How To Grow Your Network In 2021

Whether you are well established in your career or planning to make 2021 the year your side-hustle becomes your full-time job, networking is vital.

For many, networking is synonymous with men in suits handing out as many business cards as possible. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s what I’ve learnt from three years of running a networking group to help you right now.

What is a network?

A network is simply another name for the people around you who can help you and who you seek to help. It could be the people you went to school with, your college friends, your family, or members of your sports team.

“Don’t overcomplicate the matter. If you know someone, they are part of your network.”

If you are considering starting in a new direction this year, then take a moment to think about who could help you with that. I would recommend simply sitting with a pad and pen and jotting down anyone that comes to mind.

Next, send that person a short message to tell them what you are planning to do and make a polite request for their help. Back in the pre-covid days, you could have invited them out for a coffee and a chat. Now it may be that an email conversation or request to do a short Zoom meeting might be more suitable.

If you are already well established in your career but want to network more this year, the same advice applies. Think about who could help you or who you would like to collaborate with. Have a list of ways in which you could help them too, and then get in touch.

Networking tools

As networkers, we are lucky in 2021; there are many different networking tools at our disposal.

The most well-known platform is typically LinkedIn. Many people see it as very corporate, but it is a valuable tool. I’d recommend keeping it up to date, asking for recommendations, and posting relevant articles that showcase your skills and achievements.

You can even post a short voice note to record your name. My name has long been mispronounced and misspelt, so it’s handy to include if your name is similarly tricky for new contacts.

If you are planning to send a LinkedIn request, I always recommend that you include a short note. There is nothing worse than receiving cold LinkedIn requests when you do not know the person and can’t see a helpful link.

“Make sure you have done your homework”

If you are the one sending a cold message, make sure you have done your homework. Tell the person you loved their last book or admired a project they recently completed. You are far more likely to receive a positive response that way.

When it comes to networking, big isn’t always better

Now more than ever, don’t wait to be invited to join in. If you hear about someone who you’d like to connect with, why not create a one-to-one networking situation that you can both take part in?

I was recently approached by a resilience coach, Lisa Townsend, who has held over seventy 1-2-1 coffee chats with people she was interested in connecting with. She sent me a Zoom invitation with some context on why we might both find a chat beneficial, and I accepted right away. We had a lovely conversation, it wasn’t awkward at all, and we both came away with new contacts to network with in the future.

If you have ever attended an online networking event and felt overwhelmed by the numbers, then this could be a viable solution for you.

If you see an event you like, just book it!

Because of the pandemic, our networking options are now even better. 

Earlier this year, I spoke at a networking event attended by global delegates. If you are a graphic designer living in New York and see an event in London that sounds interesting, the distance is no longer an issue.

I’ve also joined events from my home in London, where the other guests all lived in Lancashire, at a start-up accelerator.

Zoom makes expanding your network geographically easier than ever.

Going deeper

Another tip is to look at the relationships you already have and see if there is more you could do together.

As a massive bookworm, I write reviews on business books for Parents in Biz Magazine. This year I invited some of the authors of books I’d reviewed to take part in Instagram lives with me to chat more about their books. As the topics were directly relevant to the people who follow both them and me, it proved to be a great collaboration and received lots of views and engagement.

One of the authors, Joanne Dewberry, is a networking expert and her book is all about the topic. She has created networking groups, franchised, and eventually sold them. After our Instagram live together, I joined her new networking Facebook group, which has been incredibly valuable. The fact she is based in Dorset and I in London doesn’t matter anymore.

Make networking a habit

Like anything else, it takes time to create a networking habit. While you are still bedding it in, I’d recommend using a diary or phone to set reminders to take daily action toward building your network.

Here are a few quick suggestions of what a week of networking could look like:

• Monday - Find and join some Facebook groups that are relevant to your career. Make careful note of the days when you can self-promote. Most Facebook groups have a set day where you are allowed to tell people what your latest projects are or post your social media links.

• Tuesday - Send someone you want to get to know better a LinkedIn request making sure you personalise it as much as possible.

• Wednesday - Book into a lunchtime networking session; many are free and even include a speaker talk so you can learn at the same time.

• Thursday - Check Twitter and find experts in your field. Follow them and comment on their latest tweets (if you have something valuable to add). This helps others in your industry see you, and you may even establish a relationship with an expert.

• Friday - Send an email to your contacts telling them what you are trying to achieve this year and asking anyone interested to get in touch or forward your message to someone who could help you.

Networking might seem like an overwhelming task, but it’s easy once you get started. Stick at it, and you’ll reap the rewards sooner than you think.

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