Networking Tips

By Nancy Cozart

Photo Credit: Nancy Cozart

How To Make NetWORKing Work For You

You look at the time on your computer screen. You notice it is after 5:00 pm. If you work a typical 9:00 – 5:00 work schedule, you are probably thinking it is time to finish up work and head home. You are tired and ready to head home for the evening.

If you work in the field of sales, or if you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, or you work in the service industry, you know how important networking can be. How do you find the time to go to networking events after hours?

Instead of heading home, head to networking events directly after work. If you have a flexible schedule at work, maybe try going into work an hour early and leaving earlier that day to head to a networking event. Or maybe if you are planning to go to a networking event after hours, you could bring your lunch to work and eat at your desk, so you can leave on time to get to your networking event.

Try to attend networking events directly after work. Drive straight to your networking event prior to heading home for the evening. If you head home first, eat dinner and change into more comfortable clothes, you may be tempted to skip your networking event. Put your best foot forward by showing up to networking events early and dressed in your professional attire.

Handing Out Business Cards

When attending networking events, be prepared to hand out business cards. You can also collect business cards from other professionals you meet at your networking events. Business cards can easily get lost or misplaced, so take a moment to take pictures of the business cards you collect to get them scanned into your cell phone. When you get home that night, you can enter the contact information into your Contacts in your cell phone or in Outlook on your laptop or home computer. When you get back to work the next day, you can also enter work contacts into your Contacts in Outlook. You could also prepare a spreadsheet to keep track of contacts or you could enter contacts into a CRM database at work.

Pneumonic Devices

Do you have difficulty remembering names of people you just met? Try using pneumonic devices. This is a helpful strategy to try if you have difficulties recalling the names of new acquaintances. For example, if you meet someone who is tall and his name is Tom, try using a pneumonic device and associate his name with his height, such as “Tall Tom”. This is also helpful when you meet someone with a difficult last name to pronounce. Try using a pneumonic device to help you remember names of business acquaintances if you are having difficulties recalling names.

Online Networking Groups on Social Media

Another helpful strategy for building your professional network is to join online networking groups on social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. This is a great way to expand your network and build professional business relationships with colleagues. This is also a helpful resource for locating vendors that you may wish to partner with.

Networking During a Pandemic

If you have concerns about networking during a pandemic, there are several helpful strategies. Try shifting to online networking events and Zoom calls. For in-person networking events, try looking for events that meet outdoors. Keep hand sanitizer in your pocket and sanitize your hands after shaking hands with aquaintances. Or skip the handshakes and instead wave or consider fist bumps or elbow bumps, or simply smile and thank your aquaintances for chatting with you.

Professional Networking Groups and Organizations

To expand your networking connections, consider joining professional networking groups such as Chamber of Commerce groups, BNI groups, IKAGG, and other helpful networking groups. Joining networking groups is a great way to build and expand your networking connections.

Volunteering for Worthy Charitable Causes

Another great way to expand your networking connections is to volunteer for worthy charitable causes and events. Not only will you be helping charitable organizations, but you will have an opportunity to network with other volunteers, as well. There are many charitable organizations that would greatly appreciate your assistance as a volunteer.

Turn NetWORKing into NetFUNing

Networking doesn’t have to be all about work. Try participating in fun activities to expand your networking connections outside of work. For example, you could volunteer to help set up a charitable trivia night event, or you could volunteer to assist with charity walk events, golf tournaments, luncheons or galas.

Turn Hobbies and Sideline Businesses into Business Ventures

If your full time job does not involve a need for networking, consider using your hobby or sideline business as a way to get involved with networking. For example, if you have a desk job and networking is not helpful for your line of work, you could consider networking for your hobby or a sideline business.

If you have an entrepreneurial side, consider getting involved with networking groups to launch a work from home opportunity. There are many sideline businesses and work from home opportunities that would benefit from getting involved with networking groups.

Some examples of work from home opportunities that you might consider include businesses such as Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Paparazzi, Tupperware, and other sideline businesses. Or you could start your own side-line business, such as dog walking, pet sitting, mobile pet grooming services, catering, cake decorating, or other service based businesses.

Another option is to turn your hobby into a successful business opportunity. Are you an artist? Consider selling your paintings online and spread the word about your new business venture through networking. Do you love music? Consider a part-time gig as a DJ or start a band and spread the word through networking. Do you love to travel? Consider a sideline business in the field of travel and tourism. Do you enjoy crafts? Consider selling your crafts online with social media sites such as Etsy. Do you love to create gift baskets? Consider creating gift baskets and launching a gift basket business venture. Are you a photographer? Consider starting a sideline photography business.

No matter what your interests are or what field you are in, you can make networking work for you. Networking does not feel like work when you are getting results. It’s never too late to get started. Networking is a great tool for sourcing leads and building connections for your full-time career or your part-time business venture.

Some entrepreneurs have even turned their part-time sideline work-from-home business into a full-time thriving career.

With a little motivation, determination, inspiration and perseverance, you can turn any idea into a successful business.

If you have an idea….turn that idea into a successful business venture. Networking is the perfect tool for launching your full-time job and/or part-time business opportunity into a successful career. With networking, you can make valuable connections. Networking is a great resource that can be useful for any job, career, or business venture!

With a little creativity and networking, anything is possible.

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Photo Credit: Nancy Cozart

Photo Credit: Nancy Cozart