Building and Nurturing Your Network

How to Successfully Build Your Network

Networking is defined as developing and using contacts made in business for purposes beyond the reason for the initial contact. For example, a sales representative may ask a customer for names of others who may be interested in his product.

Being able to network is one of the most crucial skills any entrepreneur and business professional can have. It is the root to developing clients and other contacts to help grow your business.

Tips when starting your networking process

1. Be persistent
2. Be different
3. Be clear
4. Make a personal connection
5. A genuine thank you

Networking should be a priority for all of us. Regardless of or standing in school, we are always looking for internship or job opportunities and because of that we should be networking every chance we can get. Another point to add is that when we accept an internship or a job we slack and take our foot off the gas. Instead we should be persistent and network with people in the company, our co-workers, ect. and make the most of our opportunities.

Some tips to try:

1. Set a goal to meet three to five people if you go to an event
2. Go out of your comfort zone and attend events that you normally wouldn’t go to
3. Always have contact information on you; business cards
4. Sit and converse with people you have never met
5. Be active
6. Be friendly and approachable
7. Be willing to give to receive

Sites to look at for other ways to network successfully

1. http://www.businessballs.com/business-networking.htm
2. http://laurenthompson2.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/how-to-build-your-personal-network-with-follow-up-skills/
3. http://alumni.berkeley.edu/services/career-services/resources/articles/networking/tips-how-network-successfully 

How to Successfully Nurture Your Network 

"Starting today you are a brand. You're every bit as much a brand as Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop. To start thinking like your own favorite brand manager, ask yourself the same question the brand managers at Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop ask themselves: What is it that my product or service does that makes it different?"

Does anyone remember what this quote is from?

Article recap?

...And provide us with an example about 'branding yourself'?

" It's this simple: You are a brand. You are in charge of your brand. There is no single path to success. And there is no one right way to create the brand called You. Except this: Start today. Or else." 

A brand doesn't just communicate and connect with their customers once, it is consistently engaging with customers and 'nurturing their network'. 

What the Experts Say...

The biggest challenge in maintaining your network is not meeting people but keeping contacts alive over time. You may meet a really connected individual at a conference, but unless you follow up and maintain contact, the connection will be lost. Remember, networking is, at its heart, nothing more than a personal relationship. And all relationships require some amount of time and attention.

Tips/Steps to Nurturing Your Network

1. Everyone you know is a potential member of your network
2. Be willing to ask for help
3. Be willing to give help
4. Don't use your network only for job hunting- internship contacts especially
5. Keep in touch with your network contacts
• Refer clients- Chris Plumber
• Keep your promises- lunch and/or phone call
• Announce a life change
• Offer an interesting article- know your network
• Simply say hello
• Introduce a new contact- Working at a company 

James Potter: Maintaining your network is essential strategy 

• Keep talking to them and explaining the value of talking to you. 

 My biggest tip about nurturing your network:

• Create a spreadsheet and keep it updated
• Store old emails an refer to them before sending a new email or meeting with someone

Questions:
What are some examples of nurturing your network?
Does anyone have a tip not mentioned to help others nurture their network?
Who are some people in a network that are necessary to stay in contact with?
What is an example of a contact you wish you would have stayed connected and why?

Links:
http://www.gradtogreat.com/tips_advice/article-eight_ways_to_maintain_your_network.php 
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2000_06_02/noDOI.18127758802669785399
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/networking/a/networking_2.htm
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29633368/Five_Tips_For_Maintaining_Your_Network