Did you ever hear the old saying, “It’s who you know.” No where is that more important than in business. Networking can help you to begin your business and to see it grow and expand. It is a key concept in the initial building and the growth of your business. Networking may sound old school, but it’s a tried and true method of making long lasting connections that can help you in ways that frankly, many of us never imagined that we’d need help. Here are some business networking tips that may help you along the way.

Networking is the surest way to get new customers and to make new contacts. Start out by talking to the people that you know and moving into people who they know in order to obtain new customers. A marketing company can be a big help in some of these things. They know many people and are actively engaged in helping them to become more visible.

In many cases your marketing company can be your best contact. They often put together groups or businesses who can offer each other services that will benefit both of them.

Networking is always more effective when it is done on the phone or face to face as opposed to via email or instant messenger. Try setting up a lunch meeting with someone that you think may be beneficial to you and to whom you can offer some services. Those people can offer you new friends and contacts which allow you to move forward in your business.

One of our favorite business networking tips is that when you go to corporate events, make sure that you’re not standing on the sidelines. Actively engage the people that you come into contact with, finding out what they do, how they do it and how it may be compatible with your own business and philosophy. Start a conversation with anyone and listen to what they have to say. The business contacts that you meet today may serve you well for years to come.