Whatever you need to know about Networking

One of the best ways to find new connections and networks is through different trade fairs which could be local national or international. In these fairs, you can find the people offering the same service, product or idea as yours. So, if you take part even just as a visitor, you will get to know new people, a new idea or probably your next potential business partners. When you want to take part in a fair with important activities going on, it’s going to save your time and energy. Moreover, some fairs are extremely big and there might be outnumbered participants and you may not have a lot of time to meet them all individually. 

So, you have to choose the bests which are suitable for your business and then talk with those selected partners. To do so, first, go to the fair’s website that you wish to attend and find out how many companies will be offering their products or services at that fair. After that, select the top 50 companies then select the top 20 out of those fifty. Now is the time to contact them. Many fairs websites have an option to connect you with potential participants. Therefore, you can also use this tool to find the best possible business partner, set an appointment online, and try to meet them.

But before any meeting, you have to prepare a speech that should be no more than 40 seconds and whenever you want to introduce yourself as well as your company, you use your speech. It is important to prepare a short speech followed by a personal card handed over to the stakeholders because it would allow you to have a possible chance of meeting new people. In a short time, it is not possible for you to talk to everyone, which is also why a short speech is the most preferred method.

The other good way to find a new network is via different networking events. Nowadays, as many people understand the importance of networking, they share different events with their colleagues and other people around them. You can take part in such events as networking breakfast or networking evenings and find new contacts there. In union networking events or gatherings, you will also find valuable partners or customers. If you remember in module 2, we talked about market opportunities. You may also find other networks in the other markets which may also be suitable for you. For example, if you have a yoga class, you may find another partner who is an expert about vegan or vegetarian foods. You could ask this partner to come and give a speech to your class about healthy foods, vegetables, and related benefits. 

So, be curious and go in different directions to find different kinds of networks. Another example that could be linked here is that if you are a lawyer and you offer consulting services, you may go to the import-export or freight companies gathering. You can also find interesting networks or contacts and they could be your future customers. Hence, it’s important to saturate your own field network but it is also important to find other contacts in the nearby areas of your expertise. It may expand the variety of different customers that you will have and will open new markets for you. I had a friend who was good at finance and studied economy. He started his work in the art school and taught the entire art class about the ways of earning money from their artworks. Therefore, it’s important to have more contacts since it’s possible.