NETWORKING 101

Lazy days in bed always get me thinking.. and today happened to be about networking.  Networking is not only exchanging information from one business person to another but it more importantly opens doors for you that you may of never come across in your daily routine. In this post I'm going to break down the pros of networking, properly presenting yourself through social media and how business cards will change your life.

First... lets start with the PROS: 
- Generates exposure for you and your business or personal brand
- Can lead to down the line business partners or collaborations with brands 
- Become recognized and influential in your industry
- Helps form and maintain a strong contact base 
- Meeting like minded people in the industry who you could potentially collaborate with or just support each others vision 
- Learning tips from people who have experience in the industry  

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING WITH BUSINESS CARDS:

1. Never leave home without them.
 I won't lie... this is where I struggle. I always try to keep a few in my wallet or at least I always think they are there but when I go looking to give them out they are suddenly missing! You never know who you will run into on the streets so to be safe always keep a few on you at all times. 

2. Sell yourself right.
 You may be excited when they first come in and want to hand them out to everyone you see, which is understandable. Stop yourself and pick the right people to hand them out to, people who could provide connections for you or someone who is genuinely interested in checking your website or business out. 

3. Returning the favor.
  Making connections with someone is a two way agreement. They help you out, and in return you try your best to help them out as well. Always remember to ask if the person you are connecting with has a card as well. If not, get information about their business endeavors. 

4. Choosing the right design for your business card.
  Keep it simple, clean and appealing to the eye. For a blogger I think the most important pieces to include are on one side a picture or two of your work so people are able to see what you look like, how you present yourself and so they can grasp your style. On the other side obviously the most important thing is the name you brand yourself with and below your social media handles, email and website. 

  Including social media is definitely important but if it is not up to date with your website I wouldn't include it. You should make sure both your website and social media outlets are coherent with each other so the person looking at them can easily see that you are serious about your work and keep up to date with creating content. 

 Overall, networking can only better your career. It leads to new opportunities, connections, success and building business relationships which will all only help you in the long run. I purchased my first batch of 300 at Zazzle. This website was extremely easy to navigate and gives you the freedom to design your cards exactly how you want them.