Why Networking Is Relevant Now More Than Ever

Just the word ‘networking’ is enough to induce anxiety and feelings of dread, but this common reaction to the word ‘networking’ can mainly be attributed to misunderstandings and false assumptions.

Networking really isn’t something to be afraid of, some events can prove extremely fruitful for businesses. The majority of networking events are far more relaxed and informal than most people realise, many will be surprised to see just how friendly and welcoming most modern networking groups can be.

I’m the Relationship Manager here at Aston Shaw. Networking is a large part of my role, I have seen first-hand the extent in which networking can benefit a business. In my opinion, networking is one of the better ways to build meaningful professional relationships, for one simple reason: face-to-face contact.

In an age where social media and websites are such effective ways of promoting your business, many are quick to dismiss networking as no longer relevant. While it is true that having an online presence is a great way of promoting your business, it lacks one key thing, face-to-face, human interaction. People are far more likely to buy your product/service if they feel they can trust you, and trust is best built in-person.

Of course, not all networking events are made equal. Some networking events are better than others, ultimately meaning that how you perceive networking is entirely dependent on the events you attend. The best piece of advice I can give you for networking is to choose the events you attend carefully, rather than just blindly signing up for as many as you can. Choose the ones that you think are the most likely to be beneficial to your business.

Even if you don’t win any business, networking events are rarely a waste of time. The opportunity to talk with people who are in a similar boat to you should not be missed, you will undoubtedly have a lot to learn from each other. You can share success stories and stories of when things went wrong, helping you to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

If this blog has convinced you to give networking a try, then perhaps we may just end up meeting sometime soon, if this is the case, I look forward to meeting you!