{"id":179602,"date":"2024-01-03T15:04:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T15:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/?p=179602"},"modified":"2024-01-03T15:17:53","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T15:17:53","slug":"dos-donts-business-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/dos-donts-business-networking","title":{"rendered":"The Do’s & Don’ts Of Business Networking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Networking is a powerful tool for career development. 70% of professionals globally got their current jobs through networking. Online networking and in-person networking account for 16-40% of all new customer leads.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blow your competition out of the water by mastering business networking<\/a>. Here are the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of business networking to remember.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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5 Do\u2019s of Business Networking<\/h2>\n

Whether you are interacting with a potential client or associate online or in-person, it’s important that you observe the following tips to establish meaningful connections.<\/p>\n

1. Be Genuinely Interested in Others<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t be the person who dominates the entire conversation by talking about your career or your business. Instead, give the other person a chance to talk by asking insightful questions. Actively listen to their responses and show genuine interest in their work and personal life.<\/p>\n

People, especially new connections, are likely to communicate freely and open up to people who show genuine curiosity and care. Remember, the goal of networking is to build solid relations, not collect business cards.<\/p>\n

2. Be A Good Listener<\/h3>\n

To master professional networking, you must work on your communication and listening skills. Being a good listener will build trust and demonstrate that you value what others say.<\/p>\n

One sure way of doing this is by paying attention to verbal and non-verbal cues and asking insightful questions to clarify anything you don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n

3. Be Authentic<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t try to be someone you\u2019re not. New clients and business associates can spot a fake from a mile away. Relax and let your personality shine throughout the conversation. Be confident and straightforward about what you do and can offer. Authenticity is the key to building relationships that will last.<\/p>\n

4. Be Proactive<\/h3>\n

The secret to getting ahead of the curve and connecting with more professionals is being proactive in your networking efforts. Opportunities won\u2019t come your way automatically.<\/p>\n

Adjust your schedule to attend networking events, join professional organizations in your industry, and connect with experts and customers online. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities you\u2019ll have to build valuable connections.<\/p>\n

Start being proactive by creating a digital business card<\/span><\/a>. It will help you share your contact details and business information seamlessly online and offline. You can share your details in seconds with just one tap or scan of your card QR code.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Be Patient<\/h3>\n

Building strong relationships that translate sales or deals takes time and effort. Rarely will you land a new client or job overnight. Be patient, nurture relationships, and be consistent in your networking efforts. The rewards will make all the effort worthwhile in the end.<\/p>\n

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5 Don\u2019ts of Business Networking<\/h2>\n

While knowing the do\u2019s of business networking is crucial, avoiding the don\u2019ts is just as important. Here are five common pitfalls you should avoid when networking to get value from the connections.<\/p>\n

1. Don\u2019t Be A Sales Pitch<\/h3>\n

Networking is not about selling yourself and the company. It\u2019s about building relationships with other people and learning about what they do. Avoid bombarding people with your elevator pitch.<\/p>\n

Talking solely about your career achievements and education accolades is bad for networking. Focus on having genuine conversations and mutual understanding.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t Gossip or Complain<\/h3>\n

Nobody wants to be around someone negative. Negative conversations and thoughts will give the other person a negative perspective on your professionalism and personality.<\/p>\n

Keep your interactions positive and uplifting. Your main focus should be building a good rapport and fostering positive connections.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t Be Pushy or Entitled<\/h3>\n

Networking is about give and take. It’s not one-sided; it’s a mutual relationship where both parties benefit.Respect other people’s time and opinions about the subject matter. Don\u2019t expect immediate results or favors. Instead, build trust and prove your credibility by offering help and support first.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t Overindulge in Food and Drink<\/h3>\n

This may sound obvious, but surprisingly, most people fail at networking because they overindulge in food and drink. The attendees are observant and want to know the personality and mannerisms of the people they interact with.<\/p>\n

While the food and drinks at the event may be free, it\u2019s super important to maintain control and professionalism. Overindulging will create a negative impression and hinder your ability to make meaningful connections.<\/p>\n

5. Forgetting to Follow-Up<\/h3>\n

Connecting with someone once is not enough. Don\u2019t assume they will remember and contact you after the initial engagement. Following up by sending them messages, emails, or calls is crucial for building lasting relationships.<\/p>\n

Send them a thank-you note, connect on social media, or schedule a follow-up meeting to stay in touch and nurture the relationship.<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Professional business networking will supercharge your career and business to the next level. Avoid the highlighted do\u2019s and don\u2019ts to cultivate meaningful connections that will position you for success. Regularly audit your networking efforts to know which channels to focus more on and which ones to tweak to get more results. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Networking is a powerful tool for career development. 70% of professionals globally got their current jobs through networking. Online networking and in-person networking account for 16-40% of all new customer leads.\u00a0 Blow your competition out of the water by mastering business networking. Here are the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of business networking to remember.   5 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25923,"featured_media":179603,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2001],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sales-and-marketing"],"views":1032,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25923"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=179602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/179602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=179602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=179602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=179602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}