10 Business Networking Tips: Grow Your Professional Network

People do business with people they know, like and trust.
Companies don’t make decisions, people do. Your professional network can
open doors for you that otherwise could not be opened. For better or
for worse, it’s not just what you know or are capable of doing, it’s who
you know, that’s important for career advancement and business
development. You can also learn a tremendous amount from people in your
network who have experience and expertise.

After realizing the incredible importance of professional
networking, I began scouring the web, Amazon, and bookstores for
resources. I found there were resources on related topics, such as
interpersonal communication, but not many great resources on business
networking specifically.

I began asking everyone I know who has had a successful
career, built a successful business, or simply knows a lot of people for
their advice on how to build a professional network. After compiling
the best advice I received, studying every relevant book and resource I
could find, experimenting, and practicing, I learned a lot about how to
effectively make new contacts and build relationships.

After years spent practicing and testing new techniques and
strategies, making a lot of avoidable mistakes, and meeting and
building relationships with lots awesome people, I’ve learned a lot and
decided to write a book on it to share my knowledge. Here’s just 10
business networking tips you can use to grow your professional network.

When people in your network get stronger, you get stronger.
By helping people in your network get stronger, they may be in a better
position to be able to help you in the future. In addition, per the law
of reciprocity, people may be more motivated to return the favor.

Share your expertise and ideas. Share information. Promote
your network’s work and accomplishments. Be a connector. Business
transactions are always mutually beneficial. One person is buying a
product or service because it will benefit them in some way, and one
person is selling a product or service because they can profit. If you
can connect two people you know who would benefit from knowing each
other, you can help two people as well as improve the strength of your
network

In a professional setting, people prefer to build business
relationships with people they see as being valuable. By building a
reputation as someone who is talented, helpful, and valuable, people
will be more motivated to meet you and stay in touch with you. Let
people know what you’re accomplishing and learning through blogging,
emails, and conversations.

If no one knows what you’re doing, it’s like it never
happened. Maintain regular and consistent with people you want to stay
in touch with. Communicate via email, blogging, social networking, and
of course, in-person.

The best way to make lucky things happen, is to make a lot
of things happen. Go outside. Manufacture serendipity. Ways to meet new
people include conferences, events, meetup.com,
Quora, asking people you know for introductions, reaching out to people
directly, personal interest groups, intramural sports leagues, classes
and workshops, parties, happy hours, alumni associations, Twitter, and
LinkedIn groups.

Go where the people you want to meet hang out both online
and offline. Interact with people and build rapport. Share valuable
content and spark interesting conversations. Also think about who else
spends time with the people you want to meet and connect with them.

Connections open doors, but relationships close deals.
Networking is not just about exchanging business cards and connecting on
LinkedIn. Networking is most valuable when long-lasting, mutually
beneficial relationships are formed. Relationships take time to
build. Be patient. Stay in touch with people you like.

When you push yourself, in any area of life, you will
inevitably face setbacks. In networking, you will face a lot of
rejection. People will ignore your calls and email. They will decline
meeting invites, and requests for introductions. Trying and failing is
much better then not trying at all. At least when you try you have a
chance to succeed. Learn from your rejections and grow stronger for when
it happens again.

Listening is one of the most valuable, yet commonly
overlooked, skills to have in networking and in business. People love to
talk about themselves and appreciate when you take a genuine interest
in what they have to stay. Listening will help you to get to learn about
peoples’ challenges and get to know them better, which can ultimately
lead to more productive professional relationships. Ask open-ended
questions, be genuinely interested, and express interest and curiosity.

You never know until you ask, and more often than you
think, you will get the answer you want. Ask for introductions. Ask
people you want to meet to meet with you. Ask for advice.

Build a reputation as someone who delivers on their
promises and is persistent. Follow up with on people who promised to do
something for you. Follow up on on emails you send that get ignored. Do
what you promised to do for others.