Why To Build your Network with Social Networking?

Networking is the key to success in the Information Age.

Think about it; everything is networking these days. There are networking breakfasts, lunches & dinners in the ‘real world.’

Jump online and networking is where it’s at. If you stick your head in the sand and try to ignore it you will lose because these days every business person needs to be connected through a network.

Social networking both on and offline is an art. I won’t pretend you don’t need to learn how to be a good networker because that would be silly.

Everything that can bring great value to you usually needs to be learned; and not just once. It needs to be practiced over and over.

‘The Richest people in the world build networks, everyone else looks for work,’ that’s my favourite line in Robert Kiyosaki’s new book, ‘The Business of the 21st Century.’

If you work a job and haven’t yet ventured into starting your own business, or if you’re new to the world of home business, that line might frighten you.

You might be thinking self-limiting things like ‘I’m not that sociable,’ or ‘I have no idea how to network and it sounds really scary.’

Now is the time to work on changing those beliefs because they won’t serve you whether you stay in a job or you become an entrepreneur.
Networking is a little daunting when you first begin. What new activity isn’t?

Unless you’re a natural born networker (most are not) you will need to get out there and just start networking.

I have been social networking through organised networking groups both on and offline for several years now. When I went to my first business breakfast meeting I felt like the new girl at school.

I won’t deny it was a little odd at first. But it got better and I started to enjoy it. The breakfast wasn’t great but the people were fun.

There’s no excuse not to build your network. Anyone can do it.

If you’re a face to face, out and about type then just key in ‘business networks+ your area’ to our friend Google and you will instantly find details of all the types of networking groups nearby.

Some are ‘pay as you go’ and some are paid memberships. You can always go for a first free session though to see if you like it.

Not all of the groups will suit you and you probably will want to find just one or two groups to network with so you don’t get all ‘networked out!’
Even if you’ve not got the budget for paid memberships you can still get a lot out of networking by attending free classes, workshops and seminars.

Online there are limitless possibilities for you. I do most of my networking on Facebook (when I first understood how that was developing for business I could hardly believe my luck) I mean it’s free and you can start networking at the click of a mouse.

My other favourites are Twitter and Linked In.

Remember the key to networking is making friends. Don’t confuse that with pitching or selling.

It doesn’t matter what business you’re in. People first need to like you and trust you before they will do business with you.

So what are you doing to build your network today?

I’d love to hear from you so leave a comment at the blog (that is blog networking) and let me know what you think.

Next post we’ll talk about how to network. Remember it doesn’t matter if you’re making new friends online or offline or both; but it does matter that you begin.