Knobull's President Shares Tips That Maximize Networking Success

BOSTON - Oct. 8, 2023 - PRLog -- Lynn Bentley, President of Knobull announced, "The internet has shaken up how we do business. But in many ways, old-school rules and skills still apply. Networking is one of those skills that will never go away.

Networking is crucial to learn because it opens you up to new relationships that can drive big opportunities down the road. Events like conferences, seminars, and industry mixers still hold their value."

Do: Personalize Every Message

One of the best features of LinkedIn is that it allows you to add a note along with your connection invitation.

With many features available, it can be tempting to adopt a shotgun approach where you compose a generic message and send that to as many people as you can.

Research people thoroughly before attempting to connect with them. Find out what you have in common, such as interests, hobbies, affiliations, or even experiences, and point them out.

Do: Be Respectful Of Their Time

Once a person accepts your invitation request, then you're off to the races. Gone is the 300-character limit, and you can drop them a message anytime. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Another thing to be wary of is the number of messages you send. Instead of bombarding your connections with numerous messages, focus on sending thoughtful and relevant messages.

Do: Give Without Expectations

When you freely share your knowledge and resources, you foster goodwill and bolster your network. Most times, this good karma comes back around but even if it doesn't, that's okay!

It's about nurturing these connections with genuine intent, and understanding that meaningful partnerships and opportunities often take time to develop. So be patient and be in it for the long haul.

Don't: Be Desperate

Just like most things in life, it's never good to be desperate, especially when networking. What you want is to keep everything genuine.

To build strong and lasting relationships, you will need to exercise patience, be authentic, and a focus on mutual value. Additionally, you want to be strategic with choosing the people you want to connect with and how you write your messages. .

Don't: Sound Like a Sales Pitch

While a lot of sales professionals do flock to LinkedIn to expand their client base, the experienced ones understand that this is not the place to directly pitch a product or service, at least not right away.

Bentley concluded, "Networking has the potential to open you up to several golden opportunities, depending on how you use platforms and other avenues. The key thing to remember is always to be genuine, helpful, and professional. Focus on building long-term relationships, and not on making a quick sale or asking for a one-time favor."