Networking 101: How to Build a Professional Social Network

There are over 31 million small businesses in the United States. With numbers like this, you’re going to need to work hard to make sure you can distinguish yourself. 

One of the best ways to gain a boost to your business is to build relationships through networking. But how exactly do you find the right professional social network for you? It’s more difficult than it seems at first. 

This article will walk you through a brief guide to meeting new people through the lens of business. 

Make Friends, Not Contacts 

One of the biggest lessons you can learn is to look for real, meaningful relationships. Sure, it’s good to have people you can reach out to, but it’s better to ask for favors from people who you know like you. 

Friends, unlike contacts, will go out of their way to help you out. One sincere and truly beneficial relationship like this in the world of business is better than ten contacts. After all, there are only so many people you can meet — sometimes it’s best to go deeper with the people you know than expand to more people. 

Talk to Your Customers 

Growing your professional network isn’t always about attending mixers and parties. Sometimes, the best contacts out there are right in front of you.

By paying more attention to your customers, you might learn that you have more in common with them than you realize. Each of these people has their own life — there’s a good chance that a few of them are business owners who have some insights into the professional world.

One of them might just be that exact person you need. If you run a coffee store, you never know when the owner of a bagel store down the street is about to walk through your door for a cappuccino. Talk to this person, and you might just wind up selling their bagels in your store in a lucrative partnership.  

Use Social Media

Social media has swept the world because it’s the ultimate form of two-way advertising. People don’t just read your posts, they respond with their own insights, comments, and questions. 

Use this as an opportunity to interact with people you wouldn’t normally interact with. Eliminate your prejudice against “online” as opposed to “real life” — these people you meet online could wind up wonderful “real life” friends. 

Take a Class

If all else fails, there are classes online that you can take to teach you how to network with people. Check out this course to network with some wonderful people. 

Create a Professional Social Network 

It’s not easy to create a professional social network. There’s plenty of bad advice out there that will hinder more than it will help. 

However, if you focus on creating friends instead of contacts, talk to all of your customers, make use of social media, and maybe even take a class, you’re far more likely to succeed. 

For more articles like this, check out our “business” section.