Tips & Tricks

Here you will find some useful tips and tricks to improve and foster your professional relationship:

• Be honest, coherent and consistent in order to build meaningful connections based on shared values and/or goals.
• Practice active listening when interacting with others.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need/want.
• Human interactions have been proved to be much more effective than online networking, even though it may be more difficult under the given circumstances related to COVID-19. On the other hand, virtual networking events have pop up within the last months, so meeting new professionals has become easier in recent times and there are plenty of free options.
• Set your networking goals before designing a networking plan. Prepare your “elevator pitch” in advance and identify conversational icebreakers.
• Joining a local/regional is an easy-yet-effective way to network with other SMEs in your area – business associations, chambers of commerce, entrepreneurs organizations, etc.

Plus, Bulgarian freelance writer and blogger Silvia Pavlova offers these top tips for successful networking:

• Consider networking in the same way that you would any other aspect of your business. Make a plan with specific goals that you must adhere to. Know when, where, and why you’re going to an event, what your objectives are, and what you hope to achieve by attending this particular meetup. Select your options carefully and choose the one that will provide the most benefits to your business.
• Be consistent and trustworthy. One you meet the people/organization you would like to establish a professional connection with, you will maintain this relationship once the event is over. Keep in touch and manage to continue the actual communication which will be the foundation for your stable networking.
• Be active and memorable – add value to others’ lives by being present and making them want to stay in touch with you. Prepare to impress others, to be remembered, and desired for future business relationships.