6 steps to being a better networker

It's OK if you don't love networking... yet

You might know someone who does. They go to a steady stream of interesting and relevant events and never leave a breakfast get-together or lunch-n-learn without a solid lead or new strategic partner. Good for them!

Not everyone can run their week, or their business, in that way. But we do believe that anyone can get better at networking. And with the right tips (and a little bit of practice) you might find that you actually start to enjoy it.

Trust us, follow these six steps to improve your networking, and you'll ditch the dread for good. 

1. Know your objectives

There are loads of reasons why you might want to start networking - to bring in more leads and find new clients, to help with recruitment, to find like-minded suppliers... You might even be looking for a few business buddies who you can learn from.

Whatever the reason, being clear on your objectives will help you make the right decisions about which networking events you should attend.

2. Figure out where you need to be

If you hate networking right now, you're probably not attending the right events for the size, stage or type of business that you've got.

Once you know why you want to attend an event, you can then work out where to go.

If it's prospective customers and clients you want to meet, think about your customers' habits and preferences. Essentially, you need to figure out where your target audience is 'hanging out'.

If you know your ideal clients do the school run most days, you might choose lunch events over breakfast. If you're selling to people in a particular job role, you might find lunch-and-learns a good place to start.

3. Find the right format for you

If you hate big crowds, you're probably not going to be on best form at an international conference. Equally, if eating in front of people makes you self-conscious, we'd suggest you skip the mealtime events. There are hundreds of different types of events out there - in person, online and hybrid - so it makes sense to prioritise the ones that suit you.

If you're not sure which format you prefer yet, you might have to try a few first. But we promise you, there's something out there for everyone from expert-led conferences, to small training sessions, to casual coffees.

4. Do your research

Do you know who the keynote speaker at your next event is? How about who has signed up as a delegate? What type of businesses are exhibiting? What people have said about the event on social media? 

If you're drawing a blank for most of these questions, a little more research is required! Before attending any networking opportunity, it's worth trying to find out who else will be there. This will help you plan which sessions or speakers you want to prioritise.

Lots of events will have a delegate list that's either public or available on request, or you can try searching on social media for named speakers or event hashtags to see who's involved. This gives you a chance to pick out any potential clients and maybe even drop them a note on LinkedIn before the event.

5. Make friends with the host

The event host is arguably the most important person at any event. The host has probably been involved in organising the event and will know lots of the attendees. They're also sometimes part of the minority of people that naturally enjoy networking, so can put you at ease if you're nervous.

If you haven't met the host before, try introducing yourself and asking if they'd mind introducing you to a few people. It's OK to ask for specific people, like:

"I'm hoping to meet fellow vegan food producers, do you know if there's anyone here?"

6. Get involved

You've done the prep work, been to a number of networking events and collected some data about your own networking preferences and the types of events that best serve your business. The next step isto get involved in events as a sponsor, speaker, or even as a host! Taking on these roles provides significantly more brand exposure for your small business than just turning up as an attendee. 

Getting involved doesn't have to break the bank, nor do you need to become a TED-style speaker overnight. You can start small, for example by approaching a relevant local networking group and seeing if they have any opportunities to speak. Or try asking if they'd be open to you paying for the breakfast buns in return for having some banners or a stand at the event. Most events - especially free-to-attend events - welcome contributions like this.

In 2022, Team Transmit enjoyed a training session from Jeni Smith, founder of NetKno.

NetKno can help you:

• discover your networking WHY

• learn HOW to network with purpose

• find out WHERE to network