How networking can improve your business

Small businesses face a number of challenges from finding customers to affordable health care. Sign up now. By: K. Updated: July 8, Here are some key reasons that clearly outline why networking is important for small business. Business Leads Networking is a great way to acquire new business leads. Identify Best Practices Networking is a great way to identify business best practices or industry benchmarks.

New Business Trends Networking can help you stay on the cutting edge of technology and new business trends. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors.

By Susan Ward. She has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses. Learn about our editorial policies. Updated on January 17, Key Takeaways Business networking gives business people the ability to collaborate with other experts to help them grow their businesses or improve their professional lives. No matter what stage of business, or what problem you face, Small Business BC offers a range of seminars and one-on-one advisory sessions to suit any business.

Note: you can withdraw your consent at any time - for more information see our Privacy Policy or Contact Us for more details. This is an important attribute as a business owner, because your business growth is dependent on talking to people and making connections.

Being visible and getting noticed is a big benefit of networking. For example, you might tell the person sitting next to you at a seminar that you like their shoes or tie. Similarly, asking a question gives contacts the chance to talk about themselves.

Ask how they got into the field or what they think of a recent development affecting your industry. Sometimes starting conversations with strangers is easier if you have a familiar face by your side. Just be sure you make an effort to connect with other attendees rather than sitting in the corner chatting the whole time. Fortunately, there are some strategies for overcoming introversion and making connections.

Second, feel free to take a breather if you get overwhelmed. Go to the restroom, take a walk, or grab a coffee. You can return to the room refreshed and ready to meet new people. Making connections is only half the battle; you also have to take steps to keep the relationship going. You could forward a relevant article, invite them to a seminar or conference, or even just send a friendly note during the holidays.

Of course, being successful in networking is about more than what you do. Here are some tactics to avoid if you want to boost your business connections. When searching for conversation starters, avoid speaking negatively about former companies or coworkers.