What are the best ways to use your existing network for business networking?

I would suggest gaining a deeper understanding of Dunbar's number – "the number of people with whom you wouldn't feel embarrassed about joining uninvited for a drink if you happened to bump into them in a bar". In essence, it's a theory about the number of meaningful relationships one person can maintain simultaneously, which is roughly around 150. There are personal CRMs on the market designed to automate this and potentially increase that number.

Your network of meaningful connections is a great resource for discovering other individuals who can be valuable to your business. When broadening your reach, don't limit yourself to asking your connections for referrals alone. Delve deeper by exploring their LinkedIn connections, identify the communities they participate in, and actively seek to become a part of these groups. Consistently following this approach each time you establish meaningful connections will eventually lead to the development of significant networks and communities. Always remember to remain humble, adapt to the culture of these communities, nurture both appropriate business and personal relationships, and express gratitude for being welcomed into their circles.

My father was a world-class networker - in fact, he turned that into a job which he did well into his late '80s. Among his many secrets was not to eat alone. He had lunches 4-5 times a week with various friends and associates, lunches that he scheduled well in advance and with a regularity befitting the level of friendship. Close friends were on the calendar at least 2x per month. Others 2x per quarter. He talks about these things in the podcast we recorded together when he was 90! Another of his secrets was being a great listener, asking insightful questions and then actually remembering what the person said so he could reference it the next time they met. This endeared him to most. That and a quick sense of humor.

Based on our research at Introdex, 94% of connectors with large personal networks recognize that they don't truly understand the power of their connections. While people often seek opportunities externally, we frequently overlook the potential within our close networks. We've observed a trend in the market toward identifying untapped network opportunities using AI. That's what we aim to achieve as well.

My personal story is one for which I'm deeply grateful to the people who encouraged me to share my experience and start a blog. I began a Telegram channel when I became a product manager at a startup, where I was among the early hires. I shared insights on growth hacking and tools and methods that simplified product and project management. Although I transitioned through several jobs, my channel's following continued to grow. When we launched Akhter Studios, our very first customers were my channel's subscribers. Now, I'm trying to replicate this success on LinkedIn to support Introdex and show people how powerful a network can be in developing a fast-growing B2B business.

Using your network is also a potent method to secure initial sales for your products or services. By engaging with people in your network to understand their current challenges related to the problem you're addressing, you can identify their pain points and needs. If the pain is significant and they already trust you, it's likely that your business will be their top choice for a solution.

The last thing you want is to develop a reputation for having purely transactional relationships. Treat all your connections the way you would want to be treated. This means being willing to offer support to others, and doing things without expecting something in return.

It's wiser not to directly sell anything to your network but rather let people know about your activity and discuss something else. If they become interested in what you provide, they will remember you. Focus more on showcasing your achievements on social media so that they stay in people's minds.

I believe that everything that you can achieve using the opportunities from your network is dependent on the value that you bring to other people. It's something like a boomerang – you help someone, they help you. Most of the social activities are based on our relationship-driven activities. So it's better to invest time and money on that.

I cringe at the phrase "use your network" - because if you are using your network, you are not contributing to your network. If you aspire to be a strong networker, whom people trust, respect & regularly give referrals to, consider doing this: - Stay connected. LinkedIn is a brilliant networking tool. Regularly posting, writing articles, commenting etc. on your connection's posts is easy. - Aim to give away one referral a week to someone in your network. If you can't recommend work, then recommend a restaurant, cafe, film, website - 52 referrals in a year, with the law of reciprocity will result in 40+ great referrals for you. - Connect others with like minded people. Again LinkedIn makes this easy. Give a reason for making the connection