The Secrets to Networking Success
Recently I was interviewed for a book on networking. My first response was, "Hey, I don't network. I hate that stuff."
In other words, you won't catch me dead shaking hands and passing out business cards at a local Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. Nor do I cold call. Nor do I wander around conferences with my hand thrust out saying, "Hi, my name is Nick Usborne." It's just not part of my character.
I guess that was my view of "networking".
But as I started writing, answering each of the interview questions, I realized that I network as much as the next person. I just go about it a different way.
The more I think about it, we all network, one way or another. If you think this doesn't apply to you, just make a quick mental tally of the people you know in your industry. People you have worked with, exchanged emails with, met somewhere.
Have a look at your address book. If you have more than the names of your personal friends and family, you're already networking.
>> Why this is important
Whether you are employed right now or a freelancer, networking is essential to your future. Nothing happens without knowing other people. None of us advance in our careers in blissful isolation.
We get a job offer because someone knows about us. We pick up a new client for our freelance business because someone referred us to someone else. We are asked to write articles because an editor or webmaster read something else we had written.
Every step forward we take can usually be traced back to knowing someone.
>> Different Networking strokes for different folks
Some people seem born to walk up to strangers and introduce themselves. If that sounds like you, then you already know how to expand your current network of contacts.
But if, like me, you're not an outgoing person who loves to get out and meet people, you need to find other ways.
For me, my network has grown almost entirely through people contacting me after reading an article I have written, reading my book, or listening to me speak at a conference.
In other words, I network by making myself visible through writing and speaking. My network grows as more and more people get in touch with me.
>> A key to successful networking
Whenever I am offered a speaking or writing project that I feel might be "beyond' me, I jump at it. Why? By stretching myself I not only get my name and talents exposed to a new audience, but I also get in front of an audience that is a little higher up on the food chain.
Let me explain. If I was asked to speak at a local Chamber of Commerce meeting, I would find myself in front of a group of local business people. For me, that's not a good audience.
But last year when I was invited to do a half-day seminar for the senior editors of the world's Number One web site, I jumped at it. Why? Because I would get to stand up in front of some very influential people in the online industry.
The higher I aim, the more influential and better connected my network becomes.
Whatever method works for you, don't confine your network just to "people like you". Try to expand your network vertically, to include people who are more successful, more influential and better connected than you.
Do that, and in time some exciting new opportunities will start presenting themselves.
To find out more about networking for success, read my review of this guide, Networkaholics Revealed.
Nick Usborne is a freelance copywriter, author and speaker. For more articles and resources on making money as a freelance writer, visit his site, http://www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com.
Latest News
MeetingWave Files Geo-Location Social Networking Patent Application MarketWatch - MeetingWave.com, announced that it has filed a patent application entitled "Computer-Based Networking Service and Method and System for Performing the Same" ... |
Experts Connection Offers Executives Tips to Maximize Professional ... MarketWatch - "Understanding how to harness social networking tools like LinkedIn and Facebook demonstrates the kind of new media savvy that discriminating companies are ... |
 Techtree.com | Facebook Migrates Social Networking With New Connect Platform NewsOXY, FL - By John Lester The new Facebook Connect platform will migrate to multiple social networking profiles into one. The new service is similar to Microsoft's ... Facebook Connect Expands, Aims To Shrinking The Web Facebook Connects to the Rest of the Web Networking News |
How to Use Social Networking Sites for Marketing and PR New York Times, United States - By AllBusiness.com Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have become the party lines of this young century. They are inviting and intriguing ... |
 eFluxMedia | Power.com: For Social Networking Power Users Washington Post, United States - They're calling what they do "social inter-networking" because it allows users to view and interact with all of their social networks at once. ... SMBs Get Social Networking Bridges from Power.com Power.com Offers One-Stop Shop for Social Networking Power.com to Become Social Networking Sites Aggregator |
Cisco introduces wireless CCIE pinnacle for aspiring networking gurus Search Networking - Cisco's less advanced wireless certifications, the CCNA and CCNP, have certified networking pros to support and troubleshoot wireless networks, ... |
FindMyAudition.com Proves It's Not What You Know, But Who MarketWatch - "Through FMA's unique networking events, we're providing qualified participants with first-hand insight on how to get their big break. ... |
Fibre Channel Switch Market Propelled by New Products, According ... MarketWatch - As the trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, Dell'Oro Group provides in-depth, objective research ... |
ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING LEADS WITH QUALIFICATION FOR NEW VERSION ... FOXBusiness - ADVA Optical Networking successfully completed interoperability testing and qualification of its FSP 3000 platform for a new version of IBM's mainframe ... |
Elite social networking site Total Prestige to raise $1M VentureBeat, CA - Total Prestige, another social network that aims to cater to elite users, plans to raise $1 million from angel investor Frank DeRose. ... |
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