If the word 'networking' sends chills down your spine, you're not alone! It tends to conjure up thoughts of people standing around in suits and dresses in a stuffy room, shuffling out business cards, and making boring and awkward business talk.
And if you're an introvert, the thought of talking to strangers alone gives you heart palpitations, so the mere thought of approaching strangers on your own gives you a full-on panic attack.
Networking has so many benefits, though, that you don't want to disregard it. In this episode, I talk about these benefits and how to find networking opportunities that feel good to you.
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Networking Tips for Introverted Virtual Assistants
If the word 'networking' sends chills down your spine, you're not alone! It tends to conjure up thoughts of people standing around in suits and dresses in a stuffy room, shuffling out business cards and making boring and awkward business talk.
And if you're an introvert, the thought of talking to strangers alone gives you heart palpitations, so the mere thought of approaching strangers on your own gives you a full-on panic attack.
Hi there! Welcome to the Desire to Done podcast! I’m your host Billie Gardner, and I’m a VA Mentor who helps introverts become Virtual Assistants.
The good news is, networking has changed a lot over the years, thanks to the internet. There are now ways you can mingle with like-minded business people and not want to hide under a rock.
The Benefits of Networking as a Virtual Assistant
Before I go into the different types of ways you can network with people, I want to talk about what networking is and the benefits.
Networking is a way for you to find people to help you. The people you connect with might become clients, but that’s not the only benefit. It's also a way to meet others who can refer you. You get a chance to tap into their network, so in essence, your network automatically grows. Another benefit is making friends with people you click with who understand the life of being an entrepreneur.
Networking is also a way for you to help other business owners. Helping others feels great, right? Well, when you connect with other people, you have the opportunity to help them, whether that be referring them to someone who needs their help, recommending someone you know who can help them, offering your VA services, or something else like sharing their business on your social media channels.
Where can introverts network?
There are the traditional in-person networking events if that's the route you want to go, and there are some pretty fun-looking ones that don't involve a stuffy hotel event room. You can search Eventbrite or Google for local networking events if you want to give them a try.
There are also online networking events where you meet with a group of people on Zoom or some other type of video conference platform. You'll break out into small groups and share what you do, making it easier for introverts to handle. And instead of passing around business cards, you enter your info in a chat window.
Then there are one-on-one opportunities, like connecting on LinkedIn or Alignable. You can find people you want to get to know better and invite them to chat over Zoom. That way, your conversation is more intimate, which is what most introverts prefer.
Don't forget that there are networking opportunities in Facebook Groups and forums too. You can find these by searching Facebook or Google, but you can also find them with most courses or memberships you purchase. These are great for getting in front of a bigger audience and expanding your network. Get in there, be active, comment on people's posts, create your own posts, and be helpful. You can also join group coaching programs or masterminds. These are great places to get to know people and find excellent clients or referrers.
Remember that networking isn't all about promoting your business and getting clients. It's also about helping people succeed, getting referrals, and finding supportive friends who understand what you go through as a business owner.
Why not give networking a shot and see how it goes? You might actually like it and look forward to more networking opportunities in the future!
Want to learn more about networking? The Introvert's Guide to Networking is an exclusive training inside my membership, the Introvert VA Club. You'll learn how to find online networking events, what to say, how events work, and one-on-one and in-person networking tips. Go to introvertvaclub.com to sign up.
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I'll talk to you soon! Byyye!
