4 minute read.

You know the phrase, “it’s all about the people you know?” That phrase used to get on my nerves because I didn’t understand what it meant ...and I also didn’t know anybody.

It wasn’t until I started building relationships— networking —that I understood what it meant. It’s word-of-mouth marketing. The more I networked, the more I met people who became my cheerleaders.

Finding the right people, who advocate for my work and sing my praises (for free!), has been monumental in bringing me business. And that’s why I committed myself to it.

Once you start getting to know people and help people, things start happening— in your professional life and personal life.

When I dove in and committed myself to networking, I started meeting people who I could just feel were the right people. Since then, I’ve been building relationships with these folks, and the byproduct of me doing so has been more clients, more exposure, and more people singing my praises. How cool is that?

Building good relationships takes time and intentionality— but it’s time, energy, and money well invested if you learn to do it well.

Networking Isn’t New— You Already Network!

Everyone you know and associate with is “your network”— family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, business associates, (non)religious congregations, clubs, etc. Everyone you know also has their own network.

Networking is simply getting to know people with intentionality and building an asset based on relationships. No matter the job you work (or whether you work at all), we all deal with people in one way or another for our means in life. And we all rely on each other to supply our substance in life. 

You are either in business or career-driven because you want to provide something for humans— even if, at the end of the day, that human is yourself.

Networking Has a Greater Purpose than Professional Gains 

It’s important not to think of networking as a business strategy because when you begin to see it as a means to an end, you also begin treating people as a means to an end. Success from networking comes from building relationships— not ruining them. 

Networking done well should yield business gains as a byproduct of relationship-building. We rely on our relationships to accomplish anything in life. I think Leslie Knope from Parks & Rec, said it best: 

No one achieves anything alone. So let’s embark on this journey together. Let’s break out a map. Not the old, out-of-date one that shows where we’ve been, but the new, crisp one that shows where we might go. Let’s embark on a new journey together and see where it takes us.

It takes the support of many for one person to achieve something. People support you when they know and relate to you, and they are more willing to do that when you take the time and energy to get to know them. 

Relationship-building takes time and commitment, but if you are willing to make that investment into networking and genuinely open yourself to helping other people, you will reap the rewards.

The Key to Networking is Valuing the Quality of Your Relationships Over the Quantity 

If you’ve ever been to a networking event before, you may have met an over-eager business card collector who is likely measuring the success of their networking on the number of cards they can collect. The truth is that it doesn’t matter how many business cards you can manage, and what matters is what you build with the person who handed you the card. 

What motivation does a person have to help you if all you’ve done for them is accept their business card? It’s crucial to approach networking with a giver’s gain mindset. Without this mindset, the value of your network will dry up. 

How you treat people matters. What you have to offer matters.

When you show that you value a person, they’re far more motivated to show you that they value you back. The value of this relationship compounds over time, and then you end up with more than just a business connection— you end up with new partnerships, more revenue in your business, new jobs, even friendships, and a world of new opportunities. 

Keep the Momentum Moving Forward

While networking is a long-term investment, it doesn’t take much to stay relevant and connected in someone else’s network. 

After you’ve sat down and met with someone, always make sure you follow up. You can mention you’d like to set up another meeting, invite them to connect on social media, or introduce them to someone else they might be interested in meeting. Show them you want to stay in touch.

We all live busy lives, but we have to stay in touch somehow as networkers. Social networks make this incredibly efficient. Sending the occasional direct message to say hello or liking or commenting on posts are great ways to stay in touch with a person and for them to keep you in mind.

When you stay in touch with people, you’re always building more potential opportunities for your business to succeed. Building relationships means always having something cooking!

Conclusion

Don’t neglect networking as part of your marketing efforts. While it takes a lot of time and hands-on commitment, the rewards are well worth it if you’re willing to do things right. Effective networking starts with a genuine desire to help others succeed and develop enriching relationships.

I recommend reading Zero to 100: The Gold Standard of Global Networking by Joseph Luckett (which if you mosey around other parts of my website, you’ll see I had a big hand in the creation and promotion of that book). This book is about how to network effectively and inclusively. There are resources within the book to help you become a better networker. A Zero to 100 app, consulting, and courses are coming, too!