Starting a business is difficult–in fact, it is one of the most challenging things you can do. It is a difficult endeavor that requires a large number of factors to go in your favor. You need to find clients and customers, build a team, create something that people want to buy or use.
But what about when you don’t know anyone who can help you with any of these? You may have to consider networking to find clients, but it might not seem like a good fit for your startup since you don’t have anything to offer right now. But it turns out that business networking is an excellent way to find potential partners and investors. As an entrepreneur, there are an array of benefits that you can obtain from practicing and perfecting the art of networking and being part of an active community, which will pay off in the future!
What is business networking?
In the old days, business networking meant going to a party and chatting with people–maybe you would exchange contact information, maybe your business card would wind up in someone’s pocket. But these days, it doesn’t have to be that formal. You can network on social media by following relevant people, commenting on posts, or joining groups that share your interests.
Why do you need it?
Networking is about forming relationships that will be mutually beneficial for everyone involved. It is about creating partnerships that provide value for your business–whether it’s someone who needs your product or service, or a potential investor who wants in on the ground floor.
At Notesally, we found the business networking to be useful in finding new referrals, mentorship and support, gaining feedback and ideas, getting early adopters.
How to network successfully
Even if you don’t have anything to offer other than your time, it’s important to network with people who can help you. Here are some ways we did - Join the startup communities & contribute such as
- Startup School,
- Product Hunt
- Indie Hackers
- Slack channels
- Discord channels
At Notesally, we see these avenues as a way to offer some value to other startups in the community such as offering feedback about their product or website, sharing our opinions about their ventures which are reciprocated.
The feedback and ideas that you gain from these communities can be very constructive and may be able to help you see an aspect of your business in a new light.
Conclusion
Networking is a process that will take time and effort for you to see the results you want. It can also be a process that’s as easy as making new friends. But whether you are looking for a new gig, want to start your own business, or are looking to promote your current company, want to build your brand awareness, networking is a great way to see the results you want.