Few work arrangements provide as much creative control or freedom as solo entrepreneurship. While there are many perks to running your own business, there are some downsides when it comes to networking.
If you’re a solo entrepreneur seeking to make more business connections, you will have to put yourself out there. Luckily, there are several accessible ways to meet other professionals and expand your network.
Industry Associations
Associations are membership-based organizations centered around a particular trade or industry. These organizations often conduct research and identify leading trends that help advance the industry.
Association members are usually high-performing professionals and business leaders. You can find an organization related to your field by searching for your industry + association. In order to join an association, you will most likely have to meet some criteria. For example, you may need to hold specific qualifications, meet an income threshold, or have a certain amount of experience.
If you qualify, you can become a member by paying an annual fee. The value that the association will bring to your business often outweighs this initial investment.
Associations offer several perks, including access to industry publications, private job boards, and education opportunities. Associations also host industry conferences, which are one of the most valuable networking events.
Industry conferences may be held online and in person and center around an emerging topic in the field. Industry conferences often feature high-profile professionals in their Q and sessions, roundtable discussions, or expert panels. They also provide ample opportunities for mixing and interacting with other attendees and speakers.
Coworking Spaces
If you prefer a more low-key style of networking, you may benefit from joining a coworking space. Coworking spaces rent out fully equipped office spaces at a daily, weekly, or monthly rate. Coworking spaces are usually situated in desirable locations and attract remote workers and entrepreneurs.
Unlike a cafe or library, coworking spaces cater specifically to working professionals. While most people enter coworking spaces to focus on projects, these spaces are also designed to encourage interaction among clients.
Some spaces curate membership so that all clients are in similar industries or have reached a certain threshold of success. In this way, more exclusive coworking spaces double as a vetting service.
By renting a shared workspace, you give yourself more opportunities to network with other business owners organically. Many spaces also host events that encourage networking, such as happy hours or members-only workshops.
Thanks to social media, it is possible to expand your network from your computer. While professional connections can happen on any platform, Linkedin is specially designed for business-focused interactions.
Once you create a Linkedin profile, you will need to start adding other members to your network. You can start by connecting with individuals you know in real life, including past employers, colleagues, or clients.
However, as your network expands, you can reach out to individuals in similar fields. Linkedin also allows you to communicate through its messaging feature known as InMail.
If you have a premium subscription, you can start conversations with other professionals before sending a connection request. This makes it easier to establish a relationship and increases the chances of your request being accepted.
Linkedin also has industry-focused groups where like-minded professionals share experiences, job opportunities, and advice. Access to these groups is available to all users.
Referral Strategies
Your current clientele can also be a rich source of networking. For example, you can encourage previous customers to share your business with others in their network by creating a referral reward system.
Affiliate marketing is an effective way to incentivize clients to recommend your business to others. As an affiliate, your client will receive a special code or link that they can pass on to potential customers.
When these new customers use this code, then your client will automatically receive a reward. This could be free merchandise or a percentage of sales. This strategy not only raises your business profile but also increases the number of people in your professional network.
While they may not all convert into customers, they all have the potential to pass on information about your services. You can also tap into this expanded customer base to advertise job opportunities or requests for information.
