Social media has become the buzzword when it comes to social Networking and thereby many popular websites have made their mark in this field. Amidst social networking sites, there are a few Business networking sites too that bring along various business owners and budding entrepreneurs at a common platform. The success stories of these websites (for example- www.linkedin.com) emphasize that business networking has occupied a significant space in the minds of budding business entrepreneurs.

However, the business networking is not limited to online platforms. One gets to do much more with networking than merely marking its online presence.

Networking has been serving as a supportive business tool that has helped various businesses to grow manifolds over the period of time. It helps in considerably expanding one’s business and gaining knowledge of latest techniques that emerge every now and then.

As the popular saying goes- “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, business networking and expansion takes time and a lot of hard work to get flourished.

In this article we have highlighted the importance of business networking to help young entrepreneurs use this practice in scaling up their business:

• References lead to more business:

Networking helps in generating authentic references from the people who belong to your field. Getting references from business meetings are the sources of high-quality business leads generation. With proper follow-ups, one can convert these references into momentous deals. This is one of the reasons that why people turn up in high volumes during business meets and conferences despite their busy schedules.

• Connections to go:

When you are in a business, there is something new to learn every day through challenging situations.  In the real business practice, there are no books to teach the right way of dealing with day to day situations. It is the “people” who you know that help you in sailing through testing times. Therefore, you need to have connections for making your business grow upwards. Good connections help you in laying the anchor of your business firmly and lead your way to other influential people in the society. One needs to remember that every connection that you create is a source of several connections that in itself is a chain which is very effective in forming the business integral chain.

• Opportunities:

A businessman has to be an opportunist- who keeps an eagle’s eye on every new prospect that comes his way! There are a lot of things that occur every day in the world of business that can be found out only through proper networking channels. We hear of news of big mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships and tie-ups etc through newspapers and sources of media. But the businessmen need to have their sources to inflict the knowledge of these events before their occurrence so that they can find relevant opportunities. 

Business networking has helped various successful businesses to reach the apex of their field. Using the right source at the right time is the key for thriving in an all-time changing world of technology and business.

• Hiking the profile:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.”    

-An African Proverb

One of the biggest benefits of networking is to get visible and noticed. When you make regular appearances in business meets and events, people start recognizing you. They will try to know about you and your business which will help you in establishing and raising your profile. It gives you a chance to build up your reputation as a business owner who is passionate about his work. Your own networking skills and follow up ideas will help you in taking it further. At times you may get direct leads and referrals too through networking which can be a turning point for your business’ reputation and success.

Conclusion:

Business networking is all about finding such people who can act influential in helping your business in moving forward. When you meet new people, you need to be conscious of what you talk to them and how! People want to know how good you can serve them and what benefit you derive thereby! Therefore, choose your connections wisely. Business networking is more about building relations than adding merely a few contacts in your phonebook. Try to form such relations that help you in laying a strong foundation on the grounds of business.