Why is Networking Important?
By: Lauren Marsicano
Insta: @networkingmaverick
Why is Networking Important?
Networking is one of the best ways to grow your business or advance your career. When you build a strong network, it opens you up to new ways of thinking and opportunities for growth. But if you’re not quite sure that prioritizing networking will pay off, keep reading to understand why it is so crucial to your career success.
Here are six reasons why networking is important:
1. People notice you.
Similar to the Marketing Rule of 7 that asserts that people need to see or hear a message seven times before they buy a product or service. People need to see you more than once before you stand out and they want to become part of your network. If you show up at networking events, people will start to recognize you. With time, you’ll get to talking, and you’ll each get to know what the other does. If you stay in touch, you will refer business to them, and they will refer business to you. But it all starts with them noticing you.
2. You get to know people in different fields.
New people mean new opportunities. Meeting people who work in a different field, and could use your skills or services, is one of the best perks of networking. This opens you up to business collaborations or perhaps connecting people in your network to someone who can help. For example, you’re a graphic designer and you meet a pet groomer. Your two fields have nothing in common, but they may need help with graphics for their promotional materials. So they hire you. Let’s take it one step further, you have a friend who is a dog walker, and you introduce them to your new client, the pet groomer. They can refer clients to each other, and they can both use you for their graphic design needs. Everyone wins!
3. It opens you up to new opportunities.
And I don’t just mean that you meet new potential clients. You might get to know more about other types of work in your field that may interest you more. Or you might learn about positions in different companies that pay more money. You might meet someone who currently works in a position that you would like to attain one day and learn what they had to do to get there. All these amazing things can come from meeting new people and talking to them. It’s true what they say, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”
4. You learn.
Networking events are often centered around people in the same or similar industries. And what better way to learn new and interesting ways to conduct business than to speak to people who do what you do? They may have better ways of organizing their businesses or be aware of new industry standards you may not have learned about if you hadn’t talked to them. Learning through networking is similar to learning by doing. It’s effective and equips you to make lasting positive changes in how you do business.
5. You get inspired.
Inspiration often strikes unexpectedly. Let’s say you meet someone in a different field who is doing something a certain way. Then, boom! Inspiration hits! You can use some of the same principles to level up your own business or company. And you never would have thought of it, if you hadn’t met them. We are constantly inspired by our surroundings. And if you surround yourself with diverse people, you can potentially be inspired to bring innovations to your field that will make you stand out from the crowd.
6. You get support.
Surrounding yourself with a network of people who are well-connected can be a huge help when times get tough. If your business isn’t performing as well as you need it to. If the company you work for no longer provides you with opportunities to flourish. If you’re terminated from your place of employment. You can tap into your network for help. If you let people in your network know how they can support you, they will help you or connect you with people who will help you get back on track.
Now that you know why networking is so important, I challenge you to attend two networking events this month to get some practice.
Not sure how to network? Read this post with all my best tips for networking like a maverick.
There. Now you’re ready!
Happy Networking!