Networking 101

Many small business owners feel, even those with experience in their industry, may feel alone in their business venture. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Networking and Mentoring are vital tools that can allow you to create a community to support your business. Here’s a guide on how to get started.

How Do I Start Networking?

  • Do Your Research

    Networking is going to have you spend a lot of time on your computer. Research is crucial to finding contacts that can help your business. You want to create a list of all the businesses and networking events in your area.

  • Be Prepared

    You’ll never know when you stumble across your next key business contact. When that happens, you’re going to want to have on hand:

    • Business Cards
    • A rehearsed Elevator Pitch
    • Any marketing materials 

  • Create a Strategy

    Networking isn’t a set formula, so a strategy can help keep you on track. A strategy can include blocking out time in your schedule dedicated to networking, creating a target amount of monthly new contacts you want to create, and targeting specific types of contacts for your network.

  • Stay Patient

    Networking can be a frustrating process. You’ll meet with plenty of business owners who won’t join your network at the end of the day. Be sure to continue to follow up with potential contacts and keep going to networking events until you’ve built your network up.

Small Business Mentoring Groups

On top of networking, it can be beneficial to find a small business mentor, who can provide you with additional information on running a business and industry knowledge.


Some places you can find a small business mentor include:

The word mentoring is on a white background with icons.