Networking. What It Is? And What Is It For?
Networking is based on building a web of contacts among, companies, entrepreneurs, and freelances to reinforce the corporate image and create new business leads.
Networking meetings aim to connect ideas with channels to make the idea become true. Entrepreneurs often have a revolutionary idea, but they need capital to materialize it. So, through networking is possible to connect that entrepreneur with an investor.
This does not mean that those meetings are just for entrepreneurs and investors, it also works for connecting companies with different approaches that can work together and complement each other, so they create ¨strategic alliances¨ that benefit everyone.
1. WHAT IS IT FOR?
Networking is made with the purpose of moving on in our professional careers, being more visible, and getting more commercial contacts. In this way, we generate more opportunities to expand our business.
Traditionally, is considered that networking is just for entrepreneurs and for creating their web of contacts, however, now these meetings are useful for any professional who is looking for working opportunities.
2. TYPES OF NETWORKING
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING:
Web of contacts made by directors and businesspeople in order to potentiate their interests.
3. OPERATIONAL NETWORKING:
Is normally made in a company with the aim of coworkers exchanging knowledge and solving difficulties.
4. ONLINE NETWORKING:
This has the goal of connecting people who have the same objectives, but in this scenario, the connection is made online or through social media apps.
5. PERSONAL NETWORKING:
All the webs that are made by coworkers, former pupils, or connections made by social media, with a professional approach can be considered personal Networking.
6. INFORMAL NETWORKING:
This is a type of networking that is made daily, many times we are not conscious of that, could be interactions in social media, people that we know and can be our partners, the key here is to have active listening, so we can take advantage of our daily talks.
7. STRATEGIC NETWORKING:
Totally opposite to the previous one, these are the contacts that we are actually looking for, are those people who can give us ideas, points of view, or visionary that could help us in our projects in the future.
Networking can be the most useful tool to grow up in the business field and to make our business successful.