Business owners know that networking is a big part of running their own business; it’s important for you to get out and meet people. However, it’s not just about who can collect or pass out as many business cards as they can, but about value. That is, what value others bring to you, but more importantly, what value you can bring to others.
Networking: Bring Value to Others
Investors Business Daily is one of my favorite reads for leadership and business tips. Every week they will post a short article on how to achieve success in your business, and a great one I recently read was on networking. The first advice that the article says is to offer value to those you meet.
My colleague, Nevada small business lawyer Gina Madsen also recently wrote on how to network effectively: it’s all about building that relationship.
You’re most likely not going to come away with clients after your first networking event. But the more you go and the more you talk to the same people, you’re building that trust and relationship in which they can feel comfortable referring you to others.
At my last chamber of commerce mixer, there was a business owner who was just walking around passing business cards; no or conversation about what we do or even the weather. Who would you rather refer business to: someone you just met, or someone you’ve known for some time, who has brought value to you, and someone can trust?
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