Why Networking Events Are Great for Building Your Brand

These days, personal branding is so important. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or even a corporate professional, you know that making sure you come off in the best light is important. That’s where networking events come in. They are the perfect opportunity to make connections that are going to help you with your career going forward. They’re also a great place to show off what you know about your industry, what you’ve learned, and how valuable you could be to others. But is that all networking events are good for? Absolutely not! Here’s why attending networking events is a powerful tool for personal branding.

Helps establish credibility

Arguably one of the biggest advantages of attending networking events is that it helps you establish your credibility in your field. Something as simple as talking to others in your field and sharing your experiences and knowledge helps reinforce your credibility. And, when people can see that you know what you’re talking about, they’re more likely to remember you. Don’t be afraid to speak at these events or take part in panel discussions if you’re new to the networking game - all it takes is your knowledge and passion to get noticed.

Creates opportunities

Networking events are often mistaken as a group of people in the same industry meeting to talk. And while that’s not a lie, it’s not the full truth either. You’ll meet people who can help you grow your brand and your business. You’ll find that there are a whole range of people at these events that can help you in many different ways. For example, you might meet a connection that can put you in touch with a really reliable supplier, and you might meet someone else that knows how to solve a problem you face regularly. The more you engage and take part, the more people you’ll meet for potential opportunities.

Helps leverage social proof

One massive bonus of networking events is social proof. These events create so much online content that can help you. Things like event recaps, podcasts, BTS content and even images shared online help build up social proof for you as a brand. If you’re really looking to make a difference for your brand, consider investing in event photographers to capture key moments from the event. You can then use this material to share with followers and connections online. Simply having the proof that you’re at these events immediately helps make your credibility more concrete. Plus, there will be others that would love to share and credit your images!

Keeps you in the loop

Finally, another advantage of attending networking events is that you’re always learning. You’ll find that other attendees are sharing new strategies or trends they’ve noticed in the market, which will help your business no end. And, if you make genuine connections with people at these events, they’ll be more inclined to share this information with you as it happens. Rather than being business connections, you’ll turn into friends that can mutually help each other.