As a business owner, I’m sure you’ve heard over and over the importance of networking. It is essential to building a business! But I know how hard it can be to implement vague advice from a number of people who all claim to be experts.
“Network!”
“Find a mentor!”
“Ask for help!”
You’ve likely heard all of these quite a few times. As have I! I’ve even given advice along these lines. They ARE important as you grow your business. However… I know that you’re more likely to take the advice if it’s given with a bit more detail behind it.
So, let me show you…
How to Find “Your People”
Networking is important, but you can’t just blindly approach it without direction or purpose. With how much incredible information is out there, casting too wide of a net can be overwhelming. You need to decide on a specific group of people to connect with. I recommend a group of business owners who are actively pursuing education, looking to grow and have empathy for growing pains. Bonus points if they’re zeroed in on improving their marketing.
A group with those qualifications is broad enough that you should be able to find them pretty easily, but narrow enough that you won’t be bombarded with information you don’t have time to get through.
What are the benefits of a good networking group?
You’ll…
- Build your professional network
- Share experiences, mishaps and successes
- Exchange learning resources
- Share questions and concerns
- Explore new paths to success
- Learn what marketing looks like in different industries
- Take the pressure off of doing it on your own
And with the shared pursuit of education, you’ll have a group who knows what it’s like to invest in something new, manage expectations versus reality and actively seek out opportunities to become a better business owner. And THAT is a group of people you want to be around – empathetic go-getters!
In terms of marketing, simply being around a group of engaged entrepreneurs will elevate how you think about your business. Exploring tactics outside of your comfort zone and taking advice from those who have a few more years of experience diversifies how you think about marketing and what it means to interact with your customers. Plus, who doesn’t like having a few cheerleaders on the sidelines as you tackle the challenges of growing your business?
So where do you begin?
- LinkedIn - If you don’t already have a profile, MAKE ONE! LinkedIn is free to use and is specifically built to grow your network.
- Slack Groups - For those who don’t know, Slack is a messaging platform that many businesses (like mine!) use to communicate with their team. You can also join groups of marketers or business owners specifically to share ideas and questions in specialized channels.
- Facebook Groups - There are many Facebook groups built for groups of people with something in common. Many require approval, and therefore are not bombarded with off-topic content. I host one myself called For the Love of Business! If you haven’t already, join us! We’re a group of business owners swapping stories, questions and tips & tricks.
Any and all of these places are great starting points to begin networking, especially when you know who you’re looking for. It’s much easier to get burnt out or distressed when you’re pursuing growth on your own. When you have a group of people rooting for you who have been where you are or are with you right now, oh boy does it make a difference! Your growth will sky rocket before you know it.
Before you dive into a new strategy or project, find your group. Your people. You’ll want to have them for when you have questions or things get tough. And, celebrations will be 100x better with people to celebrate with you. I know I’ll be cheering you on!
Without further ado, it’s time to network!
Cheers, Crystal
P.S. The waitlist for Business Marketing Done Right + Group Coaching is open! Jump on that list to gain access to an incredible group of people who are growing alongside you. The group coaching truly is the epitome of an epic network. You and your fellow coursemates will share class takeaways and questions, and you can connect outside of class! Plus, you’ll gain exclusive access to ask ME questions about your marketing strategy. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and join the waitlist!
