Networking For the Business Woman

Business women, especially entrepreneurs, have such an advantage when it comes to networking, making new contacts and business development. Women have such a gift for communicating with others, multi-tasking and paying attention to detail in regards to business. Women can use their personal and professional skills to win new clients and retain loyalty from past clients. How can women entrepreneurs use networking to build their business? How can women entrepreneurs use every day skills and abilities to build their businesses and gain profits?

Listed below are key tips that can help business women and entrepreneurs create monthly or quarterly networking events.

Women know women that know women that in turn know women. Women professionals are encouraged to make a list of friends, family and colleagues in their area. They can ask their friends to do the same and combine lists. There will not be a shadow of a doubt that the lists will project well over 100 contacts. This is a great database for building and maintaining your clientele, informing people about your company updates and bringing awareness to new products and services.

Besides providing useful information, this new database can serve as a list of attendees for monthly or quarterly networking events. Brainstorm with your colleagues and select fun and interesting events that would be good for your database of friends, family and colleagues. Seek out outside support and sponsorship for the events and partner with bigger companies within your city. Also offer incentives such as door prizes at the events, discounted services and products to appeal to the attendees of the events.

These types of events promote women to network, build relationships and showcase their businesses. It keeps them focus on new and leading trends and allows them to develop their business for professional success. These women have an opportunity to meet new business counterparts and get exposed to their networks. The cross exchange of information, resources and contacts can be extremely beneficial from both business parties.

During these events, women should be encouraged to bring materials about their company, products and services for distribution. Organizers of the event should collect business cards to follow up and stay in contact with the attendees of the event. And, organizers should also try and link women together with similar businesses and interest to facilitate strong partnerships and associations. These types of activities can strengthen the goals and mission of the networking events and increase more participation and publicity.

-Chi Chi Okezie