Better Networking for Business

Beyond power suits and conference rooms, there must be ways to do better networking for business owners.

Arts and craft business networking does not have to be the intimidating ordeal that many people assume it will be. So many people assume that effective business networking consists of donning your best power suit and glibly chatting up anyone and everyone who might be able to impact your business. In fact, that image is very far from the realities of better networking for business.

Good networking is neither insincere, nor aggressive. To start better networking for business success, all you need to do is find opportunities to develop positive and mutually beneficial relationships with like-minded people. Help and be helped. Networking is as simple as that.

When you think of it that way, networking is a lot more manageable than you might initially think.

Develop Better Networking for Business Strategies That Work for You

• If you're nervous about the idea of networking, start small just by talking to your close supportive friends and family members about your business. Your goal is not to sell anything to them, just to practice talking about your business.

  I booked my first jewelry home parties by doing this. I didn't even have to directly ask people to host the parties; they volunteered as soon as I told them about my new business.
  
  

• Talk to other artists or professional crafters at art shows. When you're selling your crafts at an art show, make a point of talking to the other artists. Start with people selling non-competing products. Strike up a conversation just for the sake of being friendly. You'll be surprised by how easily that can lead to trading information about shows and business strategies.

  Make it a give and take interaction so you each benefit from the experience. If you made a good connection and have a few things in common, exchange business cards. Email the person once in a while to stay in touch if it feels appropriate; be sincere, don't just contact them when you're looking for something for your business.
  
  

• Consider joining your local artists' guild or council. You'll find great opportunities to develop real, mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with like-minded people. They'll be able to give you tips on local art business resources, and you'll have the inside track on the local art scene without ever having to put on a power suit or make a single cold call.
  
  

• Gather up your courage and push your boundaries a bit. If you feel a bout of shyness coming on in the midst of a networking opportunity, ask yourself, realistically, what do you have to lose?

  Happily, I took that advice a few months ago. I attended a big craft festival near my hometown. I went partly for fun and partly because I thought I might find something or meet someone that would benefit my business while I was there.

  After attending a presentation by the publisher of the wonderful craft magazine, A Needle Pulling Thread, I really wanted to talk to her about submitting an article. However, I'd never had an article published in a magazine, so a big wave of shyness was holding me back. After gathering together my courage, I went to her booth and struck up a conversation with her husband. After a couple more conversations, I was writing an article for her magazine, and thrilled that I hadn't let my shyness hold me back.

• Look for ways to connect with other professional craft artists online. Participating in community forums can be a good way to give and receive support for and promote your business. Remember to keep it authentic. People can spot a spammer a mile away on a forum. Give good quality information before you mention your business in order to build trusting relationships online.

  If you find a website in a non-competing but related business, and you think that you might be able to partner with the owner to benefit each other's businesses, contact the owner of the site and propose your idea. Don't be shy; many website owners would welcome suggestions that would be mutually beneficial.

  Pauline, who owns Funky Friends Factory, has built her newest website around the concept of crafter networking. Her site, www.mad-about-craft.com is a great place for exchanging ideas and learning from experienced crafters. She even has a spot where you can submit your site to showcase your work and promote your website if you're a professional crafter. She knows that effective networking with like-minded people is always mutually beneficial.

I hope I've dispelled some of the common myths and fears about networking, and you're ready to start better networking for business success. Leave your power suit in the closet, forget the glib one liners, and approach people with sincerity and an openness to work towards mutual benefits, and your arts and craft business networking efforts will be a success.