Soundbite: Our Two Cents on Networking - How to Avoid Awkwardness and Shine

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Today we're diving into a topic that many of us know is important, but often overlook or feel unsure about—networking.

But here’s the thing, we’re not talking about your usual "swap business cards and shake hands" kind of networking. We're sharing our unique take on what really works for us—some strategies and approaches you may not have considered before.

Whether you're a seasoned solopreneur or just starting out, we’ll be exploring fresh, unexpected ways to build connections that actually move the needle for your business.

Be sure to tune in!

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Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now. LifeStarr's SoloSuite Intro gives you free education, community, and tools to build a thriving one-person business. 

So, if you are lacking direction, having a hard time generating leads, or are having trouble keeping up with everything you have to do, or even just lonely running a company of one, click here to check out SoloSuite Intro!

Episode Transcript

Carly Ries: 00:00

Networking is a powerful tool for solopreneurs, and it offers more than just business connections. It can fuel growth, provide valuable insights, open doors for new opportunities, the list goes on. By building these relationships with like minded professionals, solopreneurs can tap into a wealth of knowledge and exchange their ideas and gain access to resources that can help their businesses thrive. Networking fosters collaboration, boosts visibility, and creates a support system, which makes it an essential strategy for anyone navigating this solopreneur journey. So why is it so awkward?

Carly Ries: 00:34

In this episode, it's super short, but Joe and I cover our thoughts on networking, how we think it's changed over the years, how to make it less awkward, because it really is an important part of your business. So tune in for this very short episode. You're listening to The Aspiring Solopreneur, the podcast for those just taking the bold step or even just thinking about

Carly Ries: 00:57

taking that step into the world of solo entrepreneurship. My name is Carly Ries, and my co host Joe Rando and I are your guides to navigating this crazy but awesome journey as a company of 1. We take pride in being part of Lifestarr, a digital hub dedicated to all aspects of solopreneurship that has empowered and educated countless solopreneurs looking to build a business that resonates with their life's ambitions.

Carly Ries: 01:22

We help people work to live, not live to work. And if you're looking for a get rich quick scheme, this is not the show for you. So if you're eager to gain valuable insights from industry experts on running a business the right way the first time around, or want to learn from the missteps of solopreneurs who've paved the way before you, then stick around. We've got your back because flying solo in business doesn't mean you're alone. Okay.

Carly Ries: 01:46

So, Joe, in a recent episode when we were talking about lead generation, I was saying that one of the best ways to generate leads these days is through networking. And it's funny because I feel like these days people still have the connotation that when you say networking, it means go to a networking event, which I have such a cringe factor with networking events. in my opinion, so many of them are inauthentic. We have an awesome one that we put on that's not really a networking event, but close. But when we say networking, we don't mean you have to go to networking events. so today, I just thought we would share our top 1 or 2 tips that we each have for networking. And I guess mine is to just get involved in your community doing things you already like doing. So whether it's volunteering for an organization or at your kid's school or putting together a hiking group or whatever, find your interest and see where those interests line up with your audience. Because if you go to networking events, you're not gonna find your audience necessarily. But if you just mesh your life into your community where your audience might be, it's a win win because you're enjoying it.

Carly Ries: 02:57

You're bonding with people on a shared interest. And I just think, getting as involved in your community as possible and getting your name out there is a way to meet people, but also create referrals. So, my biggest thing is just be active. And if you're an introverted person, there are ways to do that as well. Like, if you can, this sounds bad, but you could be the treasurer on your school's PTO.

Carly Ries: 03:22

You're involved. People, see your name, but you're not the person up with the mic in front of assemblies, making announcements. I don't know. That's obviously a random example, but there are ways to get involved without having to be the loudest, most extroverted person in the room.

Joe Rando: 03:37

you made me think of something that's not what I was gonna talk about, but this idea of being an introvert and networking. I'm an introvert, and I network. And I remember I read a book years ago. I think it was called How to Work a Room, which sounds a lot sleazier than the book actually was. But one of the suggestions it made, which I have used and it's worked very well for me, is sometimes I go to an event.

Joe Rando: 04:06

I don't know anybody. Right? So there are all these people talking, and they know each other from before. And I'm there, and I'm all alone. you know, you stand there, and you start looking at your phone.

Joe Rando: 04:16

So instead, I look for other people that are in the same boat, and I act like the Walmart greeter. Right? So I see them standing there. I go, hey. How are you doing?

Joe Rando: 04:26

What brings you here? and all of a sudden, I'm the one solving the problem for other people. And I've met some really cool people because not everybody that's really neat knows everybody at an event, and it's really worked very well for me. So I just wanna put that out there as just a nice strategy. You know, if you see people that are uncomfortable, go and greet them. They're gonna thank you for getting them out of being there all alone in the middle of the room.

Joe Rando: 04:50

That's in person, obviously. But networking can be done in person or it can be done online these days. And regardless, my rule is, don't be a sleaze. I mean, the worst thing in the world are the people that are either there basically to get something out of you. They want you to buy from them or whatever, or they're talking to you and looking for somebody else more important and you get that feeling that they're not really paying attention.

Joe Rando: 05:19

So don't be that person. If you're gonna meet people, if you're gonna network, you're building trust, right? You're basically letting people know that you're a good person and you're somebody that they want to know and that maybe you can help each other. And if you do that and generally want to try to help them if you can, you're going to build a relationship that then, at some point, if they happen to be the person that you can sell your product or service to, they're gonna be very inclined to want to hear you out because you've built that trust. So really, really important not to, go in there with basically your bank balance in mind as you're talking to people.

Joe Rando: 05:59

Don't be that person. Lastly, you gotta follow-up. If you meet people, at an event or an online event or whatever, and then you don't do anything with it, they're gonna forget. So you really need to follow-up with them. And I know I said lastly, but actually one more, I think, is that it's strangely powerful now to use social media to network. I've made some relationships with people that I didn't meet until last week because of social media and interacting with them and, you know, getting to know them and them getting to know me just by commenting on their posts and getting responses and communications going back and forth. it's really a neat way to get to know people.

Carly Ries: 06:42

you don't have an agenda when you do that. You're just genuinely commenting on people's posts. It's not like, hey. Like your post. For more about this, visit my PDF.

Joe Rando: 06:53

Yeah. Exactly what not to do. But yeah.

Joe Rando: 06:58

I believe that on social media, you have to be authentic.

Joe Rando: 07:02

It's just, if you don't, people smell it. be real and good things will happen. Not overnight.

Carly Ries: 07:10

But they'll happen. And I have to clarify. I have nothing against, PTO treasurers. All I was trying to say is that they usually don't have the mic. I don't know how that came off.

Carly Ries: 07:23

But anyway, Joe, those are great, great points. So we just thought we'd throw that in there. We have a full episode dedicated to networking that I'll put in the show notes that we did about 9 months ago. That's wonderful, if you want more of this information. But we just thought we'd sprinkle in some of our favorite tactics that could help you on your solo journey.

Carly Ries: 07:42

But before we sign off, I have to ask for that 5 star review, the subscribe. subscribe to our YouTube channel and podcast platforms. We just so appreciate the support. Because of that, we're now the top 2.5 percent of podcast worldwide, and it is All podcasts.

Joe Rando: 07:58

All podcasts.

Carly Ries: 08:04

That's a dated reference, but that's okay. But we just wanna thank you so much because that is all because of you guys. We will see you next week on The Aspiring Solopreneur.

Joe Rando: 08:13

Bye.

Carly Ries: 08:17

You may be going solo in business, but that doesn't mean you're alone. In fact, millions of people are in your shoes, running a one person business and figuring it out as they go. So why not connect with them and learn from each other's successes and failures? At Lifestarr, we're creating a one person business community where you can go to meet and get advice other solopreneurs. Be sure to join in on the conversations at community.lifestarr.com.