Setting Strategic Networking Goals

Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards with anyone you see; it’s a strategic project that requires clear goals, careful planning, and effective execution. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to launch your startup or you’re on the path to scaling your business, mastering the art of networking can open doors to new opportunities, valuable connections, and unprecedented growth.

Why set networking goals?

Imagine walking into a networking event with a clear set of objectives: who you want to meet, the knowledge you wish to gain, and the support you seek for your entrepreneurial journey. Setting goals in a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) manner transforms vague intentions into a focused action plan, ensuring every conversation and connection brings you one step closer to your business aspirations. This requires you to think about the details of what it is exactly that you are trying to achieve, and under what time frame. Many professionals make the mistake of attending business networking events without specific aims in mind, leaving them unsure on what to do and vague on whether they have achieved anything significant.

A figure from an article by BiteSize Learning deep diving into setting SMART goals.

Once you have your goals set, it’s time to think about the project details. This includes thinking about the duration, budget, and resources required to ensure project success. You should think about potential costs such as membership costs, costs of travel, foods, ticketing fees, and any other additional relevant expenses. Deciding on the ideal size as well as the realistic size of the project will help you understand what would make this project yield the best outcomes. It will also allow you to come up with creative ideas to tackle project budget and timeframes constraints.

To get a better understanding of these parameters, and to make strategic decisions on the execution of the project, there are key questions you should answer to help you determine these more accurately. These include the following:

Who would you like to speak to?
What would you like to share with people?
How would you like to meet them?
Where would you like to meet them?
How would you like to build the relationship?
What do you need from them?

Assessing current networking opportunities

Now that you have your goals, a target project size, and the information to help you make informative and intended decisions regarding your networking activities, it’s time to think about how you can achieve a successful project outcome.

Asses your past networking activities

Take a moment to think back on your networking journey. How many events have you attended, and what have you invested in terms of time and money? More importantly, what value have these efforts brought to your business? This reflection isn’t just about tallying numbers; it’s about understanding the true impact of your networking strategies. As you plan your next steps, consider carefully where you should be placing more of your time and money (or less of it).

Assessing your organisation memberships

The framework used for the assessment here includes listing down all the organisations you are a part of which could expand your network in the right direction. Write up a chart listing out the role you play in each organisation you are a part of, the benefits of your membership, and the reason for why you are a part of this organisation.

Example of how you could draw up a table of organisations, using ProductivityBears as an organisational example.

Evaluate the groups and organisations you’re part of against your current project goals. Have they contributed to your networking success in the past? Reflect on their alignment with your objectives. Consider taking on roles within these organisations which could enhance your visibility and reputation among your target audience. These let you develop the character and competence required to build trust and great networking relationships. This assessment is essential for using every networking opportunity to its fullest potential.

After evaluating the current organisations you’re part of, explore new organisations to join. Joining new organisations can give you completely new opportunities to reach your target audience. To decide whether you should join a new organisation, consider: What are you looking for in a new organisation to join? What makes it the right fit for you?

Testing the effectiveness of your networking project

To begin thinking about how effective and realistic your networking project is, there are a couple of approaches you can take.

Doorway test – make sure you are where your target audience is. Ask yourself the following questions to decide on how you can best achieve visibility with your target audience. Who do I know? Who is my ideal customer? How do they perceive me? Where are they? Where do they spend their time? How can I also be there?
Competence test – demonstrating competence in one thing boosts your overall reputation. Find the one thing that you can do really well and perform amazingly at it to show your competence to your target audience.
Realistic reassessment – do a final assessment on whether you can realistically invest the time and money you estimate for this project.
5-year test – consider if the project plan gets you to where you want to be in five years. Will you get that opportunity in five years?
Passion test – make sure this is a project you can get 100% behind no matter what. For many of us entrepreneurs, we do what we do because it is what we love to do. Does this project align with both your personal and professional interests, values, and strengths?

ProductivityBears as the networking events organisation in your project

Ready to put this knowledge to action and make every connection count? Let’s kick things off with a game-changer: a FREE 20-minute consultation call with us. This isn’t just any chat; we’re diving deep into your SMART goals for your networking project to ensure we can support them.

Join us at our upcoming networking event! Secure your spot and watch those strategies come to life. Designed with you in mind, our events are the perfect platform for ambitious minds eager to grow, connect, and make an impact. Ready to make your networking efforts count? Let’s embark on this journey together.