Save time when networking (in just 5 steps!)

Do you feel like your networking efforts are just meaningful conversations which go absolutely nowhere? Do you know how each networking event will help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Do you know how to use social media to win work and make valuable connections? You need a networking plan and I have a great FREE networking plan template for you!

The key to networking effectively is to have a networking plan or a networking strategy.

Here is how to build your networking plan in just 5 steps Download my FREE networking plan template (with full instructions on how to use it.) This plan will help you never waste time going to events or meeting people who are never going to help you win work.

A 5-step business networking plan

Step 1: Decide on your goals

You can’t use your time effectively unless you know what you want to get out of that time, so to build a solid business networking plan, you first need to identify your goals. Ask yourself:

  • What business development-related results do I want to achieve, and by when?
  • How will I know when I am successful?

Step 2: Audit your network and networking activities

When building your networking plan, first identify and evaluate the effectiveness of your current network and networking activities. Look at each relationship with your client and evaluate whether it’s at the level that you desire; you can then identify what you need to do to maintain it or to improve it.  

Do you need help with your networking audit? Download my FREE networking plan template (with full instructions on how to use it.) This plan will help you never waste time going to events or meeting people who are never going to help you win work.

Step 3: Find the right people for your network

Once you know your goals and where you are currently with your network and networking activities, now you can start putting your strategy together for finding the right people to fill the gaps. (Does a networking strategy really matter?) Ask yourself:

  • What are the names/roles of the people I would like to meet?
  • What am I going to do to meet these people?

By the way, have you heard about my Progress to Partner Academy? There’s a great course in there for you called How to Make the Time for Business Development. It takes about 2-hours to work through and create a daily business development habit that you can stick to.

Step 4: Strengthen the important relationships

By this stage of building your business networking plan, you would have identified your most valuable client relationships. You will want to keep these clients happy, so think about how you can strengthen these relationships. 

    Try to be honest when evaluating whether you can improve existing relationships. You can even ask your clients for their feedback or if there is anything else you can help them with, just be prepared to address any concerns that they may have.

    Step 5: Maintain the strong and important relationships

    It’s not enough just to wow your clients initially and form strong relationships only to let your standards slip a few months down the line; you have to maintain these relationships to keep your business running strong. 

    Time is money, so network effectively

    Networking can lead to a lot of wasted hours, so invest some time into building a solid plan and use it to start networking effectively!

    In just 5 steps, you can start seeing results from your networking efforts. Don’t forget to save yourself even more time and download my FREE networking plan template (with full instructions on how to use it.) This plan will help you never waste time going to events or meeting people who are never going to help you win work.