36% of American businesses are women-owned, and 99.9% of them are considered small businesses. Based on these statistics, there’s a very good chance you’re a woman who owns a small company.

As a woman (and especially if you’re a woman of color), it can be difficult to get your business off the ground. To help you out, here are 4 key tips for networking women.

1. Attend Gender-Specific Events

When you attend conferences geared towards women, you’ll find that networking is a lot easier to do, especially if you’re in a male-dominated field. When women get together, they tend to band together to support one another. When you feel comfortable in a space, you tend to feel more confident. This can motivate you to make more connections that you would’ve had you attended a mixed-gender event.  

2. Join Co-Working Spaces

Co-working spaces are great places to link up with other entrepreneurs. Whether they’re also struggling in the road to success, or they own hugely profitable companies, you’re sure to find a mixed bag of like-minded people. Mingling with entrepreneurs you meet in co-working spaces serves two purposes:

• You can put your heads together with those who have just started out and help each other bring in business,
• You can get some mentoring from those who are more experienced.

 

3. Be Assertive

Being assertive can do wonders; not just for yourself, but for your networking efforts as well. When people sense that you know what you want, and you know how to get it, they’ll be more open to discussions with you. People are also at events for the same reason as you: to network. So don’t dance around what you’re trying to achieve. Instead, make the most of everyone’s time by directing the conversation toward a shared business interest. They’ll certainly welcome a mutually beneficial subject.  

4. Always Follow Up

You may have spent hours at an event painstakingly gathering information on people you’ve met. But what’s the point of doing so if you don’t do anything with that info afterward? The most important thing about networking is following up. A few days after the conference, you’ll want to go through your contacts list and get in touch with everyone. Make sure to thank them for their time and mention your conversation briefly to remind them of who you are. They’ll appreciate the personal touch, and you open the doors to a meaningful and long-lasting relationship.

Become a Part of Networking Women to Succeed

When you join the ranks of networking women, you’re sure to see your business succeed. While it may not be the ideal thing you want to do with your time, think of networking as an investment. Every time you attend an event, you’re building your web of contacts a little more. In time, you’ll have a reliable network of people you can rely on to help grow your business. If your company needs funding and you’d like to make a pitch to us, apply now!