You’re new to the industry and don’t know anyone. How can you build a network of contacts?

To build a network of contacts, it's important to understand your unique strength. Find out what makes you unique and how you can add value to others. Identify your unique skill or perspective and communicate it clearly and convincingly. This will help you stand out from others and build long-term, valuable relationships.

Get involved. Volunteering is an easy way to learn more about the industry and get to know more people. Be kind and listen to others more than you speak. Don't be afraid to facilitate other connections meeting.

Understand your value proposition. ?? To grow a network of high-quality contacts, attend events/conferences, join organizations/associations, reach out to folks in the industry on LinkedIn, and share something of value with those contacts. Build a reputation as someone who adds values to others, and more people will want to be connected with you. ??

Think of your niche as the lens through which you showcase your skills, it’s about focusing your efforts where you can truly shine and be successful and love what you doing, how can you make a meaningful impact in life’s of your prospects, your niche is your guide in your freelancing journey.

Vernetze dich mit Menschen, mit denen es dir eine Freude bereitet dich beruflich auszutauschen. Sie werden dich inspirieren und dich auf Ideen bringen. Auch kann es helfen eine Nische für dich zu entdecken. Austausch f?rdert ja bekanntlich die Ideenfindung ??

Joining a new organisation, industry or even a team is always a challenge when you “don’t know” anyone. This is extra challenging when your personality type is an introvert. My personal experience is, you need to be comfortable on being uncomfortable, step out of your comfort zone - that’s when you start to grow. If you want to grow your connection and improve your networking skills, you need to change something and do something for yourself. There’s a professional platform you can use such as: LinkedIn, social platform such as: Instagram. At work, you can start attending workshops, be part of the community of practice, a group or attend the social events at work. This way your connection will increase gradually.

One thing I have found helpful when stepping into a new industry is creating a key stakeholder document that outlines the decision makers. I schedule interviews with my team, peers, and leader to learn who influences change (leaders and leaders without a title) within the organization along with key vendors. My goal is to listen and ask about their barriers to success. I meet with the process owner of a specific barrier and create a value stream map to gain an understanding. I gather all the key stakeholders holders and utilize lean six sigma principles to guide a root cause analysis. With all the right people in the room we are able to bounce ideas off each other to resolve the problem, creating a team environment and building rapport.

Finding superconnectors was a gamechanger when it came to networking in a new town where I had no industry connections. These are individuals who are highly networked and generous with their time. Use platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram and Eventbrite to support your initial out-reach and build a picture of the industry landscape you're looking to explore.

Learn how to choose your contacts between the people around you. As you are new to the industry, take your time to go through their work done and give positive feedbacks. In the mean time, you can message or email them to show you the paths that they have come through. This will lead you to keep up with them as trusted contacts of your own.

Once you've identified potential contacts within your niche, the next step is to engage with them genuinely and respectfully. Reach out through personalized messages, comments on their posts, or by asking thoughtful questions. Offer value or insight rather than simply asking for favors or spamming with self-promotion. Demonstrate genuine interest in learning from them, sharing your perspective, or collaborating on projects. By approaching interactions with authenticity and a focus on mutual benefit, you'll foster meaningful connections and build a network within your niche.

To build an industry network, attend relevant events, set clear goals, prepare an elevator pitch, engage actively, exchange contact information, and stay updated on industry trends. Participate in discussions on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or forums, and remember networking is about nurturing relationships over time.

Speaking from personal experience, starting in a new industry can be daunting. Here's what helped me: 1. Focus on connecting with others in the industry- put yourself out there, ask someone for coffee, and ask for best practices and words of wisdom. the best resources are from people who already know how to source information. 2. Be authentic on what you know and don't people will appreciate it and be more willing to connect. What about you makes you qualified? Show why you belong there and how you can contribute from your own past experience and generate new ideas in this sector. 3. Be a problem solver- how can you contribute and make things better, what makes you a competitive advantage?

To build a network and seek mentors in an industry, identify your goals, use online platforms, attend events, join professional associations, and connect with experienced professionals. Reach out directly, offer value, and stay consistent in networking activities. Show gratitude to mentors and connect with them.

Mentorship is the road to mastery and allows you to learn the lay of the land by hearing the wisdom of someone who has gone before you. Often once well established leaders reach a pinnacle, there is always a leader who wants to pass on their knowledge to a potential protégé. My mentors have helped me avoid many land mines by sharing their experiences. I always try to be prepared with specific questions and discuss specific progress on goals. I can’t thank my mentors enough for their assistance, and it often feels like the rule of reciprocity should apply by giving them as much value as you receive. Often a mentors value is received by helping another person and you can pass the knowledge forward when you’re a mentor.

Seek for mentors or coaches in your industry.They are experienced and know the nitty gritty of the industry. When searching for mentors ensure you get one who is a professional in your industry.One who has a proven track record to give you the expected outcome. They would expose you on the how, why and what of achieving your desired results. Note that, results are not automatic,you as a mentee must do the work that comes with seeking the help of a coach or mentor.

Building a successful industry network involves identifying goals, using social media, attending events, volunteering, and staying informed about industry trends. Engaging in meaningful conversations, offering value, staying connected, attending alumni events, and joining professional organizations can help establish valuable connections. Be genuine and ask for referrals.

Nurturing my relationships is something I need help with. I have tried Mailchimp, Hubspot, and others Couldnt find anything that was a good fit. What do you use for a crm?

Start small, and try to go just a few steps out of your comfort zone. But above all, curiosity and a willingness to learn from others goes a long way in building a network in a new industry

A good approach will be to start with your own network. Having someone recommend a contact immediately gives you a deeper connection and more insights to the industry. While you can find a niche, go to events etc, if you do not have the mindset to nurture relationships, it’s going to just be a transaction each time and you may not get deep insights. Relationships take time.

Everyone starts a ground zero, but to succeed in life it's a matter of creating and building connections. You need your tribe, but you must be the biggest cheerleader fir yourself. Are you creatong and building your personal brand? In person is great, but social media and digital platforms becomes a leverage piece to get in front of mote individuals. Create and give value.

Quick 5 steps playbook for offline networking 1. Look for industry meetups, workshops, or conferences 2. Target the attendee/speaker list (if available). Identify a few people you'd love to chat with briefly 3. After a session or during a break, politely approach someone you admire and introduce yourself. Briefly explain you're new and eager to learn. Ask if they have a few minutes for a quick "coffee chat" (even if you're grabbing water!) 4. Keep it Short & Sweet, focus on learning about their experience. Ask a thoughtful question about their work or the industry and keep the conversation concise 5. Express gratitude by thanking them for their time and mention you'd love to stay connected on LinkedIn (or by other means they prefer)

I think the most important part of building a network is getting your own mental attitude right. Building a network from scratch is difficult. Firstly it takes time to build contacts, whichever means you use, and it takes even longer for those contacts to start to pay off - we could be talking several months here. Secondly, going out and ‘selling’ yourself is a real talent. It takes skill, persistence and determination. So my advice is to be patient and hold your nerve. You need strategies to deal with the days when things don’t go well. Looking after your own wellbeing can be a lonely occupation so, if you can, find someone you can confide in - if you don’t have someone close, there are great local business support organisations.