valuable advice from someone else who has done similar business internationally. Networking builds confidence, in that your business and the methods you have employed to run and manage it are competitive and comparable to similar businesses.

THE KEY NETWORKING BENEFITS

1. Strength business connections 2. Get fresh ideas 3. Advance your career 4. Get access to job opportunities 5. Interconnected business contacts 6. Get career advice & support 7. Build confidence 8. Gain a different perspective 9. Develop long-lasting personal relationships 10. Get an answer to every question 11. Find a job you love

HOW TO NETWORK As much as networking is beneficial to your career and even your personal life, the reality is that it doesn’t come naturally to many people. In fact, for some, the thought of starting a conversation with a stranger at a conference or event incites downright dread.

A good rule of thumb is to plan ahead and have a few relevant points of discussion in mind if you know you’re going to be in a situation where you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people. These conversation points don’t have to be all about work – they can even be about topics like hobbies or the event itself. The idea is to get the conversation flowing and leave room for future meetups and discussions. On that note, don’t forget to bring business cards so you can swap details easily.

WHERE TO NETWORK: There are many Networking Groups in each city and you may be able to find them on Facebook and Meetup, however the group which is actually a product of the Covid-19 Pandemic is Western Business Network. Mostly active in the west coast of North America as of now. It’s a group of Subject Matter Experts from different industries and skills which help your business grow. One of the unique things about this group is that there is no competition among the group members. They accept only one business in the group for one type of business. Explore more about them on their website www. WesternBusinessNetwork.com and visit one of their online meeting.

Sunil Khatri is Founder of Western Business Network, A Growth Hacker and Digital Marketing Expert Who Helps Businesses Get New Clients and Grow their Digital Presence using Social Media, Advertising & CRM Automation. During Covid-19, he built a Business Group of Experts Who Help Your Business Grow.