No business can survive in isolation and no individuals in business can survive in business in isolation from others. Business is fundamentally all about relationships and connectedness with others.

The Basics

Networking is about building relationships with people who are happy to tell others about you and what you do. Word of mouth advertising like this is the most cost-effective and powerful advertising.

Business people undertake networking in any group situation. They may seek to attend meetings, seminars and presentations related to their business in order to come into contact with others that work in their field.

There are organizations that are designed to support networking and networking can be undertaking in any social setting or gathering if it is deemed to be appropriate.

Essentially when undertaking networking business people aim to make contact with those that they believe to be of benefit in some way to their own organization and will possibly be able to obtain business from those people in the future.

Successful networkers aim to share with as many people as they can all the positives that they can offer. They are givers and offer advice and support to others and attempt to connect other individuals to each other.

Networking is all about what you can offer to support others not about what they others can do for you. Successful business people understand that the referrals and business may come later but in the first instance in order to build relationships they must be seen as having something to give.