Three Secrets of Successful Networking
Networking is not easy. In any book for aspiring entrepreneurs, you’ll find the advice to go out to the relevant events, speak to everyone you meet there, building all sorts of connections with potential partners, investors, competitors, etc. However, many of us lack the confidence to embrace this talking. It gets easier when you know what to say and how to say it. That’s why I wrote down my key tips and tricks for successful networking.
1️⃣ Clearly Formulate Your Goals
When we just came to Silicon Valley to grow our business, LinguaTrip.com, we went to every single party in the area and to every Meetup. We tried to meet every person in the industry. But we were making one crucial mistake: we did not have “an ask”.
What I call “an ask” is, essentially, the goal of your networking. When you meet new people and introduce yourself, you should have the ultimate goal of building this connection.
In the case of potential investors, it’s all about getting them on board with your project.
In the case that you are a student or a young professional, meeting industry leaders can lead to getting an internship or mentorship with them.
When you are a well-established business, you may be on search for young talents or new partners. When you realize what your ultimate goal is and formulate it for yourself as an ask, it makes networking more focused and productive.
Approaching people, you will introduce yourself and present them with your ask: a problem you are trying to solve or advice or support they can give you. It will make them pay more attention to what you are saying. They will treat the conversation more seriously. In the end, there are more chances that they will either take your contacts and come back to you or they will introduce you to somebody else at the same meeting or party who can potentially help you. Without a clear “ask”, you will be simply chit-chatting and practising small talk.
2️⃣ Offer The Value First
Of course, only asking strangers for their opinions, assistance, or money won’t get you very far. To get them interested in your ideas and willing to help you, you need to offer them something first.
For instance, you can offer them to test your service or product before asking them to work with you, invest in your business or refer to someone else in the industry.
As a blogger, I often offer people a chance to participate in my vlogs and explain how it will benefit them: e.g. promoting their products or services. When people who I admire and would like to get support from become my guests and actually get something from me, they are more inclined to offer me their advice or support.
It may be a challenging task to find what you can offer. To get ready for your networking session, sit down and think through potential services or skills you can offer to people with whom you want to build a relationship. Clearly understand your goals and offerings before heading to a networking meeting.
3️⃣ Develop Your Communication Skills
The last but not the least thing you need in order to network efficiently is your communication skills. There are a lot of introverts among us who feel shy and uneasy about meeting new people and starting conversations with strangers.
To avoid face-to-face confrontations, you can start with producing the content for the type of audience you are trying to attract. For instance, if you are launching a new vegan product, start a blog about veganism and conscious living. It can be a blog section with texts on your website, your branded Facebook page where you share regular updates and relevant links, or a video blog on YouTube.
This way, you will build your confidence and learn how to talk about the topics of your interest. Your blog will start gathering an audience and get their first feedback. People may point out some of your mistakes, they may ask more questions, but most of all, they may show you their support of your ideas and your work. Hopefully, the people you are dreaming of networking with will reach out to you themselves if you sound interesting and relevant to them. Furthermore, a successful blog may become your offering and you will be in a better position when networking with influential and popular people.
If you are trying to network internationally and not sure whether your language skills are at the right level, book a language course abroad. At LinguaTrip.com, you can find business English courses tailored for those who want to develop their language skills for business meetings, pitches and correspondence. If that’s what you are looking for, check out Kings London in the UK or FLS Boston Commons in the USA, a business German course in BWS Germanlingua school in Berlin, or a business French course in ILA school in Montpellier.
Summary
There are three essential things you should do to network efficiently. 1️⃣ Firstly, clearly formulate the goal of your networking and have your ask when you introduce yourself. 2️⃣ Secondly, identify the skills or services you can offer to others and start by giving them something before asking. 3️⃣ Thirdly, work on your communication skills. Learn your industry and subject in detail, practice blogging about it and be prepared to face any questions or criticism.
With these three simple steps, you will make massive progress in networking. What to do when you’ve got a connection with an investor? Check my tips in this article. Hopefully, next time you go to network, strangers will turn into your partners.
