The importance of networking within the creative industries
Learning how to network within the creative industries is vital. Getting work within this sector will totally rely on the network of potential clients that you build up so it is absolutely crucial that you get your name out there and show people what you can do.
There are many key ways to start networking with people in the creative industries which I will list below:
Linked In
Building a solid network of connections on Linked In can be a fantastic way to get your foot in the door and start talking to people in your sector. Connect with like-minded people and you will be notified when they upload or share media, not only does this allow you to give your thoughts on their projects but it also allows you to see the quality of work people are doing and helps you make sure you are sticking to trends. Connecting also allows you to see other peoples connections, many of which will be relevant to you. Starting up conversations with these people allows you to ask questions and get your name on the map.
Be Everywhere
Linked In may be the perfect site for people looking for a strictly business site, but there are many other social networking websites out there such as Facebook, Twitter, Behance and Github to name a few. Spreading your word throughout all of these sites will ensure you connect with the largest amount of people possible and can open the door for a flurry much-needed opportunities.
Do some small paying jobs
Doing some small paid jobs for your local hairdresser not only allows you to add work to your portfolio but gets people talking. Other hairdressers in the area might see their website and your name may be passed on and so on. This is a fantastic way to get your name out there whilst also making money, however, don't undersell yourself and make sure that you are charging accordingly or you won't get any money at all!
Attend networking events
Networking events are probably the best way to increase your connection count. It allows you to meet people face to face and really talk and get to know them. Not only will you be in a room full of people that enjoy the same things you do but they will all have varying experience and skill levels allowing you to get the most out of every question you may have. Employers often attend events and use this as a way to look for people to employ so remember to take some business cards and pass them out. Meetup.com is a fantastic resource that allows you to find some great meetups in and around your area, these can range from gaming meetups to web developer meetups. I highly recommend you have a look at this site and maybe attend some of the events and start talking to people.
Seems easy right? Well kinda. When networking you have to be sure that you remain professional. This means being polite and respectful to everyone you meet, you are representing yourself out there and you don't want to gain a bad reputation. We all want to fire off questions left, right and center and get talking to as many people as possible but learning communication skills and allowing people a chance to speak will ensure that you are seen as a genuinely kind and polite person. You aren't only trying to gain work from these events but also friendships and connections so your great social skills will carry you through the event.
Charisma on Comand is a fantastic youtube channel that shows you how to become more confident in developing relationships and how to seem more charismatic and likable in everyday life, here are some of his top tips that you need to know before you start networking:
This video alone raises some fantastic tips that you can take with you to events to make sure you are seeming more likable and approachable, these are:
Networking isn't just used to find jobs it can be used to find people that you may find useful when it comes to working on your own projects. For example, if you are a web developer connecting with and talking to graphic designers, or animates can be a great way for you to build up a library of people that you can connect with and collaborate, this will strengthen your final projects and only really has positive aspects. This can work vice versa too if a graphic designer needs a website they will know exactly who to contact.
In conclusion, networking is a vital part of getting work within the creative industry. We as web developers are competing with people all around the globe and therefore it is essential that we can build up a good catalog of contacts and clients that enjoy working with us and that can recommend us to other potential clients. Going to events and having conversations is what it is all about, showing people what you can do whilst getting to know them personally helps form strong connections and this can only be a good thing.
Sources
Charisma on Demand - The Introvert's Guide To Networking - Published May 18, 2017
There are many key ways to start networking with people in the creative industries which I will list below:
Linked In
Building a solid network of connections on Linked In can be a fantastic way to get your foot in the door and start talking to people in your sector. Connect with like-minded people and you will be notified when they upload or share media, not only does this allow you to give your thoughts on their projects but it also allows you to see the quality of work people are doing and helps you make sure you are sticking to trends. Connecting also allows you to see other peoples connections, many of which will be relevant to you. Starting up conversations with these people allows you to ask questions and get your name on the map.
Be Everywhere
Linked In may be the perfect site for people looking for a strictly business site, but there are many other social networking websites out there such as Facebook, Twitter, Behance and Github to name a few. Spreading your word throughout all of these sites will ensure you connect with the largest amount of people possible and can open the door for a flurry much-needed opportunities.
Do some small paying jobs
Doing some small paid jobs for your local hairdresser not only allows you to add work to your portfolio but gets people talking. Other hairdressers in the area might see their website and your name may be passed on and so on. This is a fantastic way to get your name out there whilst also making money, however, don't undersell yourself and make sure that you are charging accordingly or you won't get any money at all!
Attend networking events
Networking events are probably the best way to increase your connection count. It allows you to meet people face to face and really talk and get to know them. Not only will you be in a room full of people that enjoy the same things you do but they will all have varying experience and skill levels allowing you to get the most out of every question you may have. Employers often attend events and use this as a way to look for people to employ so remember to take some business cards and pass them out. Meetup.com is a fantastic resource that allows you to find some great meetups in and around your area, these can range from gaming meetups to web developer meetups. I highly recommend you have a look at this site and maybe attend some of the events and start talking to people.
Seems easy right? Well kinda. When networking you have to be sure that you remain professional. This means being polite and respectful to everyone you meet, you are representing yourself out there and you don't want to gain a bad reputation. We all want to fire off questions left, right and center and get talking to as many people as possible but learning communication skills and allowing people a chance to speak will ensure that you are seen as a genuinely kind and polite person. You aren't only trying to gain work from these events but also friendships and connections so your great social skills will carry you through the event.
Charisma on Comand is a fantastic youtube channel that shows you how to become more confident in developing relationships and how to seem more charismatic and likable in everyday life, here are some of his top tips that you need to know before you start networking:
This video alone raises some fantastic tips that you can take with you to events to make sure you are seeming more likable and approachable, these are:
- Try to seem more interesting by wearing certain clothes or looking a certain way. This will help separate you from the crowd of people and will help people notice you and maybe come and ask what it is all about.
- Learn to start conversations and steer them to where you want them to go. Getting the other person talking about what they actually want and why they are at the event is a great way to get to know someone better whilst allowing you to show that you are a good listener. This opens people up and allows you to form much stronger relationships with them.
- Connect other people together. You don't want to focus on your self, allowing two people that you know to connect to one another will broaden your network even further. People that you help are more likely to help you in return as they will feel appreciative that you have helped them in the past.
In conclusion, networking is a vital part of getting work within the creative industry. We as web developers are competing with people all around the globe and therefore it is essential that we can build up a good catalog of contacts and clients that enjoy working with us and that can recommend us to other potential clients. Going to events and having conversations is what it is all about, showing people what you can do whilst getting to know them personally helps form strong connections and this can only be a good thing.
Sources
Charisma on Demand - The Introvert's Guide To Networking - Published May 18, 2017
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