The Importance of Networking in Marketing
By Marta Gongos Networking is the art of building and maintaining relationships with others in your field with similar goals and interests. It means connecting with professionals, influencers, potential customers, and others in the marketing space to leverage knowledge and resources.
Developing networking skills, both online and offline, can shape your career development. In this post, we’ll explore the importance of networking and share some of the best networking strategies you can use to grow a global network, become a leader in your field, and find better work opportunities.
What’s the Importance of Networking?
Networking in marketing deepens your professional connections with others in the industry, allowing you to build quality relationships and establish a reputation for yourself. Once you’ve built a solid professional network, you’ll be the first to know about new job opportunities or events in your field, and you’ll be front of mind for anyone in your network looking to hire someone with your skills.
Networking also opens doors to fresh opportunities, innovative ideas, and valuable collaborations. With a successful network, you can take your marketing career to the next level.
Online Networking Strategies
Almost everyone is online nowadays, especially marketers. Leverage these online strategies for the best chance of success when networking in marketing.
Connect on Social Media
Social networking in marketing is one of the best ways to build and grow your network. Leverage social media tools like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) to connect with professionals in your field. You can contact them directly by sending a brief personal message, introducing yourself, and talking about something that connects you.
If you need advice on something specific, contact someone in a managerial position. Just make sure you pay this favor back when someone comes to you for advice in the future.
Engage With Your Audience
Posting engaging content on LinkedIn or X is one of the best ways to foster a community of like-minded people, help your personal branding, and make yourself known as an industry leader. People in your network will engage with your content and share it within their networks, expanding your reach to a wider audience.
You can post blogs, market insights, surveys, and how-to videos. Engage with others’ content to show you’re active in your community, and look out for virtual networking events with industry professionals.
Make Your Profile Stand Out
When using LinkedIn and other social media platforms, you want to make your profile stand out. Not only will a great profile make you look reputable, but it can also help you score new opportunities and connect you to more people faster.
Here are some top tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile:
- Use a professional profile photo
- Optimize your headline to grab attention and demonstrate your skills
- Tell your story in an engaging way
- Ask for recommendations
Image Source: Pexels
Join Online Communities
Joining groups or communities dedicated to topics within your niche can help you connect with others who share ideas and interests. When joining a social media page or group, introduce yourself with a brief blurb about who you are, your role, and your expertise. This will show others you’re engaged and can help build relationships faster.
Offline Networking Strategies
Online networking is a great tool, but meeting people in person has its merits too. Here are some top in-person networking strategies you can use to grow a strong network.
Attend Industry Events & Workshops
Industry events and workshops like trade shows, seminars, conferences, and public speaking events are ripe networking opportunities. Attending these in-person events is a great way to meet other professionals and get your name and face out there.
At these events, don’t wait for someone to come to you. Take the initiative to introduce yourself, let people know who you are, and learn about them. Remember to take their contact information, so you can stay in touch after the event.
Make a Lasting Impression
Like in a job interview, first impressions count when you’re networking in marketing—even more so for in-person events. Whether you’re introducing yourself to a potential investor or event organizer, how you present yourself matters.
Some top tips for making a lasting first impression include:
- Focus on what you can offer, rather than what you can get from the other person
- Be present, listen, and learn
- Have a clear value proposition
- Have a positive attitude and bring the best version of yourself
- Find mutual interests with others
- Be prepared and genuine
Overall, show up to the event with your best attitude, ready to learn, listen, and network.
Image Source: Pexels
Attend Public Speaking Events
By attending public speaking events, you’ll not only grow your professional network and personal brand but also improve your public speaking skills—which is especially important for marketers.
At public speaking events, introduce yourself confidently, exchange contact information with other professionals, participate in discussions, and ask insightful questions. Remember to follow up and take the time to reach out with personalized messages.
Follow-Up & Maintain Relationships
It’s important to follow up with those you met at an in-person event to stay top of mind and begin long-lasting relationships. We recommend following up within a day or two of the initial contact. This way, they won’t forget your previous conversation and will see that connecting with them is a priority.
Connect either via email or LinkedIn, and make your communication personal. If the initial follow-up goes well, work on developing that relationship by having a face-to-face meeting or going for coffee. Maintaining a professional relationship takes effort, but it’s needed for every aspect of your career success.
Find Your Dream Marketing Role with Ad Culture
The importance of networking in marketing can’t be overstated. By applying these online and offline networking strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to land your next marketing role.
Ready to take the next step in your career path? Ad Culture connects top marketing talent with companies where they can thrive. Let us help you get discovered and put your networking skills to work! Contact us today to see how we can help you advance your career.
