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Many people dread the idea of meeting complete strangers at events and pitching their business.  However, networking can be a beneficial way of creating new leads and new business opportunities to help your business grow.  

How to Network More Effectively:

• Know that networking is a two-way street: When meeting people that you may want to work with, it is very important to get as much information and knowledge as possible. It is also important to ask questions regarding their business such as:
• What products or services does your company offer?
• Who are your clients?
• Who is in charge of the buying decisions?
• How are you different from your competitors?
  
  
• Evaluate your contacts: Filter through your contacts to see who is worth establishing a working relationship with. It is also good to take a look back at people from your past that may also benefit you and your business.
• Spend time social networking: You should use social networking to your advantage. The benefit of social networking is to share or create relevant articles that your audience would find informative. Start a conversation on twitter or message a contact through LinkedIn.
• Stick to your lane-Attend the events and conferences that relate to your business. Networking can be exhausting, so don’t your waste time attending an event where you will not be of service. Join Meetup groups in your field, get involved with your local business improvement district (BID), check out events on Eventbrite, etc.
• Set Goals- Aim to meet at least three people at networking events who could possibly turn into customers and follow up with after. The quality of your conversations is most important- not gaining 50+ business cards from people you will never speak to again.
• 70- 30 Split- Let your potential contact speak 70 percent of the time and listen to see if there is a potential business opportunity.
• Network the networkers- Scout the people you know who are committed to networking. If you keep seeing the same people at events introduce yourself and get to know them. They may have a multitude of leads for you.
• Post Network Follow-Up- This is probably the most important part of networking effectively. If you suggest meeting for lunch or coffee to discuss a potential business relationship, make sure you follow your word. Connect with your contacts on LinkedIn and set up a day and time to discuss how you could build a business relationship.

Although networking can be intimidating as first, it can be a very rewarding experience for you and your business.

Please join us Wednesday, May 6th for a Lunch and Learn where Steelcase will be providing a workshop on our Media:scape room. This room can be used for video conferencing, multiple presentation displays, and more! This event is specifically made for NOMA clients and we will be providing samples of signature dishes from a local restaurant. Lunch and Learn will take place in the Media:scape room from      12 pm to 1 pm.

Join us today for the Bloggers Roundtable Event at NOMA Workspaces! The event starts at 3 pm and will take place in NOMA Lounge. 

 We will have popular bloggers discussing hot topics including racial awareness, social dynamics, and relationships via social media.

This event is interactive, and we encourage participation through tweets, facebook and blogs. The bloggers will be available to answer questions and comment in real time.

Use #BRTNoMAWorkspaces to follow the conversation and interact with the bloggers! 

On Tuesday, March 10, 2015, NOMA Workspaces hosted a free Small Business Workshop for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. It was a chance for participants to network and learn from their peers. We want to make sure you are keeping up with your 2015 business goals. Participants learned tips on a variety of topics. From government funding to social media, they were given tools to help their business grow. David White (Vice President of Business, Wells Fargo) and Alexandra Piotrowski (Small Business Administration) spoke to the group about the Three C's: Capital, Counseling, and Contracting. Red Bull, goDCgo, and the Washington Business Journal all brought resources and information to the event. 

Break out groups included:

Polina Bakhteiarov and Sandra Gomez (Great Streets) on defining and identifying grant opportunities and city resources and how businesses apply for the Great Streets program.

Shara A. Gibson  (DC Department of Small and Local Business Development) on
leveraging partnerships and relationships.

TaKeyia Monique (C.E.O., Haute Hipster Media) on growing your business utilizing social media.

We offered this workshop via Skype for those who could not attend in person.We hope to host more events for local small businesses. If you are interested in hosting a workshop or event please contact Britany Gatewood at 202-380-3600.

Follow our Facebook,  Twitter, and Blog to keep up with future events at NOMA Workspaces!