Growing your business network goes hand in hand with growing your business.

Whether you want to connect with more customers, source new suppliers or simply expand your group of professional contacts, you’ll need to master the art of mingling – remotely or in the flesh.

If you feel like your network has been looking a bit low on numbers lately, you’re not alone. A 2021 study by researchers from Yale found that our networks shrunk by around 16% during the pandemic. But the good news is that there are lots of ways to expand yours again – fast.

1. Sign up for networking events

Some entrepreneurs prefer to network from behind a screen, because the idea of going to business events makes them feel uncomfortable (kind of like a bad speed-dating experience). But I think attending in-person events is one of the most effective networking tools there is, enabling you to make connections in your own area and really grow your business.

Meeting prospective clients in the flesh helps to foster a sense of trust and enables you both to discover if the business ‘chemistry’ is right. It’s also much harder for people to ignore an email from the nice professional they spent 10 minutes talking to yesterday (you) than it is to ignore a cold approach. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) organises regular networking events; alternatively, consider joining your local Chamber of Commerce to see what’s going on in your area, or check out upcoming trade shows.

2. Step up your socials

If your business isn’t active on social media already, you’re missing out. Research suggests that 96 per cent of small business owners use it as a marketing tool, while a 2023 BT survey found that social media is now the top sales generator for more than a quarter (28 per cent) of small businesses in the UK.

But even if you already have a presence online, it’s possible to expand your existing network in a variety of ways. You could approach other creators about possible collaborations on Instagram, join like-minded groups on Facebook, or try to get one of your vids to go viral on TikTok. When reaching out to people online, remember to be friendly, polite and authentic (overly pushy salespeople are a networking nightmare).

LinkedIn is an important platform when it comes to growing your business network, with more than a billion members in over 200 countries. Why not try sparking conversation with some thought-provoking posts? Or you could sign up to LinkedIn Premium for a number of benefits, including being able to DM members outside your network with InMail, which the company claims is 4.6 times more effective than emails alone.

3.  Start a newsletter or blog

It’s never been easier to begin building a community with platforms such as Mailchimp, Substack or WordPress, as long as you’re prepared to spend some time producing quality content. Encourage people to sign up to your mailing list with special member perks or free bonus material (did I mention I’ve written a fantastic free guide here?). When done properly, this one’s a win-win all round: your loyal readers get to be the very first to hear about your latest news and launches, and you get to market said offers to an audience that’s already highly engaged.

Don’t have time to be writing email newsletters or blog posts on a regular basis? No problem – you could always hire a freelance copywriter to do it for you.

4. Take a course

Not only can you develop new skills – or build on existing ones – but it’s also an excellent way to help grow your business network. Have a search online, ask at a nearby college or university, or check with your local council about adult courses in your area. Some centres even offer a course on networks!

5. Don’t forget to ask friends and family

You can’t beat a personal recommendation when it comes to business. According to a study by Nielsen, 88% of respondents said that they most trusted recommendations from people they know.

Ask friends and family if they can think of anyone who could benefit from your services, or who might be good for you to meet with. Even if no one springs to mind now, it can’t hurt to plant that seed for later.

As your business network and business expands, you may find that you could use the support of a professional business consultant.

If you’d like to find out more about how I can help, get in touch today.