NETWORKING BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES: WHERE TO FIND

NETWORKING EVENTS
Networking opportunities are broad and continually
changing, from small events to industry-wide
conferences. They are an inexpensive way to:
• promote your business
• grow your client base
• meet investors
Some of the most popular networking
opportunities

CONFERENCES

During conferences you get to meet hundreds of likeminded

people who are all looking to expand their networks. This can
be quite intimidating when you first start attending – a way to
overcome this is to speak at the event. There will be surge of
people introducing themselves to you afterwards.
 AFTER-HOURS EVENTS

• After-hour events are networking events held after a

working day. This is a more relaxed environment than
other networking events as there are no speakers or
programs and they can be held in a variety of casual
settings, such as, in a bar or a chamber of commerce after
hours. Due to this relaxed setting you're likely to feel more
comfortable speaking to others.
 INDUSTRY AND TRADE
ASSOCIATIONS

• Industry and trade associations are very traditional

networking opportunities. The conversation will usually be
focussed around industry based issues so make sure you
form an opinion that you can share and discuss. There will
be plenty of opportunities to exchange business cards and
hear about potential job opportunities.
 TRADE SHOWS

• Trade shows are exhibitions in which businesses promote

themselves. Part of attending a trade show is to network
as it's a simple way to meet important people in your
industry. If you don't feel comfortable approaching others
consider setting up your own stall because people will then
come to you.
 JOB CLUB MEETINGS

• If you want to specifically network with other job seekers

then think about attending a job club meeting. The
structure varies between clubs but you generally provide
each other with search advice and support.You can make
referrals, introductions and notify others of any
opportunities.
 ONLINE NETWORKING

• Online social networking sites, such as Quora, Twitter,

Facebook and LinkedIn, are networking opportunities for
businesses to interact with customers, clients and industry
associations.You can reach a greater audience than you can
with traditional networking so ensure that you use these
platforms to provide your followers with value as this will
increase your business' credibility.
 SPEED NETWORKING

• Imagine making more contacts in one hour than some

people do in a year. Speed networking is an intensive
session of two or three minute meetings. During an
interaction, attendees usually share their professional
backgrounds and business goals. This is a valuable
networking opportunity for people who are seeking
exposure to new markets or to expand their pool of
vendors quickly, without having to invest hours into doing
so.
 DIVERSITY GROUPS

• Groups based on diversity, such as gender, race, culture, for

example the Business and Professional Women's
Foundation, understand the importance of networking and
frequently include this at their events. Also sharing the
same background with the people you speak to makes it
easier to find similarities and build trust - this is part of
ethos, the ethical appeal, where listeners are more likely to
be convinced by someone they can relate to.
 NON-PROFIT EVENTS

• This is a great place to be if you’re just looking to network

with likeminded people from a similar industry without the
sales or business development pressure. Involvement in
these organisations can lead to unique sponsorship
opportunities for your business or organisation and
contribute to your company’s corporate social
responsibility measurement.
 COMMUNITY GROUPS AND
EVENTS

• Community service groups, such as the local rotary club,

require volunteers for their events, for example, summer
fairs, talks etc. By volunteering you will interact with many
people, including financial donors and other business
professionals in your area. People will want to network
with you because you're showing everyone that you care
about your community and not just yourself - it's making
you and your business more visible. But ensure that you do
want to genuinely help.
 ONLINE FORUMS

• You can become a reliable participant on online forums or

a moderator. This will provide you with exposure and
people will learn that you're a valuable person so they'll
want to network with you.You'll need to dedicate a lot of
time to this because people generally like to be anonymous
on online forums so it'll take longer to build up their trust
and form relationships with them.