This summer I’ve become quite involved with networking and all it entails. Networking involves utilizing connections, relationships, and organizations to help maximize the strength of your business. It allows you to broaden your company’s horizons and is the secret weapon to growing your business.
I have found networking to be challenging sometimes because it encourages you to step outside your comfort zone. When it comes to benefiting your business, however, your networking efforts will pay off. I’ve built countless relationships and valuable connections through networking that have helped me expand my business and take it to the next level.
When establishing your brand, it’s in your best interest to take advantage of any help you can get from outside parties. That’s why I’m sharing my top five reasons you should be networking too!
- Opens doors to new opportunities
One of the simplest, yet most valuable benefits of networking is the opportunities it creates. The more relationships you make, the more chances you have of building additional relationships and thus expanding your network. It might be a relationship that leads you to your next piece of business, your next employee, or your next speaking engagement. The possibilities are endless! - Sets you apart
In order to flourish as a company, you must achieve differentiation. Not all businesses are willing to devote time and effort to build strong connections. By networking, you’re showing how much you value personal relationships. Since average businesses focus more on mass communication and impersonal strategies, going the extra mile will surely make you stand out. It is your responsibility to create and maintain relationships that will be most beneficial to you, to help you rise above competitors. - Expands base of potential customers
Networking expands your base of potential customers. We suggest establishing relationships with the people you meet by networking on social media. I always do it on LinkedIn, but I have also connected with colleagues on Facebook and Instagram. It totally depends on your comfort level and activity in these channels. This creates new ways to interact with your network and entices them to patronize or refer your business. - Builds your personal reputation
Putting yourself out there and getting recognition from others shows a lot about your personal character. By attending regular meetings and seminars (along with any other form of networking), others will become more familiar with you and will likely think highly of you. Applying the effort to establish and retain relationships shows others that you are trustworthy and supportive. - Acts as leverage to investors
When you can prove to investors that your connections are valuable, you have a much better chance of persuading them to invest in your company. This is because networking shows that others place trust in you, and encourages them to do so too.
A solid networking strategy may be exactly what your business needs to gain the exposure you’ve been looking for. For other ways to gain exposure and expand your networks, look to Robb Digital. We’re here to help grow your business through e-mail marketing, social media marketing, internet advertising, and much more.
Have you networked lately? Let us know all about your networking experiences in the comments below.