Business networking is a must, but...

As an entrepreneur, business networking should be part of your lifestyle. Attending events, having coffee with a customer or supplier, and optimizing your profile on social media sites like LinkedIn or Twitter are all great opportunities for building business contacts and establishing strong relationships.

However, the art of networking doesn’t just mean filling your calendar with all the activities taking place in your community. Similarly, it is not necessary to be part of all the social networks. Yes, it is essential to network, but in order to be effective, you have to develop a specific strategy. Who do you want to meet? What kinds of activities are these people involved in? What goals do you want to achieve?

Now you must prepare yourself. Are you shy? Put together a simple introduction that is easy to say in a few words and use it to break the ice with strangers. Are you an extrovert? Be careful not to monopolize the conversation when talking to others. Instead, you should express your interest in them, ask questions about what they do, and pay attention to what they say. It is also important to take care of your appearance — first impressions often dictate the future of a relationship. Networking can be the only difference between a company that is struggling and one that is successful. On a personal level you may be out of your comfort zone when meeting new people, but you will derive great satisfaction professionally. Be daring. Get out there. And don’t forget to take plenty of business cards with you!