Networking is undoubtedly one of the most divisive activities in business. Some people relish the opportunity to jump into a busy room and engage with others, while some find networking daunting and difficult. Whatever your position is, networking is without question one of the most successful ways to grow your business and serves as an opportunity to market your company, with you as its public face. Therefore, how you interact with others will affect how they view your business as a whole.

One thing that is important to learn before networking is that you aren’t there to merely collect clients. If you attend sessions with the intention of not listening to others or engaging in conversation, then perhaps networking isn’t for you. The power of networking comes through its ability to help you build a network of supportive businesses. This is a much more productive way to utilise networking and will likely see you gain more clients through your good reputation, rather than your intense sales pitch.

Networking events can also be an excellent chance to learn and share knowledge with other business people in your area. Business is a continually evolving landscape and by networking with others, you may gain insight into business topics you are currently facing issues with, as well as be able to impart your wisdom to others who are struggling with something you may have already gone through. This is particularly useful if you’re a smaller business, where the opportunity to share thoughts is often limited, especially if you work remotely.

Something some novice networkers seem to forget when they begin networking is that it is a two-way street. You are talking to companies who are trying to promote their own business, as well as hear about your own. That’s why it’s crucial to remain receptive to the companies around you at networking events. These groups and associations are some of the best platforms to find reputable suppliers and high-quality companies.

At SBS we recognise that networking doesn’t come naturally to some people, and that’s why our events are created with the intention of finding a perfect blend of business at ease. If you’ve never networked before but want to, try to take the pressure off of yourself by understanding you won’t have a chance to speak to everyone in the room. Just turn up with a smile, an open mind and most importantly, enjoy yourself.