Woman in a Zoom meeting

A lot of businessowners consider networking to be a necessary evil. But, with AdviCoach’s help, it can be a necessary pleasure. Our business coaches can help you identify the people you should be networking with and how you can turn a casual meeting into a business connection. Read on to discover our favorite tips for networking online and how networking technology can make business easier.

Online Networking

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, networking opportunities have increased online. Some sites, like LinkedIn are specifically for professionals looking to make connections and expand their networks. Other social media platforms, like Facebook, aren’t specifically for business but can serve that function, especially if you take advantage of Facebook Groups. Groups allows you to connect with people you share commonalities with, like other entrepreneurs or small-business owners.

The key to making successful connections through online networking is being an active member of the community you’re apart of. For some sites and Groups, “active” could mean daily activity. For others, it’s less frequent. Figure out what level of activity works for you and what people you want to connect with.

Apps

Apps are another way for you to network digitally. And it’s all at your fingertips! You can connect with new people and make new business contacts with apps like Shapr or Bizzabo.

Chambers of Commerce

Many local businesses find that being a part of a chamber of commerce is a great way to connect with other local business owners. Maybe even business owners you wouldn’t have met otherwise. Chambers of commerce, and the events they host, are a great way to learn from your peers. Topics like local marketing, staffing best-practices, accounting strategies and more can all be discussed with your fellow chamber members. Contact your local chamber of commerce to learn about the path to joining.

Utilize Technology

Zoom meetings are another great way for small business owners to make connections digitally. “Gather” your professional contacts, old and new, and send out a link for Zoom meeting. Many professionals are comfortable with the program and it’s intuitive and easy to use. We do encourage you to carefully curate your Zoom invite list because too many people can get a little chaotic. In order to add a little structure to your calls, come prepared with a list of networking questions that each person can answer. Some good networking questions include:

  • How did you get involved in this industry?
  • What types of outside organizations/vendors do you work with?
  • What do you see happening in the future of your industry?
  • How has [insert current event] affected your business?
  • Do you have a business card with an email address? I’d love to dive deeper into this.

Now it’s time to take your knowledge of your business and AdviCoach’s networking tips and make the connections that will help your business grow. Are you ready to take the networking scene by storm? Whether your answer is yes or no, you can reach out to our business coaches to get more networking tips that are specific to you and your business.