Business is all about who you know. Thanks to social media, you can sometimes skip all the busywork and go directly to your customer base, but unfortunately doing this without any business connection at all is very, very rare.
The good news, however, is that there are so many ways that you can grow your connections. You can successfully make those introductions that take your small brand into a supplier for a major department store. You can collaborate with big brands for a project. You can do it all. You just need to use these top tips to grow your network:
Start with a good home base
How you look is going to play a huge part in how successfully you network. Trying to play in the big leagues when you’re still operating out of your house isn’t often going to work, because those big firms are going to either smell blood in the water, or they’re going to dismiss you outright.
That’s why you need to look the part, starting with your office. You don’t even need to physically rent out an office in a prestigious area like Mayfair, either. You can instead rent a virtual office from yourcityoffice.com and benefit from a Zone 1 address. You can have that address answer or forward calls, too. Then, as a bonus, you can rent out the meeting room if and when needed, giving you the option to set up meetings in your boutique office.
Follow think tanks and knowledge exchange organizations
The best way to connect with bigger brands and notable professionals is not to go where those companies are the star. Instead, look for university think tanks, or other organizations that are pushing the envelope on the industry. Attending their talks and workshops means learning how to stand out, and it’s also a great way to connect as equals to other professionals with the same passion and interest as you.
Build up your own reputation
Your business is just one part of your success. If you want to build up the connections that can actually make the difference between you and success, you’re going to want to become impressive in your own right.
You can do this by becoming a thought leader. Ideally, you’re going to want to network until you yourself are invited as a panelist or as a lead speaker. Start with smaller events first, and work to build up your reputation that way.
You want people to be impressed when they look you up. If you’re impressive, then you’re more likely to be heard when talking about your business and your future plans with it. This applies to regular network contacts, and also when it comes to pitching your business to investors.
Be active with your network
Networking is not a one-and-done act. If you want to successfully use connections to help build up your business you’re going to want to be active. This means engaging with your contacts regularly. You can do this through LinkedIn, especially if they post something. You can also do it directly if you have good rapport (for example, you hit it off with another professional, and call to organize a lunch).
Being proactive about nurturing your network is how you grow the relationship in a way that can help you and your business. It does take time, so start today.