Entrepreneurship in the digital age can mean spending a lot of time alone with your computer. It can be easy to let your social skills lapse and think that online networking is enough to get the job done.Face-to-face connection will never stop being an important part of building a business, and this is still true even in the Gig Economy. This week is all about tips on how offline efforts can make a big difference for your business.
Have you ever been to a conference oriented for entrepreneurs and businesses just like yours? If not, you’re missing out on an experience that is exciting, invigorating, and excellent for networking. There’s a whole world of conferences out there, so to help you narrow down the list we’ve put together a post with our top picks for the most worthwhile conferences in 2016.
Whether you’re going to a conference, a meet-up of entrepreneurs, or a coffee date with a potential client, social skills involve way more than what you say, they also include how you act. Body language can send signals, both negative and positive, that you may not have intended. Learning to express the message you hope to convey through the correct body language can take some practice, but it can also make a big difference. Check out this Inc article about the body language of highly successful people and take a few cues from them.
Learning about social cues and body language are great, but what about if you’re not sure where and how exactly to meet people? Creating your own offline networking opportunities is an important part of taking the initiative to expand your business. If you don’t know where to start, then you don’t want to miss our post about growing your offline network.
They say you shouldn’t mix friends and business, but if you’re doing so then you may actually be missing out on a great opportunity. If you do it for the right reasons, hiring a friend can be a smart move. If you have a friend who you think might be a positive addition to your venture, check out this Huffington Post article about how to hire friends the right way. What do you do offline to strengthen your business connections? Tell us in the comments.
