Why Did We Write This Guide?
Women are networking more than ever in the business world with the explosion of social media and more opportunities for reaching out to others. However, women and men network differently.
According to researchers, men look for other businesses or people who can meet their needs right now and ask for it. Women, on the other hand, look at things from many different angles.
They often prefer to establish relationships and friendships before they ask for assistance. A woman often asks what they can do for someone else in order to get what they need.
This guide is to help women understand the importance of networking and develop skills so that they can make networking a profitable tool in their business.
Whether a woman owns her own business or is working in a leadership role in a company owned by someone else, understanding the benefits of networking and honing those skills is critical to the woman’s success in today’s increasingly global business climate.
Who Is This Guide For?
Although this guide is for any woman who wishes to advance her career or promote her business, it is specifically written with the following women in mind:
- Professionals who have little networking experience but want to learn where to start
- Professionals who experience high anxiety about meeting new people for business
- Entrepreneurs who are not comfortable at networking events
- Anyone who wants to advance in a career
- Anyone who is intimidated at meeting someone they don’t know and doesn’t know how to start the conversation
- Sales people who are not having success with their current networking activities
What Exactly Is Networking?
Networking is interacting with others without asking for a sale. They may be your target market or may be people who have connections to your target market. It is not advertising your message as much as making people aware of the services or products you offer.
The ultimate goal of networking is for people to keep you in mind when something in your target market comes up.
For example, if you are a real estate agent, you want someone with whom you have networked to think of you when a friend or colleague mentions the need for a real estate agent.
The best way to look at networking is as a way to plant a seed in someone’s brain so that when they hear of a need, your name “sprouts.”
Chapter One
Understanding Business Networking
In this chapter, we’ll lay the foundation. Not only will we discuss what it is, but also why it’s important. By the end of this chapter you will look at networking differently.
Chapter Two
Become More Socially Confident
Lose the fear of public speaking. To be able to network as a pro, you need to show a certain level of poise and comfort when speaking to others. Build our confidence in this chapter.
Chapter Three
Mistakes to Avoid
Before you head out to your first meeting you’ve got to read this chapter so you can learn from our networking bloopers.
Chapter Four
Finding Your Networking Group
Your ready to start networking, but where? How do you find the right groups or associations? What if you don’t find one to fit your needs?
SIMPLY PUT, USE THIS GUIDE TO HELP YOU TAKE YOUR BUSINESS NETWORKING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.