The Art of Networking - how to make connections
New York City as a center for business and commerce offers something for anybody any time. So if you are a business owner and entrepreneur or a student looking to start a career, how do you spend your time wisely, which event should you attend, which conference to go to and which workshop to join? Let us help you to network more effectively! You can't start early enough to establish and develop your network and we want to share how we do it.
Networking is a group effort.
Join a LinkedIn group and one of the many NY meetup groups that fit your business and personal interests is always a good idea. Come to one of our monthly NYBC Academy events and develop a business skill such as leadership, branding or marketing and get to know other business owners and interesting people.
Organizations that matter, stay focused.
The ivy league clubs and universities such as Columbia and NYU Stern School of Business serve as an example for great investor pitch, marketing and other business events and conferences - join their newsletters! Also the various chambers of commerce and several UN organizations post incredible events regularly on their websites and usually offer free newsletters to stay informed.
Share with your friends.
Clients and contacts ask us how we got to know so many people and what our secret of effective networking is. The answer is simple. Network with your colleagues, invite friends, follow up timely and make it a habit to go to business seminars, conferences and other relevant events. You need to give in order to receive - think who in your network, who on your Facebook or LinkedIn is for example interested in marketing, real estate, social media or another Industry. So the next time you see a relevant event, invite your friends and contacts - you can create specific email lists for example on mailchimp or constant contact. Also let others know in which topics you are interested in, just ask and they will share and keep you in mind.
At the event of your choice, walk the room, share business cards and ask what people care about, what is important to them not just what they do - that will be remembered. Write that on the back of the business cards when you are on your way home and follow up specifically, provide a specific benefit, share an event, an article or a story that relates to what that person cares about, to what you have heard when you first met.
Discover new topics, events and people - we hope we could inspire you.
See you soon at the next event
The NYBC team
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