New Ways to Grow your Network.

Networking can be a key way to keep your business growing

Regardless of your industry or business size, it is hard to ignore the benefits of forming professional networks for potential partnerships, expanding your client base, and scaling up.

Networking traditionally involves in-person conferences and business events or face-to-face business meetings over coffee or dinner. However during the COVID-19 period many businesses learnt to pivot and network in new ways. In fact during the pandemic it became more important than ever to try new ways to increase sales and ensure that businesses stayed afloat.

In this article, we will explore strategies outside traditional networking that you can utilise for your business well into the future.

Host Webinars, Online Courses or Podcasts

Webinars, online courses, and podcasts give you a chance to establish thought leadership and be at the forefront of your industry.

Start that project you’ve been meaning to work on but haven’t found the time. When done right, you will be able to engage people in your existing network and add more people to your database.

Take the time to do some planning on the industry-relevant topics that you’d want to discuss on your webinar, online course, or podcast, and include interactive activities that will keep your audience engaged. Don’t forget to let the participants know about your other courses or webinars, as these subscribers can help you keep your network growing.

Offer Free Downloadable Content

Whether you are creating fresh content or repurposing existing content that you already have, aim to provide value that will attract new people to your network.

You might create ebooks, courses, whitepapers, research reports, and other valuable pieces of content that people in your industry will find useful. Offer your content to your current contacts and promote them even further through social media, email marketing.

Take Part in New Online Communities

Explore moving online to connect with more people. Join virtual discussion groups and online communities that will give you an opportunity for targeted networking.

When you do an online search of relevant groups, you will find that there are thousands of them. You don’t have to join every single one– just choose two to three that are most suitable and start participating. Engage by reacting and commenting on other people’s posts, provide useful tips and consider sending a direct message to start a conversation. Don’t try to be too “salesy” though.

Tailor your Messaging

When trying to connect with people online, don’t just send a stock-standard template– develop strong relationships by maintaining sincere and genuine interactions. In other words, don’t send a message that you wouldn’t be comfortable receiving.

Make the effort to personalise each email instead of sending a generic message. You can reference a past event that you both attended or projects that you worked on together in the past, if there are any, in order to show authenticity when reconnecting.

If this is not applicable, you can also share encouraging words and stories, or ask if there’s anything you can help with.

Participate in Philanthropic Initiatives

Times of crisis ahve taught us that we are stronger if we work together. There are a lot of initiatives to help those in need.

By collaborating with charitable organisations and participating in volunteer programs, you are hitting two birds with one stone– doing some good for society and tapping into opportunities to expand your network.

Aside from adding people you’ve worked with in these philanthropic events into your contact list, you can also share these experiences on social media.

Keep Growing Your Network

The idea of networking may not be on your priority list however it is essential to keep working on those human connections, as the effort you invest in making them will have a significant return on your business in the long run. By nurturing and strengthening your relationships you will enjoy positive business impacts.

Got a Question?

Want to chat about growing your business or business strategy? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Dynamize Chartered Accountants Hunter Valley.