Information for this blog post was obtained from Hubspot and Columbia CCE
Getting your name out into the marketing world is a tool every marketer needs to have. Networking and marketing yourself is a tool that will bring great success to those wanting to expand or get started in their marketing careers.
What is Networking?
Networking, according to Columbia University, is making connections and forming relationships is the process of networking. These connections may be able to supply you with information and contacts that may assist you in making educated career selections. Even unadvertised jobs/internships might be found through networking. Networking can be done in a group context or one-on-one.
In the big scheme of things, networking is getting your name out there or in other words marketing yourself to future employers/partners. By having the skill to network and make these connections you will put yourself in a prime position for success in the marketing workforce.
How to Start Networking
A great start to networking is seeing who you already know that could put you in a position to succeed. Making a list and writing down people you already have connections with is a great start to networking yourself.
Here is an example list of people you could connect with as suggested by the University of Columbia:
School professors and staff members
Former supervisors or colleagues
Parents’ friends
Classmates and club/organization members
Recent alumni
This list is a great starting tool for networking yourself.
Mastering Networking
Networking effectively is a big step when it comes to getting your name out there.
Hannah Fleishman at HubSpot has the steps to success when it comes to networking and we are going to talk about each step to success:
Come prepared with a clear goal in mind.
Have some relevant conversation starters.
Introduce yourself to someone who is a bigger deal than you.
Ask people questions about themselves.
Ask for what you want, but be clear it's mutually beneficial.
Exit a conversation gracefully.
Come prepared with a clear goal in mind
Ask yourself, "Who do I want to meet, and why?" the next time you attend an event. On the registration page of some event registration services, such as Eventbrite, the event's participant list is shown. Take a look at a guest list like this if one is available. Do you see someone or a firm on the list with whom you'd want to connect? Great — now go to the guest's LinkedIn page to learn more about them so you may approach them during the event.
Have some relevant conversation starters
It might be frightening to approach a large or small group, but with the appropriate technique, you can effectively join an existing conversation or create your own. Introduce yourself to one individual who is also traveling solo and searching for
someone to chat to while you ease into the evening.
Introduce yourself to someone who is a bigger deal than you
We go to networking events hoping to meet the CEO of a firm we respect or the author of a book that helped us launch our career. We're ecstatic to be in the same room with them, but then you notice them across the room and feel uneasy, embarrassed, and, who knows, a touch sweaty.
Ask people questions about themselves
We frequently meet someone and in less than three minutes share our names, company, job title, and hometown. Then we grin and say something like, "I adore your blouse," while looking down at the ground. It's simple for the discussion to devolve once the small talk is over. I've discovered that making them the topic of discussion helps me avoid this.
Ask for what you want, but be clear it's mutually beneficial
We all fantasize about leaving a networking event with a tangible exchange that will help us advance our business or profession. It may be a job offer, getting an investor on board, securing a recommendation letter, or winning a long-awaited customer.
Exit a conversation gracefully
It's critical to keep in mind that networking isn't the same as speed dating. The idea is to build useful relationships, not to meet as many people as possible. While we should not speed through talks, for this reason, there are instances when we must abandon ship. You should always be courteous while finishing a discussion, whether you're conversing with someone who won't let you say anything or someone who is wasting time moaning about their employer.
These steps are great tools to master networking and keeping professionalism in your conversations.
Networking Virtually
In the world we live in today everything is virtual. With this being said, we have had to adapt to networking ourselves in the virtual world as well as the physical world. Lestraundra Alfred at HubSpot has 7 unique ways to get your name out there virtually and get you connections:
Sending LinkedIn connection requests without a message.
Not establishing ground rules and boundaries.
Focusing all your efforts on new contacts.
Sending cold emails without prior engagement or context.
Not factoring in inaccessibility for virtual events.
Failing to demonstrate reciprocity.
Only networking with higher-level contacts.
This list is a great source for networking yourself from the comfort of your home. If networking virtually is for you using each one of these tactics will help your success rate skyrocket!
References
“What Is Networking, and Why Do You Need to Do It?” What Is Networking, and Why Do You Need to Do It? | Columbia CCE, https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/what-networking-and-why-do-you-need-do-it
Fleishman, Hannah. “How to Master Non-Awkward, Effective in-Person Networking.” HubSpot Blog, 26 Aug. 2019, https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/the-ultimate-guide-to-non_awkward-effective-networking
Alfred, Lestraundra. “7 Common Virtual Networking Mistakes to Avoid.” HubSpot Blog, 19 May 2020, https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/virtual-networking-mistakes
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