I often hear people who are just starting out in business asking whether networking is worth doing and, if it is, what the best way is of going about it. Well, I started my first business in 2005 and pretty much grew it through business networking so I would say that networking is extremely worthwhile. Having said that I tend to have a slightly different view about how you go about it to most other people that I come across! I believe that networking is first and foremost about creating and building relationships. It’s not about pushing for referrals and selling, but that will naturally happen if you network properly. Connection is the most important and most valuable part of business networking. Nearly everyone knows that people are more likely to buy from people that they know, like and trust; if you don’t network with people, how will anyone know whether they know, like and trust you?
Some people in certain trades dismiss networking as not useful for them, especially those who work in the B2C area. But, what about the potential contact’s friends, families, colleagues, business associates of anyone that you meet in any environment? Each and everyone of them could be in your target market and how better to reach them than through your new found contact who will grow to “know like and trust you”?
Don’t ever dismiss a contact as not being useful to your in your business; you never know when that will be proved to be untrue.
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