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3. Digital Networking
Source: https://pixabay.com/es/vectors/medios-de-comunicaci%c3%b3n-social-3846597/
Defined as an "exchange of information, knowledge and ideas between people who share a common profession or special interest” (Investopedia, 2022), networking is an essential activity for any professional, as it allows you to expand your network, and potentially allows you to access new ideas and resources.
To have a better first approximation to what networking means for a business, have a look at the following video and get yourself inspired by the stories and experiences of others:
As you might probably already know, networking is nowadays key for small business owners because it allows them to reach their goals faster, increases their visibility, provides future professional options and offers access to people/resources that otherwise will be unavailable.
In addition to being an excellent tool to expand and strengthen your professional relationships and, consequently, provide support to your (idea of) social entrepreneurship in sport and/or inclusive leisure, some of the main benefits of networking to take into account are, among others, these listed below.
DIGITAL NETWORKING
In terms of online networking, one can highlight the use of social networks to connect with other professionals or entrepreneurs in order to establish solid relationships for the future.
When you are first developing your social enterprise concept and gathering initial feedback, you may find that online networking is less intimidating. Furthermore, digital networking can be a valuable asset for rural social businesses, which frequently face geographical, time, and financial constraints that limit their ability to network in person or attend events.
In addition to attending digital events, social networks play a key role in the development of networking. This is especially true for those social networks specifically designed for professionals, such as LinkedIn, which allows you to connect with professionals interesting for your business.
Other platforms that can be attractive are:
- 100AM
- Meetup (e.g., Travel Bloggers & Startups Spain (Valencia, España) | Meetup)
- Facebook Groups - e.g., Responsible Tourism Networking | Facebook
In the specific case of the tourism sector, which has an important weight in the GDP of many European countries, it is common for there to be networking networks or clusters of companies and professionals at local or regional level that come together to defend common interests and enhance the tourist attractiveness of their areas of influence. This type of collaboration can be very enriching for accessing peer-learning opportunities, sources of innovation and offering better customer service.
You can also join different groups in these social media and start interacting. An active group member is bound to receive more invitations to connect from others. In any case, the key to establishing professional relationships in the digital environment is to build a good online presence, remain visible and actively interact with others through: commenting on publications or blog posts, participating in interviews or webinars, publishing one's progress.