Building strong, genuine relationships within your networks can be of great advantage. Entrepreneurs and small business owners need to reach out for partners and connections. Yet even with this knowledge, reaching out and making the first move can feel daunting.
Building a solid network doesn’t need to be as hard as it sounds. Here are things to consider to stay calm and network on.
Find Events
It may seem challenging to find solid places to network as the options can be overwhelming. Start with the familiar by asking those closest to you if they have contacts they might be willing to introduce you to in your desired or current field. Ask if they know about events or organizations that might be relevant to you.
Connect with the local chapter of your alma mater’s alumni chapter. Mixers, tailgates, and industry events hosted by the university are all great places to meet connections. Reach out to past coworkers and supervisors who know you well and have good relationships, especially those who have moved on to new positions. Contact your local chamber of commerce to discover business groups and meetups in your area.
Search Facebook or LinkedIn for like-minded groups of business professionals to meet either in person on virtually. Follow businesses and organizations that influence your area of interest on social media platforms, engage with their pages, and attend their events. And most importantly, ask in the AMSE Slack channel, Member Dashboard, or during the monthly digital events. This military spouse entrepreneur community is your best resource for connection!
Stay Calm
Try to relax and enjoy yourself. You may want to chat with a few people you know or are familiar with first to get into a comfortable rhythm. Introduce yourself at the event and exchange information, but don’t rush to meet everyone all at once.
Pause and take notes every few minutes to help associate names with faces down the road or make notes on the back of a business card. This pause also gives you a moment to catch your breath, refocus, and calm any lingering nerves.
If you’re uncomfortable with large groups, look for those that are standing alone or in smaller groups. If you find that you don’t click with someone, that’s OK! Keep your conversations short, move on, and mingle.
Network On
Above all, remember that building a strong network takes time and is an ever-evolving process. Be patient; don’t expect to wake up with thousands of new contacts, and give yourself some grace. Stay persistent, and you will see fruitful results.
The purpose of building a strong network is to have support and resources. Having a wider social network will serve you well as you look for support, resources, and help with your business. It doesn’t need to be difficult if you put in the time and effort to build genuine relationships and connections.
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Sheila Rupp is a proud Space Force spouse of 18 years. She works as a freelance copy editor and writer with over 15 years of professional experience, ranging from newspaper to nonprofit work.
Sheila is currently based in Los Angeles, California, where she lives with her husband, teenage daughter, and dog.
