Let the Power of Networking Propel Your Business Success

Never underestimate who you know, who knows you, and who can send the right business your way

Early in my business, I leveraged my corporate background into communication consulting gigs — all of which came to me through my network of contacts. That same network opened the door to training opportunities and a lucrative stream of income was added to my business.

There are formal and informal networks. Formal networks are well-organized, professional structures with rules, dues, regulations, and guidelines. Informal networks are more loosely organized and can be formed around hobbies, memberships in clubs, fellow students, coworkers, colleagues, and so on, to support each other and exchanging information mutually reciprocally.

Virtual networks are a hybrid of the two. LinkedIn is the quintessential example of this type of network. Long-term business success relies on belonging to and actively taking part in a variety of networks. I’ve gotten business from people in my workforce development community, my writing cohorts, and people I met years ago in a now-defunct women’s group who need writing or editing services today.

“Six degrees of separation doesn’t mean that everyone is linked to everyone else in just six steps. It means that a very small number of people are linked to everyone else in a few steps, and the rest of us are linked to the world through those special few.”―Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

The key to successful networking

Networking success depends on how active, visible, and generous you are in authentically sharing your experience and knowledge with others without expectations of reciprocity. It’s a fluid give-and-take between members. In order to do this, you must educate the network on exactly what you do. Know your goals for networking, the strengths you bring to the group, and have a clear idea of the people with whom you want to network.

Be able to discuss what letting others know your strengths, successes, and achievements. This is not bragging — it is teaching your network about your expertise and the support you can offer them and those they refer to you. Check out my article How to Tell People You’re Good without Bragging.

Stay active in your network to maintain your visibility and ensure that you share value-added information. Be on the lookout for ways to add value to your network by sharing articles you and others have written, offering to lend a hand when someone needs help with a project, or giving advice and counsel to those who ask for it. Ask for referrals and be generous in prepared offering them to others whose work you admire and are willing to attest to. When it comes to networking, the more you give, the more you gain in return.

“Make use of your network, but don’t make your network feel used.” ― Olawale Daniel