Networking and

Personal Branding

By Robin low

networking

• Networking is the process of intentionally

meeting people, making contacts, and forming

relationships in hopes of gaining access to such

business-related benefits as career advice, job

leads, business referrals, useful information and

ideas, and emotional support.

• It’s more than just socializing and making friends

benefits of networking

• Three main benefits of networking: referrals, relationships, and leads.

• Networking also increases visibility.

• Visibility creates opportunity.

• It is the number one business building tool.

value

• Why do people want to know you?

• What value(s) can you provide?

• What can you contribute to the relationship?

• What are the shared competencies?

• What makes you unique?

weak ties

• (acquaintances; not our close friends and

family) offer resources and perspectives we do

not tend to get from our closest friends.

• Weak ties tend to add diversity to our life

while networks of strong ties ate classically

homogeneous.

weak ties

• Weak ties are great for spreading ideas quickly

(especially bridging weak ties which help ideas

move from one network to the next)

• Weak ties are great for helping ideas reach distant

targets (far outside our network of strong ties)

• Weak ties are great for episodic information flows

• Weak ties support innovation by helping ideas flow

from one discipline or network to an entirely

different one.

favors

• What is the right way to ask for a favor?

• Do you need to earn it?

• What’s earning the right to ask for a favor and

to do business.

being professional

• It is not right to judge a person you don’t

know by their looks.

• Get to know them before you make any

judgments.

There are only tow kinds of people

– those we know and those do not know yet

networking done right

“It’s not who you know but who knows you that

matters”

create new connections

• Be social, go to events and meet people.

• Do not be shy or have low self esteem, believe

in yourself.

• When you go to networking events, seminars,

tradeshows, alumni gatherings, etc., prepare a

1 minute pitch to pitch yourself.

• It is about getting to know people, and finding

ways to help them.

build social capital

• Be a resource.

• Organize events.

• Volunteer and hold positions in clubs.

• Mentor someone.

• Join or start a cause.

maintain your network

• Have a schedule of maintaining your network.

• If you visit a country, check to see if you have

people in your network to meet.

• Send birthday greetings.

• Comment and respond to questions on social

networks.

strategic networking

• Earn the right to ask for favors

• Do not be a “taker”

• Strong bonds for formed with mutual benefits.

• Earn the right to do business.

• Focus on win-win situations.

• Give before taking.

For more information and tips, please visit

http://www.facebook.com/socialhub

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