6 Easy Networking Tips For Entrepreneurs | HubSpot

So being completely real, networking was never something that came very easily to me. I was never the guy that could just walk into a room, light it up with my smile, throw caution to the wind, and get into these charismatic conversations about my brand with flawless execution. Simply put, your boy wasn't really about that life. But that's because of a small fact of life that not too many people share. You see, networking can be super awkward. While it's one of the biggest ways we can all organically grow our resources, a lot of us are either too uncomfortable or too busy to figure out how to do it effectively. But don't worry. As always, I'm here to help. We're going to talk about what networking is, how it helps an entrepreneur find success, and get some tips on how to not make it as awkward as we're all probably dreading it'll be. I'm Tory, and this is Networking Tips for Entrepreneurs. Click the link in the description to get some info on how to start your own business. As always, if you like what you hear, you want to hear more, hit the bell and subscribe to hear more. Networking, the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. We're talking about that type of networking where you go talk, walk around, they laugh, you smile, and then you get the resource that you wanted in the first place. Easy. But for a lot of us, including some of us underrepresented groups, not so easy. According to a report by Harvard Business Review. Ooh, Harvard. Networking can be especially challenging for professionals of color who may not only experience general discomfort, but also face unique challenges from not being perceived as powerful, credible, or resourceful. This often results in less outreach and relationship building. Translation it's hard to get excited to talk to someone when you know they're not taking you seriously. So how do we all climb up this networking hill to start to answer that question, we're headed to the borough of Kings. Let's go to Brooklyn.

My name is Weegee Theodore, formerly creative director of the Brooklyn Circus and currently now the creative activists of the Brooklyn Circus. Brooklyn Circus is a men's clothing brand and clothing experiment based out of Brooklyn. We've operated in San Francisco and Chicago, Japan and so on, and all over the world and travel the world in spreading the Brooklyn Circus, the Hundred Year Plan, style and character, and more.

Mr. Theodore, thank you so much for giving your time. I'm rocking your gear today. I'm gonna jump right into it. What's the biggest piece of advice that you can give entrepreneurs when it comes.

To networking, it's to be honest with yourself is to think about your image and think about what you're saying and everything that you wear and how you wear your hair and how you wear your beard and your body posture and so on and so forth. It's really being honest with that. As much as we take selfies and as much as we're on Instagram, you know, spend some time with yourself in the mirror. Literally, you know, looking at your body movement, looking at how you communicate, looking at how you look to others and how you will ultimately look to yourself. And as long as you keep, you know, you stay true to that and you continue to be honest with yourself, you know, networking becomes easier.

According to a report by the Harvard Business Review, it basically says that networking can be a lot harder for black and brown folks, basically because we just are not taken as seriously as a resource. What are your thoughts on that?

I don't think I've had the issue or ever blamed anyone not wanting to do business or not taking me serious. And if they don't, that's their own issue. But more importantly, it's about how serious I take myself. You think about hip hop music, you don't have to tell a young guy, you don't have to tell anyone to listen to hip hop music. You don't have to tell them to buy black music. They do it as a way of life. Now since George Floyd has been a shift towards creating black lists and buy black and blah blah, blah, that should have been the norm. But it's a shame that it took that. Not to get white people to focus on us, but to get us to focus on us.

Another major personal shout out to Ouija Theodore and BK Circus for providing those thoughts. Now let's combine those suggestions with my own thoughts and research to get you guys some final networking tips. Tip number one, Find your tribe. Finding people to meet is half the battle. Here's where to start. Facebook groups. Go to Facebook groups and type in some keywords related to your industry. This will give you access to groups filled with people all talking about the same issues you're looking to connect with. Tip number two, Give more than you take. Once you meet these people, develop and share helpful resources with them. We call that adding value. Introduce that friend who's looking for a way to get a small business loan with that friend who actually started a small business. Or hey, I found this really cool video on YouTube. It's all about networking for entrepreneurs. You should check it out by always having something to offer. You'll become someone people want around and they may respond to you with that same energy. Tip number three zoom in on this one. Listen to me carefully. Slide into those DMs. To slide into someone's DM is to send a direct message to someone on Twitter or Instagram, confidently, smoothly and thirstily. But instead of trying to flirt, now it's about trying to get a resource. But don't take my word for it. I have a friend who came in to help out with this one real quick. Hi Shayna.

Hey Tori.

All right, Shayna, tell us what we need to live that networking life.

Live that networking life by introducing yourself. Who you are, what you do, and what is the goal that you're working toward. Set up a reason for why you reached out. I saw your most recent talk, I saw a recent tweet, my friend knows you, etc. What do you hope to get out of this call? A mentorship call? Review a project that you did. Review a project that they did. Be intentional about who you connect with. I'm not going to reach out to Beyonce unless I have a great reason to reach out to her. And even then it would take a lot of time to get there. Find that person who wrote an article you returned to, or in a YouTube series you follow or at a conference you recently attended. Those ones have the best turnaround. Don't just randomly pick people from a crowd. Find somebody that you know about, that you've done your research on and that you know you can bring value to the conversation. Be upfront, keep it quick and make it goal oriented. These are busy people. Make it worth their time and provide a valuable connection.

Tip number four Listen the mark of a good networking conversation is not that you talk a lot. A good networking conversation is when you can get others to talk a lot. When it comes to these conversations, just like that awkward first School dance Start with a basic two step. What do you do? How long have you been doing it? What kind of projects are you working on right now? All are nice for a basic two step, but if you want a salsa you should ask what do you like to do outside of work? And just follow the conversation as it unfolds. You may find some common ground. Tip 5 follow up keep track of whom you met and where you have met them and keep notes on what you most remember about them. Follow up with an email telling them how great it was to me. Speaking of which, this would be a great time to tell you that I got you all a gift. Yeah, yeah, I did it's for when you're out there NETWORKING. This is HubSpot CRM. Click the link in the description to get started for free. This contact database will help you keep track of anyone you meet out there instead of always having to walk around with a bunch of loose emails and business cards in your pockets. Lastly, tip number six. I'm gonna call this the Aladdin Just be you. While I could give you the perfect line or perfect color shirt to wear to network, this is also a healthy dose of you being yourself. The more you you are, the more it gives an opportunity to find something that you genuinely have in common with someone. Authentic conversation almost always leads to a genuine connection. I personally used to think that networking was nothing but fake conversation that hopefully led to some real resources. But now I know that networking is actually authentic conversation that may lead to something better. Genuine support. Anyway, those are just my tips, but what are yours? Comment below and let the world know. Until next time. Bye bye. I'm Tory and this is Networking Tips For I'm Tor, I'm Torey and this is Networking Tips for Entrepreneurs. But if you want a salsa. But if you want a salsa.