Building a small business can seem lonely at times. New entrepreneurs must wear many hats. Long hours and busy days leave little time for socializing or building relationships. However, small business networking is crucial to increasing exposure.
Connecting with like-minded people leads to referrals and helps spur innovative ideas. Here are some of the top ways you can begin building a networking circle or strengthen one you already have.
1. Join Social Media Groups
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/
Social media usage continues to grow. Statista estimates around 3 billion people use Facebook, with YouTube and Instagram in second and third place. With so many people on the platform, you can likely find a group of local business owners or people around the globe who run companies just like yours.
- Set up a business page.
- Host a group where local businesses can share what they’re up to.
- Go into industry groups and offer your expertise without being spammy.
- Ask for advice from other business owners who might have fresh insight.
Social media grows your brand in multiple ways and helps you as an entrepreneur.
2. Find a Local Chamber of Commerce
Nearly every location has a business organization or chamber of commerce to bring small business owners together. When everyone pools their resources, large events and opportunities for networking happen.
- Attend meetings.
- Talk to the director to see what resources are available to your small business.
- Meet other business owners and see if they want to collaborate on promotions.
- Add your business to the chamber’s website or printed material.
For many new business owners, the chamber of commerce is one of the best resources available for learning the ins and outs of running a new venture.
3. Host Workshops
If you want to attract customers and keep them coming back, you must show them you’re authentic and trustworthy. Hosting workshops where you share your expertise is a fun way to show your authority and build a name in the industry.
- Offer a workshop on how to use your product or service.
- Invite other store owners to give presentations as well.
- Host a webinar or post a video tutorial. Around 81% of marketers feel videos help brand awareness.
- Give a workshop at another business or local nonprofits.
The more events you offer, the more people you’ll meet. Network with customers and fellow entrepreneurs for maximum impact.
4. Approach the Stores Around You
Small business networking doesn’t have to wait for a meeting or online connections. Try being a bit more proactive.
- Walk to the nearest businesses and introduce yourself.
- Ask them if you can help them with anything.
- Invite your neighbor to breakfast or lunch.
- Tell your customers what they offer and encourage them to stop by the other store and let them know you sent them.
With a little time and effort, you’ll build valuable friendships. When the economy is tight, the difference between someone sending a few customers your way may keep you afloat.
5. Embrace Charity
Source: https://givingusa.org/giving-usa-limited-data-tableau-visualization/
Giving USA shows a breakdown of the percentage of charitable donations to organizations. Around 5.9% come from corporations and 63.9% from individuals. Businesses have an opportunity to step up their game and offer more to their communities.
- Give a percentage of profits to a local charity.
- Team up with schools and youth leagues for fundraising events.
- Throw full support behind a cause you believe in monetarily and by helping with hands-on projects.
Find the right nonprofit that matches your small business philosophy and makes a difference in your community. Clean up a local park, set up a wildlife refuge, feed homeless people or look at what other needs are around you. You’ll build connections while forming goodwill among local citizens.
6. Help Other Business Owners
Small business networking doesn’t have to involve dozens of people at a time. You can help another small business owner and connect with individuals.
- Find a struggling business and make it your mission to help them turn things around.
- Send referrals to stores you already like.
- Invite another store owner to a networking event or training session that benefits you both.
- Offer coupons to customers who shop at both places.
- Talk about window displays, help set up a seasonal sale or ask what other ways you might help.
Networking circles can be as small or as large as you’d like. The key is to find the people you mesh well with and help one another as much as possible.
7. Support Local Youth
Your local schools are an excellent focus for your business. You can give back to the young people in your area but also forge relationships with teachers, school principals, youth sports directors and parents who are business owners.
- Volunteer at a school.
- Buy uniforms for a sports team.
- Take out an ad in the school newspaper.
- Offer after school programs to teach students skills.
Once you know your strengths as an entrepreneur, you’ll find ways to give back to your local community in meaningful ways. Make kids in your town a priority and you’ll win loyal, lifelong customers. Their parents will also appreciate your efforts and be more likely to recommend your business to others.
8. Attend Trade Shows
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/550879/number-trade-shows-attend-usa/
Even though the pandemic slowed down the number of trade show exhibitions in 2020 and 2021, the number of events companies attend and have a booth at is growing again.
Pre-pandemic, organizations averaged 16.9 national trade shows per year, down to around 12.3 for 2023. You don’t even have to set up a booth to get networking opportunities from an event.
- Attend training sessions and gatherings.
- Hand out business cards to everyone you meet.
- Give a presentation and invite people to check out your website.
- Make a strategic list of the people you’d like to connect with.
A booth allows you to meet a lot of people at one time but also tethers you to a specific area. Choose whether the cost is worth the benefit when attending conventions.
9. Attend Local Events
Remember local events are an excellent opportunity to create a strong inner networking circle. People will come to know you as the person who runs the ABC store or other type of business.
- Look for events related to what you do. For example, if you sell clothes, attend a local fashion show.
- Never pass up a good party and a chance to meet new people.
- Develop an elevator pitch summarizing your business in a few short sentences.
- Keep coupons and free offers on printed paper and hand them out to everyone you meet.
Keep your brand name in the forefront of people’s minds by having a presence in your town.
Invest Time in Small Business Networking
When you spend time on small business networking, profits will trickle in consistently. However, the customers you gain should be loyal and lasting. Look at networking as a way to build knowledge and goodwill in your community. Any revenue generated from connecting with others is a bonus.