Throughout life, you’ve been unconsciously build a network of connections, forming valuable relationships with individuals who share your interests, contribute to your personal and professional growth, and offer support and guidance.
These connections have enriched your life in countless ways, providing you with opportunities, insights, and a sense of belonging.
In school, you met classmates who became friends, study buddies, and confidants.
You shared classes, extracurricular activities, joys and challenges of growing up. These early friendships helped you develop social skills, build empathy, and learn to navigate relationships.
As you ventured into different activities, from sports and clubs to volunteer organisation’s, you expanded your network beyond the classroom.
You met people with unique passions, skills, and perspectives, expanding your horizons and broadening your understanding of the world.
These connections enriched your life with shared experiences, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie.
During life, perhaps not many were consciously aware of the power of networking we created and the full advantage of it.
I will tell you how to consciously do it on purpose based on the niche you are interested in.
Being mindful about making friends is important. It means thinking about it on purpose.
First, we have to figure out what we want and find people who are in the same niche as us or the niche we are interested in learning about.
Actively, we are going to look for chances to make friends, whether it’s on the internet or in real life.
These connections opened doors to new opportunities, provided valuable feedback, from their expertise, their advice, collaborate on projects, expanding our knowledge and expanding our networking circle.
Now you are consciously aware of networking and its opportunities, and here’s how to navigate it wisely:
Attend Niche Gatherings:
Start by joining conferences, seminars, workshops, and networking events related to your niche or close to your niche.
It’s not just about learning, it’s a chance to meet potential friends, partners, affiliates, and collaborators who share your vision.
Now this is my story and my big AHA moment that changed everything about how to do networking that I learned when I was for the first time at an offline event.
I remember when I first went to a marketing event in London. It was at a fancy hotel, and there were more than 150 people in a big presentation room. We sat and listened to different speakers for a really long time.
When there was a break, I went to the hotel bar to get a drink. But all the seats were taken by other people from the event. So, I went to a table and asked if I could join them. They said yes, and that changed everything for me.
You might be wondering why this was a big deal.
Well, at the table, everyone was sharing what they knew about marketing.
They asked questions and helped each other, like friends do without any selfish agenda.
If you wanted to learn from someone at the table online, they would usually ask you to pay them. That’s because their time is valuable after they are back from an event, they are back to their business and now their time is more valuable working on their projects, helping their customers and growing their business.
They have also spent money and time learning about marketing by going to events, having mentors, buying courses, reading books, networking, and creating strong connections.
Meeting them in person at events is different. People are already there and ready to share stories, knowledge, make new connections and help as much as they can.
While I was talking with them, one person asked me about my work and what I focused on. I told him that for a whole year, I only worked on meeting and connecting with other marketers to create a strong networking connection and I did that through Facebook groups. Many of them were at the event, and it was cool to meet them face-to-face.
Then, a more experienced marketer shared a simple but powerful SECRET with me. This secret was better than all the information I can get from the table. It helps me get more information, knowledge, and partners from every event I go to.
It all started with some simple questions.
He asked me,
“Marius, when you’re in the room at the presentations, what do you see?”
I said, “I see different speakers sharing about how they grow their businesses, tips and tricks so we can learn from them.”
He said, “Yes, of course.”
Then he asked,
“Marius, now that you’re here at the bar, what do you see?”
I said, “I see people talking, creating new relationships and having a good time.”
He said, “Yes, you’re right.”
He continued,
Now, Marius, think about it. In the presentation room, can you create relationships and talk while someone is presenting?”
I said, “No, you have to sit and listen, it’s not possible to engage with others.”
He said,
Exactly. But here at the bar, you can talk and connect to other marketers, share stories, and nobody minds.
Can you see the difference?
I said yes, and it’s amazing that I can talk and connect with others, and no one is afraid to share and help each other.
So, here’s the simple SECRET:
EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT THE BAR. Everyone socializes here, with a drink, beer, glass of water or dinner.
Even though you might miss the live presentations, you can always watch the recordings later.
The connections you make in person are more powerful than online, and you can only make them when you meet people in person.
Since that day, at every event I attended, the bar became my SECRET room to connect and engage with everyone I wished. I found it easy to connect with 7-8, and even 9-figure marketers and I continued to stay connected with them online, offering help based on my knowledge without any selfish agenda.
In this way I built long-term relationships that continue even today.
That’s the power of networking at the bar!
Social Media:
Join relevant groups, follow people and influencers in your niche. This is a fantastic way to connect with people who share your passion.
Engage in conversations, answer questions, and share your insights to build your online presence.
Personalized Messages Matter:
Got someone you admire or want to connect with? Shoot them a personalized message and be clear about your intentions and highlight the value you bring to the relationship. Personalized messages show you’ve done your homework and genuinely want to connect.
Share Your Passion:
Show off your expertise by creating valuable content. Whether it’s blog posts, videos, podcasts, or social media updates, let your niche shine.
Standing out as an authority makes others more likely to connect with you.
Offer Help and Support:
Relationships are a two-way street!
Be genuinely interested in others and offer help without asking anything in return! Whether it’s advice, answering questions, or sharing resources, generosity goes a long way in building meaningful connections.
Patience is Key:
Building a network takes time, so chill out.
Genuine relationships are built on trust and mutual benefit. Focus on providing value and fostering authentic connections.
Remember, it’s about the quality of relationships, not the quantity!
IMPORTANT, the Egoism has no place in networking.
Networking is akin to a body, where the organs collaborate together for the perfect functioning of the organism.
Through collaboration, resource-sharing, and mutual support, each individual can contribute to building a prosperous and adaptable system that brings benefits to all involved.
Now, start small, be genuine, and enjoy connecting with others who share the same passion and vision as you!
To your success!
Marius