Networking is extremely important when it comes to your business. So what can an entrepreneur like yourself do if you are new to it or don’t have the time? At this point, if you are not networking, your business could be suffering. Here are some tips to help you become a better networker  and what things you can do if time is of the essence.

New to networking? The first thing you want to do is to establish some good networking habits. Your business depends on it. Entrepreneur.com has tips to help you out; here are a few of them:

• Ask questions – There is no such thing as a dumb question, right? Perhaps there are. Make sure you study up before going to a networking event.  Ask people you meet questions with answers you cannot easily find on your own.
• Add value – Contribute to the sharing of knowledge with your areas of expertise. It will help others as well as boost your credibility.
• Reward your power contacts – This is a great way not only keep connected to your contacts but also give them value. It can be done by introducing them to another person or even sending a little thank you for introducing you to a new connection. Remember what goes around comes back around.

Don’t see the point in it? Here are just a few of the benefits networking can have for your business beyond the “sales” talk.

• Get a greater closing ratio.
• Increase sales by way of referrals. All it takes is one right person to notice your business.
• Get more recognition in the community. By actively networking with other small and medium sized business in your area you can create higher visibility for your business.
• Free advertising. Your company has the potential to get more clients by word-of-mouth. If a current client likes what you are doing, chances are they will share that with their connections.

Don’t have the time? Networking can take time and effort but a good way to keep your business in the loop is with LinkedIn. Beyond optimizing your profile, this article has other ways to Build a Power Network on LinkedIn for a busy entrepreneur.

With these tips in hand, there are no excuses to let the benefits of networking slip away from your business. If you have any questions or need help with growing your business, give us a call and ask us how we can help!

Photo Credit:  Robert Scoble

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