Why choosing not to network is bad for business

Understanding the importance of business networking

Do you find networking a little unnerving? Not really sure whether it’s worth your time?

Well, we’re here to tell you why choosing NOT to network can be bad for business. On top of that, we’ll explain how by understanding the importance of networking and learning how to make the most of it, you can grow your business and enjoy the success you deserve.

But first, a bit about us – welcome to DARWIN.vip, founded by Michael Thomas. Michael has more than 10 years of networking experience, has led and attended many networking groups and now, he runs our Academy. We’re on a mission to make networking less stressful and more successful, including for you!

Just in case you’re not overly familiar with business networking, it’s a brilliant way for you to meet other business owners and build relationships. At business networking events, online or in person, businesspeople are brought together to get to know each other; the idea is for you to go along, build relationships, attract your ideal audience, get referrals and as a whole, grow your business.

If that is your goal – to grow your business – then the importance of business networking should not be underestimated.

How to meet your ideal clients directly

Is business growth harder than you anticipated? A common issue is that everyone tells you that you should be doing X, Y and Z if you want to grow your business, but it’s easy to become overwhelmed by generic advice hitting you from all angles. It can be hard to know where to turn or which bit of advice to take, especially when some of it is contradictory.

Business networking is important because it cuts out a lot of the friction. Many businesses will market themselves, do direct sales, and use online and offline means to generate interest in their products and services. The beauty of business networking is that it allows you to meet potential clients and partners directly, and build relationships with them!

There are many benefits of business networking, but here’s one example: let’s say that you go to an event and strike up a conversation with someone about dogs. Before you know it, you’ve got common ground with someone else who loves their four-legged friend! Little do you know, that person is also a great potential client for you.

The good news is that you haven’t tried to sell them anything (as you’ve been too busy talking about your pooches), but you’ve built a personal relationship with them, which is likely to help you stand out from your competitors.

Start enjoying the benefits of business networking

When you get stuck in with business networking, you have the opportunity to increase the size of your business network considerably. These new connections will all be people who understand you and what you offer, and they will also appreciate and understand the challenges you face running your business.

Networking also offers a way to generate leads for your business; as the old saying goes, ‘Like, know, trust’, in most small businesses, people do business with people they like. By attending business networking events, you can build much more personal relationships and increase the likelihood of people liking you.

On top of that, networking can also help you to generate referrals – as more and more people get to know you and see the benefits of your expertise, more referrals will come your way. Your networking connections will become advocates for your business, almost like having a personal sales team! What’s not to like?

How to enter the networking world

If you’re new to the world of networking, you can delve in initially by attending online events. Whether you’d like to meet peers in your industry, potential clients or just get to know other business owners in your area, online events are a great way to start.

Access events from the comfort of your own home or office, find groups all over the world, and get involved without having to get yourself out there in quite the same way.