189 | Networking 101: 5 Steps to Creating Authentic Connections for your Business
By starting with familiar faces, being intentional, focusing on others, giving and asking, and maintaining clarity, you can create authentic connections that lead to success.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE:
In today's episode, we're delving into the fundamentals of business success: networking. In the midst of all the technological advancements and marketing trends, we sometimes overlook this powerful tool for business growth. So, let's get back to basics and explore five key tips to create authentic connections for your business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Starting with Familiar Faces
Start your networking journey by connecting with people you already know.
Your existing contacts have their own networks, which can expand yours.
Utilize the theory of six degrees of separation – everyone is connected in six or fewer social steps.
2. Being Intentional
Seek out communities and events where you can meet potential collaborators, clients, and like-minded individuals.
Prioritize quality relationships over quantity.
Participate in both virtual and in-person events for maximum networking opportunities.
3. Focusing on Others
Be genuinely interested in the people you meet; ask open-ended questions and listen actively.
Shift the focus from "What can I get?" to "What can I give?"
Offer resources, connections, and assistance when appropriate.
4. The Art of Giving and Asking
Be generous with your connections and resources.
Ask for small favors, such as advice or recommendations, to strengthen trust.
Requesting a favor can indicate respect for the other person's expertise.
5. Clarity is Key
Clearly articulate your identity, what you offer, and your target audience.
This clarity helps others better understand your business and how they can assist you.
Avoid rambling; concise communication is effective communication.
Bonus Tip: Follow Up Creatively
Establish a system for staying in touch and following up with new connections.
Engage on social media, send personalized emails, or invite them to coffee or events.
Consistent follow-up helps nurture and solidify relationships.
Challenge: Connect or reconnect with five people over the next five days, either online or in person. Share your progress on Instagram by tagging @danilivinglife.
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transcript
[00:00:00] Danielle: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm really excited for today's episode because we are talking about something that is so incredibly foundational to your business success. We're talking about networking and no, it's not anything revolutionary. It's not a new marketing trend or hack or anything like that, but it is one of the most powerful tools that you can use to grow your business.
[00:00:24] Danielle: I think that often with all of this technology, with things like social media, with things like, you know, marketing tactics and all of these things that we learn as business owners and get overwhelmed by, we forget to go back to basics sometimes. And so today I really wanted to take it back, get back to basics.
[00:00:43] Danielle: What are the things that are actually going to help you grow your business, get it to that next level. So today I'm going to be giving you five tips to creating authentic connections for your business. So before we dive in, I wanted to remind you that you can [00:01:00] still get your tickets for our Power of Purpose conference that's happening on August 24th.
[00:01:05] Danielle: fifth at UBC in Vancouver. I hope you'll join us for this. It's going to be such an incredible day. It's specifically catered to women entrepreneurs who want to reignite their purpose and build a profitable business. You're going to enjoy inspiring speakers. We're going to have. food. We're going to have treats.
[00:01:25] Danielle: We're going to have vendors. It's also going to be such a great opportunity to network and connect with the other attendees there. We're going to have a photo booth. We're going to have prizes. There's also going to be a really amazing wrap up after party. So it's going to be such a great way to not only learn and grow your business, you're going to have to make sure you bring your notebook because you're going to want to take so many notes, but you're also going to meet.
[00:01:51] Danielle: Inspiring like minded women who can become your biggest cheerleaders and supporters So if you feel like you're trying to do [00:02:00] business all on your own Come join us connect with other people. We cannot wait to meet you So if you want to grab your ticket, you can do that by going to business babes collective comm slash events I know it's tempting to wait until the last minute to buy your tickets, but please don't do that because first of all, we are over 50 percent sold out already.
[00:02:20] Danielle: And second of all, prices will be going up soon. So again, go to businessbabescollector. com slash events and reserve your seat. We can't wait to meet you there. Also another thing that I wanted to mention is that if you want to be added to the group chat, we actually have a group chat for people who are coming on their own that want to connect with people even before the events.
[00:02:41] Danielle: starts, we're doing that over Instagram. So if you want to join that, after you secure your ticket, screenshot your ticket, DM us the con the confirmation email, and we will add you to that group. So can't wait to see you there. And let's go ahead now and dive into our episode. [00:03:00] Welcome to the Business Babes Collective podcast.
[00:03:02] Danielle: I'm your host, Danielle Wee. In this podcast, you'll learn tangible business tips and strategies on how to grow successfully and sustainably. We'll also interview seasoned entrepreneurs so you can listen in on their stories and see behind the scenes of what it took to grow and scale their businesses.
[00:03:20] Danielle: Let's dive in as we discuss the wild, exciting, crazy, challenging rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship. I think one of the biggest
[00:03:34] Danielle: One of networking is because most of us have experienced networking in a way that feels really inauthentic and fake. So maybe you've been to a stuffy networking event where people are shoving business cards in your face or maybe talking at you instead of asking you questions and actually wanting to get to know you.
[00:03:55] Danielle: Or maybe you have a fear of networking because You walk into a [00:04:00] room and maybe you feel out of place or you feel like everyone else knows each other except for you and you have a fear of being judged or being rejected, whatever that might be. I know we all have our own stories when it comes to our experience with networking and that really plays a role in how we not only think about networking but how we build connections and relationships.
[00:04:23] Danielle: In our businesses, and maybe you are one of those people who have not had the best experience with networking. And so it, for you, it feels awkward. It feels icky. You don't know how to do it. You're like, I want to connect. I want to build relationships, but I don't even know like what is the first step. So that's why I wanted to talk about this today.
[00:04:42] Danielle: I'm so passionate about this topic and I wanted to just share some of my experiences with networking. So some of my first experiences of networking. When I actually worked for my mom's business, so those of you who don't know my full story, um, I started working for my mom while I was just [00:05:00] out of university and this was selling high end electronics internationally.
[00:05:04] Danielle: So we would go to these big trade shows across the U. S. and Europe and I would be networking and connecting with people who came and stopped by our booth. So I remember not only being one of the only women at the trade shows other than my mom, but also being by far. So this networking experience was super unique because I really had to be, well, I was totally, first of all, totally outside of my comfort zone really in a place and in an environment that I was one of the, like I said, one of the only women.
[00:05:39] Danielle: One of the youngest and so I really had to bring my confidence level up and I really had to practice communicating and Networking with these people that were often a lot older than I was and in my mind a lot more Professional than I was as well. And so that was some of my first experiences with networking as a you know, a business [00:06:00] person.
[00:06:01] Danielle: And then I remember later when I actually started my own business, my first business, which was in web design and social media management, I would research local networking events in my area of Vancouver, and I would just show up. And I remember just being really nervous when I walked into a room, I often felt out of place again, because I was normally One of the only women and I was also one of the youngest.
[00:06:27] Danielle: And so even though some of these first experiences that I had with networking as a business person were super nerve wracking, slightly awkward, I'm honestly really thankful for them because I think in a way it really Allowed me to get outside of my comfort zone. It forced me to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
[00:06:48] Danielle: And I think that has helped a lot in my networking journey. I also learned how to talk to multiple different types of people, all different ages, all different backgrounds, different industries, people [00:07:00] from different cultures, because, you know, like I said, when I was with my mom, we would go to these trade shows and there would be people there from all around the world.
[00:07:09] Danielle: And so this This experience, I think, really helped me in becoming a more confident networker and a more confident person when it came to connecting with other people. So this is actually one of the reasons why I started hosting these small pop up events that then turned into the business I run today, business babes collective is because I wanted to create a space where networking could be really easy.
[00:07:37] Danielle: It could be fun. It could be inclusive. Um, I wanted a place where women could come connect and collaborate, build authentic connections with one another and just feel safe and comfortable to talk about. What their dreams were, what their goals were, um, and also feel comfortable to talk about their struggles.
[00:07:56] Danielle: And then again, share resources, share [00:08:00] tips and share things with each other, and then collaborate and work together to actually support one another so that we could all grow our businesses together. So. This is why I want to share these five tips with you today. So one thing I think is really important before we dive into everything is that I want you to understand that networking is not just the process of connecting with new people.
[00:08:27] Danielle: It's not just something that happens at events or something that happens just online. It's actually an ongoing process of building relationships. So So it's important to understand that as we start to dive into these five tips that I'm going to kind of integrate it into while we're talking about these tips today.
[00:08:44] Danielle: So if you're taking notes, get out your notepad because we're diving into a number one, which is start with people you know. So it is way more natural to start to build relationships and network with people that you already know. [00:09:00] and actually tap into your network to grow your network. So what I mean by that is that often when we start a business we forget to actually connect with people we're already connected with.
[00:09:13] Danielle: So think of people that you already know and just realize that every single person that you know has their own network of people that they know and the people that they know also. already have a network of people that they know. So as you start to network and as you start to make these connections with people, you might not be connected directly with someone who might be the perfect collaborative partner, for example, or someone that would be your ideal client or who could introduce you to a whole amazing group of your ideal clients, right?
[00:09:49] Danielle: You might not directly know that person, but someone that you know might know that person. So that's why I say start with people you know and go from there. [00:10:00] And if you've ever heard of the theory of six degrees of separation, if you haven't heard of it, Basically, it's the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other.
[00:10:12] Danielle: So anyone else in the world. So it's basically a result of a chain of a friend of a friend that could connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. So what I recommend you do with people that you already know is ask them to grab a coffee or do a quick catch up call or connect with them, ask them how they're doing, don't have an agenda, don't make it weird, just make the connection, catch up, ask them questions, see how they're doing, see what they're up to, see if there's a way that you can actually add value to them, don't ask anything of them because that can come later and we'll talk a little bit in the session.
[00:10:52] Danielle: about that in a, in a minute here, but that's number one is start with people, you know. Okay. Number two is get intentional. [00:11:00] So even though networking can absolutely happen naturally. And again, starting with people, you know, this can happen in your every everyday life. When you're a business owner, you also have to get really intentional with your networking.
[00:11:12] Danielle: So I want you to also find communities. Places where you can connect with potentially people who you could collaborate with or your ideal clients or other people who have similar goals and similar dreams that you do. So I want you to focus on actually building quality relationships over quantity. And there are so many opportunities to do, to do this.
[00:11:37] Danielle: You can do this. in person by going to in person events. You can do this virtually online. There's so many ways. And as many of you know, we actually do this within our community, both of course, virtually and in person. So virtually we host these monthly virtual events for this exact reason to connect.
[00:11:58] Danielle: Like minded people. We do it inside [00:12:00] of our action takers club and basically we give the opportunity for you to meet other people. We have prompting questions so that it's not awkward at all. And we give you the opportunity to meet other people. And of course, we also do this in our in person events. So whether it be our community or other communities, really figure out who do you want to connect with?
[00:12:20] Danielle: What are some organizations that you want to be a part of and see what events that you can get involved with. Whether it be virtual, in person, or Ideally, it would be both. Number three is don't make it all about you. So this one is all about being interested instead of being interesting. So instead of asking what can I get from this person when you're networking with them, think what can I give to this person?
[00:12:48] Danielle: So focus on asking them leading questions and be genuinely curious. And if you're someone who is really nervous about networking, or maybe you haven't done it in a [00:13:00] long time, this might take some practice. And that's why I say, you know, go to these events. Go to these virtual and in person events that you can practice getting more confident with your networking.
[00:13:11] Danielle: But some of the questions that you can ask people is, what inspired you to do what you're doing now? Another question is, what type of clients do you work with? You can ask them, what's your favorite thing about what you do? You can ask them what their goals are, maybe like, what are they excited about in their business?
[00:13:29] Danielle: What are they working on in the next couple of months that they're, that they're excited What inspired you? to pursue. There's so many different questions and prompts that you can ask people, but I would definitely start with that. Okay, number four is be generous. So be generous with your connections and be generous with your resources.
[00:13:48] Danielle: So as you're asking questions, as you are being interested instead of interesting, you might think of things that could support them or help them. Maybe it's a [00:14:00] resource, or maybe you just recently listened to a podcast or read a book, or maybe it's a connection of someone that you think would be really valuable for them to meet.
[00:14:10] Danielle: When there's a pause in the conversation, you can offer that to them and ask. them if they would like to, for you to send them something or for you to connect them with someone. This is an incredible way to not only continue to build that relationship, but to earn their trust when you are willing to go out of your way to send them something, to connect them with someone or make that recommendation.
[00:14:32] Danielle: It automatically allows that person to trust you. So, another thing that is actually tied to this specific tip is Asking them for something. So I know this sounds a little bit counterintuitive and maybe almost opposite to what I said before, but after you've done those steps of actually being generous and actually helping them, you can then ask for a small favor.
[00:14:57] Danielle: So one of the best ways [00:15:00] and one of the easiest ways to do this, and one of my favorite ways is to actually ask for their advice. So for example, if they start asking you about what you do. You can ask for their advice. So you can say, Hey, I'm actually working on this thing in my business. What do you think about X, Y, Z?
[00:15:16] Danielle: Another thing you can do is ask them if they know of anyone, let's say you're looking to hire a web designer or a graphic designer, ask them if they know anyone. So that is a really great way to also earn trust because when you ask someone to do you a favor, you're actually signaling to them that you consider them to have something that you don't.
[00:15:41] Danielle: So you can set or consider them to be intelligent. knowledgeable, have skills or resources or connections and it's another way to show them that they matter and they actually trust you more when you ask them for something. So again, it's giving but also [00:16:00] asking as well. That actually builds trust very easily and it makes the bond that you have with that, with someone a lot stronger right away.
[00:16:10] Danielle: Okay. Tip number five is be clear and concise about who you are, what you offer and who you serve. So often when you're curious, you're asking them questions, they will be equally curious about you. And if it's a good conversation, of course they are also going to ask you what you do. So the more clarity you can have around what you do, who you serve.
[00:16:31] Danielle: the better because that way they can have really specific ideas and feedback for you and maybe they have connections or resources that will be extremely relevant to you. Getting super clear, practicing, saying out loud what you do, who you serve. What you offer that is so incredibly key because if you are rambling for 10 minutes about what you do People are gonna be super overwhelmed and super confused and they're not gonna know how [00:17:00] to give you the right information They're not gonna know how to connect you with people.
[00:17:04] Danielle: But if you're super clear, they're gonna be able to more easily refer you to other people or even recognize that, Hey, this is actually someone that I would like to work with. So they might be your ideal client, or like I said, they might have, um, connections with someone who would be your ideal client or ideal collaborator as well.
[00:17:24] Danielle: Okay. So those are my five tips. I do have a bonus tip because you guys know. I love my bonus tips. So my bonus tip for you is to find a creative way to stay in touch and to follow up. There are so many different ways that you can follow up. I honestly could go on. I think I actually did a whole episode on follow up.
[00:17:46] Danielle: I'll probably do another one at some point, but follow up is so important when you meet someone at an event. Whether it be again, virtual or in person, make sure you stay connected with them. So get their Instagram handle, get their [00:18:00] email address and find a creative way that you can touch base with them, whether it's engaging with them on social media, maybe it's sending them a quick email saying like, it was so great to meet you.
[00:18:10] Danielle: Let's keep in touch. Maybe you're going to ask them for coffee or to go up to lunch. Um, you could even ask them if. If there's another event that you want to attend, you can ask them, Hey, I'm going to this event. Do you want to come too? Here's the details of where you can, you can sign up for this event.
[00:18:28] Danielle: So there's so many different ways that you can actually continue to build your relationship. Even if it's just checking in and sending them a resource or letting them know you were thinking of them, that's a really, really great way to stay in touch. And the other thing is. You know, have a system for your followup.
[00:18:43] Danielle: So what I like to do is actually have a spreadsheet and keep track of the people that I'm meeting and connecting with. And have I touched base with them? Have I connected with them? Have I sent them something valuable recently? And that is just a great way to just keep track of [00:19:00] your connections and really build those strong relationships over time.
[00:19:04] Danielle: So. I hope you enjoyed this episode. I tried to be really condensed. I could go on on this topic, honestly, forever. So I hope you enjoyed this. I hope you save this episode for when you plan on attending your next event, um, where you'll be meeting new people. And I want to challenge you. I actually want to give you a challenge over the next five days.
[00:19:28] Danielle: I want you to connect or reconnect with five people. So you can do this either over social media at an in person event. or maybe reconnect with someone that you've lost touch with, maybe. So that's my challenge for you over the next five days, connect with five people. And if you do this, please come on over to Instagram and let me know.
[00:19:52] Danielle: Find me at dannylivinglife. Send me a DM, say, Danielle, I am taking your challenge. I'm going to network. I'm going to connect with [00:20:00] five people over the next five days and let me know how it all goes. So. If you want to practice your networking, um, I would love again to invite you to our power of purpose conference.
[00:20:12] Danielle: This is the perfect opportunity to put these actual steps into practice. So we're just two weeks away again, we're over 50 percent sold out. So if you want to join us, go to business babes, collective. com sesh events. Check out all the details. And if for whatever reason you are listening to this and it's past the event date, still go to that link because we will have the waitlist open for when our next event is.
[00:20:39] Danielle: So if you missed out on this event, um, definitely join the waitlist, but if you're listening to this in real time, come join us August 25th at UBC in Vancouver. Can't wait to see you there. And until then, I'll see you in the next episode.
[00:20:58] Danielle: If you love this [00:21:00] episode, make sure you screenshot, post and tag us on Instagram at Business Babes Co. Want to know when the next episode goes live? Subscribe on your podcast app, and while you're there, leave us a review. Until next time, keep dreaming big, setting goals, and taking action.