Networking 101: A Beginners Guide To Networking Offline And Online

What do you think of when you hear the word “network?” Do you think of just the word of mouth, or possibly being stuck in a big room talking to stuffy people and trying to convince them to work with you or help you? I know that’s what I thought networking was before. To be honest, it both scared me and sounded boring at the same time. However, since joining a bunch of Facebook groups full of other bloggers, entrepreneurs, and writers, I have found a sense of community that I never had before and now networking with these people does not seem daunting to me at all. The point is that there are many different ways to network these days and we should take advantage of them in whatever way serves us and our businesses.

Networking Online:

• Facebook Groups:
  • Blogging, entrepreneur, and writing groups are a great place to meet others who are working on similar things as you and have similar goals. A lot of them have certain posts where you can post if you’re looking for collaborations with others, as well as ask for help spreading the word about what you and your website offer.
• Personal Facebook Page:
  • Your personal profile allows you to reach out to the people you know to ask them to spread the word, pass along information, or to seek your help and information themselves. So don’t be afraid to reach out to your family and friends, chances are they would be more than happy to help if they can!
• Emailing Businesses/Brands:
  • Another benefit to the internet is being able to reach out to other businesses and brands without too much difficulty. Most websites have contact forms or information right on their sites. If you want to work with them, for them, or do sponsored blog posts for them, being able to contact them easily is a huge upside to networking online.

Networking Offline:

• Business Cards and Other Print Materials
  • Business cards are still very much an important part of networking these days. You can hand them out with any mentions of what you do, or other people asking about the topics your business deals with. Having them handy to be able to give to people as needed can be a great way to get the word out. You can also do postcards, flyers, and car magnets to advertise.
• Conversations with Other Entrepreneurs and People
  • Simply striking up a conversation with other entrepreneurs or just people you know can be a great way to network. It allows you to explain what your business is about and why other people should find it helpful and important. Then they in return can spread the word about it as well.
• Approach Business Owners
  • You can approach local business owners for opportunities to work with them or get them exposure in exchange for them doing something for you. It’s a great way to create partnerships too.

Networking can be fun and enjoyable. It doesn’t have to be boring, or really scary. It can be relaxed and casual, or really professional, it is up to you and whoever you are networking with. So get out there and network for your business! You will accomplish a lot, trust me!

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Bonnie McConaughy is the owner and founder of Inspire the Best You, where she writes about weight loss, healthy living, self-love, and personal growth. If you are interested in those topics, stop by and read her blog! She is also a freelance and ghostwriter at www.bmcconaughy.weebly.com.