Read any business manual and they’ll tell you that networking has to become part of your marketing strategy.
Not everyone will be pleased to hear this news and networking can be tough – you’re throwing yourself out there and meeting and greeting people you’ve never met before, it can be daunting, especially if your business is based at home.
Home working can be great, but it also means that you’re removed from environments where you might usually network or meet new contacts.
Let’s take a look at some ways to network when you’re a home-based business.
Social Media
Now you don’t even need to necessarily leave your house to do a bit of networking. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media platforms can be really useful ways to reach out and chat to new people.
Using local business hour hashtags on Twitter or finding local business groups on Facebook are fantastic ways to get involved and see what people are talking about and crucially if you can add to the conversation.
If you’re using these tools in the right way then hopefully you can use them as a leverage point and encourage real-life, face-to-face meet-ups.
Virtual Office and Co-Working
Just because you do most of your work from home doesn’t mean that you have to stay in this environment all the time. Registering your business with a co-working space or a virtual office space is one of the best ways to network and make new connections.
Here at Hyde Park House, we’ve got plenty of businesses that pop in to use our facilities, like our meeting rooms and serviced offices. This is the perfect way to network with growing businesses and start-ups that might need your skills or just want to make some new friends in a similar industry. We work with plenty of businesses and it’s worth contacting your virtual office or co-working space to see if they put on any events or can put the call out to other businesses that are also up for a bit of networking.
You might not think it, but just having a chat in a corridor or sharing a quick coffee are all forms of relationship building and networking that are crucial when you’re starting a business.
Local Events
When you know where to look, you should find local networking events in your local area. This is where local businesses and freelancers might meet up for a coffee, a drink and a chat. Have a look in your newspaper or online to see what’s available.
In bigger cities, there will be a lot more events, so if you’re having trouble finding events in your area, one of the best things you can do is to actually set up a meeting yourself. This can help you grow new skills and make contacts too.
Why not use the meeting facilities at Hyde Park House to set up your own working group where you can share ideas and collaborate with new clients?
For more information about our facilities, get in touch with our team today