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What is networking?

Networking is the process of connecting two or more devices in order to share data, resources, and information. It is a vital component of every modern IT infrastructure, and can be used for bothbusiness and personal purposes. Networking offers a host of advantages, including increased productivity, improved communication, enhanced collaboration, streamlined workflow, and enhanced security. It is also an essential tool for online marketing, enabling businesses to connect with their customers in more dynamic and efficient ways. Networking is an invaluable asset for any organization looking to remain competitive in today's evolving digital landscape.

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With the development of a business, communications are everything. Networking is an activity aimed at forming partnerships. Professionals make new acquaintances in order to be useful to other people, to have certain benefits from communicating with them..

Networking Concept

Definition

This term first appeared in Stanley Milgram’s six handshake theory. Networking – creating a circle of like-minded people. These may be people who are interested in your products, activities, or they provide useful services..

In the US, networking is perceived as work.

The managers’ schedule includes 2-3 weekly meetings to create useful contacts. For example, at lunch they discuss professional news, joint projects, and consider options for cooperation. A business meeting can take place at a golf club, at an open French lesson, or during the intermission of a concert.

In Russia, they attach greater importance to kinship, nepotism.

At meetings there is a problem of professional communication. Many experts exchange business cards, and then do not continue contacts.

How it works

The right environment helps people reach their potential, compensate for shortcomings. If there are extensive professional social connections, a specific specialist will be able to quickly achieve success in a career, business. Dating helps solve complex life problems.

Networking Benefits

Basic principles

  1. Creating an expert image of the selected field. During conferences, professionals from different areas of business communicate. Participants can prove themselves as experts or high-level specialists..
  2. Useful dating. Networking is an important part of any meeting. Informal communication helps acquire business connections for further business growth..
  3. Exchange of ideas. Speakers and participants share useful experience in developing their own business, managing projects. With this communication, you can get insider (inaccessible to others) information.
  4. Current business news. At events, visitors discuss the latest information on finance, technology..
  5. Different types of connections. Dating can be used for work, solving personal issues or sharing a vacation.
  6. Instant deals. During conferences, planned congresses of professionals often conclude profitable contracts.

Where to make new friends

Useful tools

You can find like-minded, future business partners not only at industry conferences. Experts attend continuing education courses, gyms. They participate in hiking trips, travel by plane, by train.

At the beginning of the path, choose events that are similar in theme to your business. It can be narrow industry conferences or meetings of specialists of a certain profession..

As you develop communication skills, attend a variety of events. With a sufficient level of expertise, become a guest speaker. Business acquaintances in 80% of cases start at offline meetings, like-minded people can be found on social networks.

Business Communication Rules

Networking Taboo

  1. At the first acquaintance, throw a few phrases.
  2. Take into account the features of contacts at meetings, events, in social networks and referral (partner) groups.
  3. Introduce people to each other. If a colleague is present at the meeting, introduce him to your interlocutors..
  4. Do not sell your services. Ask how you can be useful to a particular person.
  5. Always have business cards. Indicate on them the scope of activity with a phone number, online contacts.
  6. Ask complex questions to build dialogue. Actively take an interest in work, beliefs, the opinion of the interlocutor about the projects. Avoid monosyllabic answers to questions.

At meetings and events

  1. Show emotions. During communication, smile friendly, look interested. Frowning or angry facial expression will scare away potential partners.
  2. Choose significant events. Go to those that will lead to the development of business, professional skills. Not all events can have useful contacts.
  3. Tell other experts what you are doing. You may be helpful.. Give a link to a site or group in social networks with examples of work performed.
  4. Make an NFC tag on a business card, with which you can read information using a smartphone.

Social networking

Search for friends in social networks

To have useful professional contacts, you can use online communication platforms. It is important to remember that visitors to social networks do not like spam, which includes pitch messages (short presentations).

If you want to arouse people’s interest, you need to properly create a profile.

Fill out information about yourself in detail: indicate places of study, work, current classes.

The rules of networking in social networks:

  • Join business communities where entrepreneurs, specialists in your profile contact.
  • Take part in discussions, retweets interesting posts.
  • Tell us on your page or in your own community about personal experience in doing business, solving difficult problems.
  • Go to events organized by members of social networks.
  • Take 4–5 photos while maintaining a business and street style to increase the confidence of site visitors.
  • Continue business communication offline. Offer a personal meeting or Skype call.
  • Add 3-4 useful videos by profession, hobbies to the social network page.

In referral groups

Statistics

  1. Visit groups regularly, come on time. Delays demonstrate disrespect for other members of the community, unwillingness to communicate with them.
  2. Show willingness to benefit members. Learn about the needs of professionals, offer solutions.
  3. Meet outside community members. This is necessary to better know the type of person..
  4. View Team Members as Resource. Community experts can often solve your clients problems.
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Comments: 1
  1. Nova Anderson

    Can someone please explain the concept of networking? I’ve been hearing this term a lot lately, but I’m not entirely sure what it means. Is it just about connecting with people or is there more to it? How important is networking in today’s professional world? Any insights would be much appreciated!

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