Networking is one of the most valuable skills you can have; to either advance you career or promote your business or yourself. Especially in a difficult economy or job market, or in a field or business where competition is fierce, effective networking becomes critical. 

These business networking tips can help you identify potential opportunities for networking, and teach you how to take advantage of those opportunities when they arise. 

· Know why you’re networking. Unless you know what you want to achieve, it’s difficult to know where and how to go about networking. Do you want to increase your worth to a present employer by bringing in additional clients? Do you want to promote a new or existing business or service? Do you want to expand your employment opportunities?  

· Volunteer. By giving back to the community, you increase your visibility and become known as someone who is helpful and generous. And by selecting your volunteer opportunities wisely, you can also position yourself to meet the people you would most like to have in your business or social network. 

· Pick and choose. When deciding which networking groups to join, it’s a good idea to attend one or two meetings of a few different groups to determine which groups are the best fir, both for your business networking needs and your personality and interests. Remember, you goal is improve your business life: you don’t have to be best buddies with all the group members, but you do want to make sure the group is respectful and supportive of one another.

 
· Combine business with pleasure. When networking for business, many men and women think solely of professional organizations. But joining a club that focuses on an interest outside of your profession can also be productive. In fact, when the focus is off business and on another topic, you may find that members are more open and receptive to your service or product. No one wants to feel like they’re being “sold” something; keeping it casual can be a great way to gain trust.

 
· And speaking of trust … One of the most important of all business networking tips to remember is that the act of networking is really a trust-building activity. You may have your own interests at heart, but to get others to respond to you, you have to take the time and effort to listen to the needs of others, and to help them when you can.

 
· Follow through and follow up. When someone asks for help, or you provide advice or assistance to someone, be sure to provide that help as soon as you can, and to follow up to offer additional assistance. This is one of the surest ways to be seen as a valuable resource for others.

 
Effective networking skills are essential in most occupations. By using these simple business networking tips, even impromptu encounters can evolve into meaningful professional relationships.

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