{"id":26575,"date":"2023-06-14T13:03:46","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T21:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=26575"},"modified":"2023-06-29T13:06:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T21:06:09","slug":"9-professional-networking-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/9-professional-networking-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Hacks to Grow Your Professional Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A college degree in the United States not only costs <a href=\"https:\/\/educationdata.org\/average-cost-of-college#:~:text=The%20average%20cost%20of%20attendance,or%20%24218%2C004%20over%204%20years.\">over $102,828 for four years<\/a> on average, but that certificate isn\u2019t even the finish line.&nbsp; Success depends on the quality and quantity of professional connections you make from thereon.&nbsp; It\u2019s why up to <a href=\"https:\/\/provisionsgroup.com\/the-importance-of-networking-during-your-career-search\/#:~:text=Getting%20your%20name%20out%20there,through%20personal%20and%20professional%20connections.\">80% of job vacancies<\/a> are filled through personal and professional connections rather than open recruitment.&nbsp; So if you want to benefit as much from <em>who<\/em> you know as <em>what<\/em> you know, follow these 9 networking tips and hacks to build the most effective, relevant professional network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Networking Really Necessary?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of people associate networking with wearing a name badge at a dedicated networking event, and it makes them nervous.&nbsp; But it\u2019s really about getting your name recognized, connecting with people who share the same goals and building a personal brand.&nbsp; That can happen anywhere, but it\u2019s especially important if you\u2019re:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Starting a new business and looking for customers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working in a sector where personal connections are the key currency (e.g., freelancing, real estate).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Looking for a new job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wanting to become a respected thought-leader within your sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these simple networking hacks to work any room like a pro.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. ABN: Always Be Networking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t just stick to LinkedIn, cold email or corporate events for your outreach.&nbsp; People tend to be swamped on social media or at seminars.&nbsp; There are valuable connections to be made standing in line at the airport, on train journeys or in shared workspaces, and these interactions are often more authentic and memorable.&nbsp; Have your business card ready at all times and remember that these days your public and professional profile are the same, so post prudently online and think of yourself as a brand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Top tip<\/em>: Check your social media footprint now on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/username-search\">Spokeo<\/a> to find social media accounts containing photos, posts or tagged memories that are tied to your name, email address or phone number.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Be Consistent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s said that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viewsaremyown.social\/p\/the-podcast-blueprint#:~:text=%2290%25%20of%20podcasts%20don',That's%20another%20180%2C000%20gone.\">90% of podcasts<\/a> don\u2019t make it to a fourth episode, illustrating the fact that even great ideas can quickly run out of steam.&nbsp; Half the challenge in professional networking is showing up daily, even when you don\u2019t feel like it.&nbsp; To build your network, send connection requests regularly, tweet several times a day on your specialist topic, and send cold emails to potential contacts daily.&nbsp; You\u2019ll be rejected or ignored consistently \u2026 until suddenly you\u2019re not and you\u2019re unlikely to be ever again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Follow the 4 Cs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/ivanmisner.com\/work-your-network-with-the-4cs\/#:~:text=The%204Cs%20are%20designed%20to,consistency%20within%20your%20personal%20network\">business guru and keynote speaker<\/a> refers to the 4 Cs \u2014 credibility, competence, clarity and connectivity \u2014 as essential elements of professional networking.&nbsp; We\u2019re assessed by potential connections on how trustworthy and knowledgeable we appear, how understandable our message and how easy it is to maintain contact.&nbsp; Keep these in mind whenever networking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Focus at Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re going to a networking event, know why you\u2019re going (you\u2019re not there for the buffet or small talk).&nbsp; Set a target for how many connections you want to make, and who you want to meet specifically (check the guest list beforehand).&nbsp; Work on a clear elevator pitch before you go, and do your research about any guest speakers or discussion topics.&nbsp; That doesn\u2019t mean you should \u201cpress the flesh\u201d aggressively and go into \u201chard sell\u201d mode (see below).&nbsp; But a little preparation will mean you\u2019re not walking aimlessly around the room, loitering on the fringes of conversations or stuck to the sandwich station.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Ask Questions, Listen Actively<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It sounds simple, but talking to a stranger can be harder than you think.&nbsp; Common errors include small talk instead of smart conversation, or looking over someone\u2019s shoulder for other options instead of active listening.&nbsp; Again, it comes down to preparation.&nbsp; Have some conversation starters ready, ask original questions and know when to wrap a conversation up once you\u2019ve made a connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tips for active listening:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Repeat the person\u2019s name to remember it, and repeat yours to help them politely get yours.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paraphrase a person\u2019s words back to them to show you\u2019re hooked and engaged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A top hack is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scienceofpeople.com\/networking\/\">tilt your head<\/a>, which is the universal sign of \u201cI\u2019m listening.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Refer a Friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re just as valuable in your network for the connections you can bring as for the skills you offer.&nbsp; So if you can\u2019t take up an opportunity that comes your way, pass it on to someone who could use a boost.&nbsp; Don\u2019t forget to tag and big up the successes of your existing network when posting.&nbsp; Generosity is a powerful virtue within any professional network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Offer Value<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you noticed that content creators used to offer lead magnets and \u201cgated content\u201d in exchange for your email address?&nbsp; Nowadays, however, the top creators are giving it all away for free.&nbsp; They\u2019re more focused on accelerating rapidly to become the leading authority in their space with the most followers.&nbsp; And it works.&nbsp; If you want to accumulate a bigger network, avoid bargaining with potential followers about the initial exchange.&nbsp; Share your secrets, tips and expertise freely and you\u2019ll be seen as an influential (and irresistible) figure worth following.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Follow Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the golden rule.&nbsp; You might come away from a networking event with your pockets stuffed with business cards, but 24 hours later you\u2019ll have forgotten the faces behind each one (as they will have forgotten yours).&nbsp; Make sure to follow up with each contact by email or social immediately, recapping who you were, what you discussed and possible next steps.&nbsp; Send a connection request promptly and build on the introduction while it\u2019s still warm.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Be Creative<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can have up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/help\/linkedin\/answer\/a567364\/network-size-limit?lang=en#:~:text=LinkedIn%20members%20can%20have%20up,know%20personally%20and%20trust%20professionally\">30,000 first-degree connections<\/a> on LinkedIn, but it\u2019s the quality that counts.&nbsp; If you\u2019re sending mass-volume templates to contacts by email or social media, you can\u2019t expect to stand out in their inbox.&nbsp; Send a personalized gift directly to someone\u2019s desk, however, and their curiosity will be piqued.&nbsp; Keep it appropriate for your sector, however.&nbsp; For instance, baking a cake with your resume on top would be seen as creative in advertising, but lacking gravitas in the legal profession or banking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Networking Hacks Using Spokeo&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest challenges in professional networking is actually finding the right person to contact so that you can craft the appropriate pitch.&nbsp; With Spokeo, you can get the latest available contact information discreetly by searching with a phone number, email address or full name.&nbsp; It\u2019s the smart way to search and also prevents you from being scammed or targeted by predators on the rare occasions where they infiltrate professional networking groups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>HubSpot &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/the-ultimate-guide-to-non_awkward-effective-networking\">How to Network Effectively: 15 Tips You Can Start Using Today<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A college degree in the United States not only costs over $102,828 for four years on average, but that certificate isn\u2019t even the finish line.&nbsp; Success depends on the quality&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":26576,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[612],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>9 Professional Networking Tips | Spokeo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to improve the quality and quantity of your professional connections? 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