As a new entrepreneur, it's important to have a vast and diverse network of professional connections. Knowing and building relationships with the right people can open a lot of doors for your budding business, as well as give you the opportunity to get in touch with mentors in your field.
The first step to growing your circle of business connections is to understand where to look. To help get you started, we asked a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members what newer entrepreneurs can do this year to expand their networks.
1. Attend Conferences
In addition to local and national networking events, fundraisers, great networking occurs at conferences as well. Whether for personal or business growth, you will meet a lot of like-minded people who are also on a path of growth. - Angela Delmedico, Elev8 Consulting Group
2. Reach Out To The Small Business Administration
Start local and reach out to the Small Business Administration, which is a government organization that offers assistance services like networking to small entrepreneurs. You can partner to host community events such as roundtables, informal lunches, entrepreneur hubs, educational programs and other local resources. All entrepreneurs need a network for advice and support. - Jessica Baker, Aligned Signs
3. Submit Guest Contributions On Other Websites
Guest posting on relevant and authoritative websites within your industry can help expand your network like no other. The easiest way is by offering to write a free blog for a website within your industry. The website owner gets free content, and you grow your name by offering valuable information. Most websites will also link back to your website, which will also help your SEO value. - Ron Lieback, ContentMender
4. Start Introducing Yourself To People
If you're going to put an emphasis on one action as a young entrepreneur, I highly recommend to make networking your highest priority, both face-to-face and on social. Go out there, introduce yourself, ask a ton of questions, listen to people and really pay attention. The more people you know and know about you and your goals the more successful you will be as an entrepreneur. - Anna Anisin, Formulatedby
5. Boost Your LinkedIn Presence
One great way for entrepreneurs to expand their networks this year is by building their Linkedin platforms and interacting with it. It is free and easy to do. Also, a lot of people can have the same impression by searching through a profile as they would glancing and quickly meeting someone at an event. - Jose Magana, Yellowberry Hub
6. Do Your Homework On The People You Want To Connect With
The one thing you should do this year before expanding your network is some serious homework. Here are the questions that I recommend addressing first: Why do you need this network? For example: You are looking to brainstorm specific ideas, talk about scientific innovations or move into a new industry. Next, what does this person's profile look like? Finally, ask why will they likely be interested in your network? Make sure your public presence looks credible and find ways where you can contribute to your new network way before meeting them. - Vlad Goloshuk, BrightestMinds
7. Join An Industry Association
For newer entrepreneurs, there is no better way to expand their professional network than by getting involved with an industry-specific association. By finding an association that aligns with your desired interests and prioritizing the events that target attendees who align with your intended goals, you can grow your professional network. - Zahra Timsah, AMCL
8. Get Out Of The House
These days, a lot of us work from home and rarely see other people. This seems to be a new norm amongst entrepreneurs and business owners. It can be lonely, and easy to miss opportunities because of this. I've found the best thing to do is to literally go outside and network, even if it's at a pub or restaurant—you never know who you might meet. We all know about online social networks and their benefits, but there is nothing quite like a face-to-face meeting or discussion. You never know who you may meet out at a grocery store. We've literally gotten clients while eating supper! - Matthew Gibson, Flewid Inc.
9. Build A Board Of Advisors
A board of advisors can help you fill your team’s gaps in knowledge and experience. You can leverage your board's areas of expertise so you can avoid mistakes and scale faster. One of the big benefits of a board of advisors is their network and who they can connect you with. These connections can be invaluable and will help you grow your business. - Reb Risty, REBL Marketing
10. Build Talent Relationships Before You Need Them
A strong network is critical to business growth, not just from a lead generation perspective but also for talent acquisition down the road. I'm sure you've heard of "ABC" (always be closing), the one I wish I was taught sooner was "ABL" (always be looking)—a few years ago I was caught without a senior graphic designer for a whole month. Focus on building relationships, not meeting as many individuals as you can and collecting business cards. It's not who you meet, it's who they know—which means you don't necessarily need to go to a professional event. Go and join a volleyball league or volunteer for a charity. - Ryan Meghdies, Tastic Marketing Inc.
