Networking can grow your firm by Miriam Drahmane

If women entrepreneurs want to grow their business, they need to network. Research has shown that investing time and energy in networking can reap huge benefits for your business. Not everyone is a natural networker and even armed with the confidence of running a successful business, the prospect of networking can be daunting.

Your business is growing, you have strong contacts, and you’re happy with how your business is progressing, so why network? Research has shown that women in business often build narrow, strong relationships but that it’s having a wide, varied network that is paramount. Businesses need a wide range of contacts to exchange ideas, share information, solicit advice, share resources, raise capital or develop partnerships.

You may well have a profile on LinkedIn and Facebook, a Twitter account and possibly a blog. It’s easy to feel as though you’re always communicating but are you really building a quality, varied network that is going to have a positive impact on your business?

With limited time, it’s important to join the right networking group, but this can be a daunting, and financially challenging prospect. A goodplace to start for many is Bedfordshire BusinessWomen; a nurturing, inclusive group which was founded in 1988 and has become the most successful women’s networking group in the county.

Bedfordshire BusinessWomen hold networking events on the third Thursday of every month and include four major networking events throughout the year. On the first Wednesday of every month, a Bedfordshire BusinessWomen member-run workshop also takes place. Why not come along as a guest to the next event and experience the power of networking for yourself?

For more information to come along as a guest, or to join, please visit: http://www.beds-businesswomen.org