When you are endeavouring to get your small business off the ground, an enticing range of networking opportunities is open to you. Still, you could lack the confidence to attempt to tap into them. You might even remain unsure why utilising them would be worthwhile in the first place.
However, investing time in building up your bank of business contacts can be a delightfully cost-effective way of garnering the support that your fledgeling company needs for growth.
Meet contacts and referrals
When your business is still small, you need to keep your focus local – and how better can you reach out to local contacts than by networking? Even if you are currently reticent about meeting these people face-to-face, you could start on social media, as the Federation of Small Businesses advises.
Once you have developed the necessary confidence, you could proceed to attend a networking event. Such events can take place in a variety of venues – even those of local sports clubs.
Get repeated chances to strengthen your visibility
One significant advantage of networking is that you have many opportunities to engage in it and so further your promotional efforts. In fact, acting on many of those opportunities could prove crucial early in your business journey, when your company’s name is little-known.
Furthermore, once you have formed business relationships, regularly meeting and communicating with these contacts will be a must for keeping in touch with them, says The Balance Small Business.
Stay relevant in the eyes of potential clients
If you have only recently made your first tentative steps into the world of business, you might not have fully realised just how fast-paced it is. Therefore, the onus would be on you to keep track of target market conditions, not to mention overall trends in your sector.
You can regularly refresh your current knowledge of the industry if you regularly network with business associates who can help to keep you updated on what is going on.
Find remedies for your business problems
As your business slowly grows, it could feel like something of a jigsaw, with obvious gaps just waiting to be filled. Maybe you are struggling to keep on top of your financial accounts or need some extra investment? In networking, you might find an accountant or investor who would be the perfect fit.
Networking might solve other issues through less direct means. You could, for example, come across innovative business ideas which you are inspired to follow, says HuffPost.
Develop your confidence and morale
If you don’t consider yourself the most natural “people person”, you could overcome deficiencies in your interpersonal skills by going to networking events. At these events, there’s a chance of meeting like-minded people with which you form lasting friendships.
Even the venue itself could somewhat encourage this development. If you run a County Durham business, then booking events for meeting rooms at Chester-le-Street Cricket Club could allow you and other attendees to bond over a shared love of cricket and drink in the on-site bar.
