7 Networking Strategies That Really Work

Ask anyone who’s been a part of it for more than a few years, and they’ll tell you that to be successful in the wedding industry, you have to build powerful relationships with other pros. Now more than ever, it’s essential to cultivate industry relationships through virtual calls and social media to continue supporting each other. Remember: building brand ambassadors is one of the key factors in creating a sustainable business.

But here’s a mind-blowing statistic: 1 in 4 professionals don’t network at all, and 41% of networkers want to network more frequently, but say they don’t have enough time (Source: Medium). Do you need to improve your networking skills? Here are seven networking strategies to try.

1. Quality over quantity.

Reach out to a pro and schedule a call to brainstorm ideas through a free Zoom account, FaceTime or phone call. It’s essential to have meaningful one-on-one conversations. Connecting with fewer pros that you have things in common with, think you’d work well with, or can create a highly beneficial and mutual relationship with, is much better than having a long list of contacts with which you have no connection or possibility of working together in the future. 

Pro Tip: Review your list of contacts and determine the percentage of high-quality contacts, as well as who you’re missing contacts (e.g., business category, expertise). From there, set a plan to seek out those professionals and connect with them.

2. Keep track of your squad.

Create a database of your contacts and record their details. You can use an Excel spreadsheet for reference. Make sure to keep notes about each person and your interactions to jog your memory and foster a personal connection each time you reconnect.

Pro Tip: Use social media to stay casually and consistently connected. Stay engaged with their posts, reply to their stories and send them content you think they’d appreciate and enjoy.

3. Try virtual face-to-face time 3-5x per week.

It’s essential to surround yourself with other professionals who can offer advice and guidance on your wedding business. Doing so will allow you to talk through your phase of business, provide different perspectives on new ideas and remind you that you are not alone out there!

Pro Tip: Set up a recurring video chat with multiple people or groups to stay connected. For example, plan a virtual coffee meet-up every month to check in with your community and see how you can support and help each other.

4. Look for people who are different than you.

This industry is impressive, but it is essential to stretch yourself to get to know people outside your circle of friends. Welcome all backgrounds, categories, locations and years in business. When you connect with people from diverse backgrounds, it helps to strengthen you and your brand.

Pro Tip: Diversity also means reaching out to different categories outside of your own. So, for example, DJs don’t just make friends with other DJs. Connect with florists, makeup artists and rental companies too. The wider your network, the better!

5. Get a little, give a lot.

Approach your relationships with authenticity and don’t try to sell your business. It’s not about that! Other pros can tell when you are talking to them to get something out of them. So make a goal of establishing genuine friendships and getting to know one another on a deeper level, rather than a purely transactional one. Find out what you can offer to them, whether it’s help with an upcoming event, making connections with another pro, providing a referral or something entirely different.

Pro Tip: Remember, we’re all different, so the way in which you relate to your network should vary depending on the person. Some people might appreciate a small holiday gift, while others might prefer a nice, long phone call every so often. So do your research and find commonalities that will help you make genuine connections. 

6. Develop your networking muscle.

We know networking can seem awkward at first, but it feels more natural with time. It’s essential to have a prepared list of questions for a new conversation and then be ready to listen to the answers thoroughly.

Pro Tip: Attend various virtual networking events to become comfortable with them. You’ll be a networking pro in no time. 

7. Ask who else you should be following. 

After you chat with the pros in your circle, ask them for three excellent pros you should be following that you don’t yet know about. Then, reach out to them on social media and start building authentic connections. This networking strategy will help diversify your circle.

Pro Tip: This networking strategy will easily expose you to more connections and help diversify your circle.

Photo Credit: Bryan Sargent Photography