Does your business model include building networking skills for success? You have probably heard this phrase before: “your network is your net worth.” Prominent networking has become much more than a slogan. It is a powerful tool that can make or break your career.
This book will look at how a robust business network can take your confidence and career path to new standings. We will also give pointers on how to build and maintain valuable connections. Networking is always a good idea for business professionals wishing to develop relationships and grow their influence, no matter what industry you’re in.
The reader will learn the benefits and skills that will: lead to new business, make you more visible, provide fresh ideas and prospects, give you access to other business leaders, keep you in the know, and lead to new friendships,
If you’re new to networking, you may be asking yourself where to start. Getting your foot in the door is easier than you might think. Most clubs and associations host events regularly. Everything from happy hours and mixers to multi-day conventions is continuously happening. Some events cost money or require a membership fee, but there are many free events. Once you find groups or associations you are interested in, be sure you subscribe to their newsletters. Often, you don’t even have to look for events to attend – they’ll send the information straight to you!
The book stresses the most important thing to remember when networking is staying sincere in your efforts. Not every connection will prosper into a business relationship, but every contact can teach you something. If you approach networking with this mindset, it will be an enjoyable and fulfilling process that yields personal growth for years to come.
The First Two Pages of DIGGING DEEPER INTO NETWORKING
We started riding this book Per-Corona virus pandemic. Wearing a facemask, social distancing, and sanitizing were not in the mix. We know that we will be back to normal someday soon, and this book shall have great value to new small business owners. Let us begin on that premise.
With over 30 years as a professional educator and more than 20 decades as a small business owner, we decided to write this book to give small business owners the means to learn the structure and networking principles that we employed successfully. We will provide the readers with the theoretical structure of successful networking projects that can transfer to the small business owners who want to involve their community in their business structure.
Like so many small business owners, we did not have a large marketing budget necessary to promote our products and services to the community at large. With that in mind, we want small business owners to consider this design model of networking to take the place of hard-to-come marketing dollars.
Chapter One
In Chapter One, we will look at the necessary skills needed to set up an organization designed to get your business noticed in the community. We will look at the complexities that appear with different forms that are used in the networking process. We see successful networking in so many other ways. There is social networking that is found on Facebook, Twitter, and Ello. There are strong contact networks such as community service clubs, professional associations, and online/social media networks or chat groups. There are local networks such as the local Chamber of Commerce, statewide networks such as aging coalitions, regional networks such as dairy farmers, and national networks such as child abuse lobbying organizations.
Chapter Two
Chapter Two will be promoting various challenges and opportunities. Because networks make up the social fabric of many communities, we will examine them in detail throughout the chapter. We will scrutinize the key variables such as nodes of networks (people, groups, and organizations), 2) information flow (feelings, facts, and data), and 3) linkages (pathways for information). Most social networks evolve as multi-level systems. The social network movement demonstrates three essential elements: 1) primary relationship of an affiliation of similar business-related goals and nature; 2) secondary connection of an associational role to role nature: and 3) tertiary relationships and inter-organizational contact. Each of these relationships functions differently in time and size.
Chapter Three and the Final Chapter
In Chapter Three, we examined the size description of a small business, looked at network analysis, and network as a strategy and networking principles. We will try to conclude that networking for small businesses is an art form. We will make a model program and its potential effects on small businesses. We looked at the model that was used by us. What we found were nine principles that held the model together and could have effects on small businesses. Those principles included self-determination, self-help, leadership development, localization, integrated services delivery, maximum use of community resources, inclusiveness, responsiveness, and lifelong learning. We list several strategies that small business leaders could incorporate into their use of the community education model in their own business.
The last chapter provides tips and tricks that are applicable to enhance a successful networking plan. These tips are well-founded in our daily operational networking activities.
Make sure to check the book out on Amazon.com as well as my main page!
