Professional networking is an important element to the success of any business person’s working life.  It can help you meet people, gain information, make useful contacts, find job opportunities, get referrals, and score new business leads.  Through the friendships that you make, it can also become a rewarding dimension to your work life that offers support and encouragement.

If you would like to start networking to increase your professional connections, here are eight tips to help you succeed:

1. Spend time developing relationships.  A wide network with meaningful connections takes time and effort.  Be ready to invest both to cultivate your network.
2. Be honest about your talents, abilities, and accomplishments so that others in your network will know the value you bring to the table.
3. As recommended by Michael B. Fishbein in The Huffington Post, do listen and be willing to help others by connecting with people or by sharing your experience and knowledge.  A professional network should be beneficial for everyone involved, so always be ready to offer assistance and information.
4. Don’t limit your network to people from just one field.  While you’ll definitely want to form relationships with others in your line of work, look for other networking opportunities such as community groups, charities, civic organizations, or local government.  Having a broad professional network expands your number of contacts and opportunities as well as your interests.
5. Look for conferences, events, and classes to attend.  Socializing is an integral part of effective networking.  While large groups are often conducive to meeting a lot of people, also invite others to meet you for lunch and dinner occasionally to connect in smaller groups and quieter settings.
6. Follow up with every new connection that you make.  After meeting them, send an email to them know it was a pleasure to meet them and let them know that they should reach out to you in the event that you can ever help them in any way.
7. Don’t fall out of touch.  If you’ve been too busy to attend functions or to see people face-to-face, take time to stay in touch via email, social networking, texting, or with phone calls.  Communication is key to successful networking.
8. Be the one to make the first move.  When there is someone in particular whom you’d like to meet, take the initiative to make it happen.  Reach out to the person with a phone call or email, or introduce yourself at a professional or social gathering.  If possible, ask a mutual acquaintance to arrange a meeting.

Establishing a strong professional network can benefit your business in several ways.  The right connections can open doors, expanding your opportunities.  Professional networking offers you the chance to share your challenges and your triumphs with others who have similar career interests and goals.  You can be useful sounding boards for each other as well as sources of encouragement.  Having people to turn to in times of trouble and to celebrate accomplishments with is invaluable.  And over time, you may find that people in your professional network move on to become your friends.

Mastroianni Consulting is a consultancy firm serving the needs of Realtors and their clients.  Dedicated to Excellence, they provide support services that assist real estate agents to grow their businesses.  For more information and to learn how we can help you become more successful, please contact one of our Client Care Specialists.

You can reach us at (636) 220-7481 or clientcare@mastroianniconsulting.com

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