Networking is great for business, and it’s great for you. It can get you out of your comfort zone and into a new more confident frame of mind. More confidence will lead to more business, and more business will lead to more networking opportunities. It’s a circle of success that can bring in a never-ending stream of new business. With the right type of networking you can have a long line of people waiting in line for your next offerings.

* Build Confidence – Attending networking events, while frightening at first, can help you build your self-confidence to a new level. Being around other professional people will help you get used to talking about yourself and your business. In addition, it will improve your listening skills, which will also help your build your confidence.

* Increase Market Awareness – As you network with others you’ll learn more about your market, which will help you create more products and services for your audience that truly resonates with them in a new way.

* Develop Problem-Solving Skills – When you are at networking events you’ll be in situations where you have to think on your feet. You’ll need to solve problems quickly, which will require you to become more knowledgeable and study your niche so that you’re ready for anything.

* Share Knowledge – At networking events you can share knowledge with your peers and with your audience. The joint knowledge of all those in attendance is priceless, especially when the networking continues after the event.

* Improve Opportunities – Networking can make for improved opportunities, because the word-of-mouth connections that you’ll receive will cause a circle of buzz that will explode your business and take it to the next level.

* Make More Friends – Believe it or not, going to networking events will increase your circle of close friends. After all, who will you have most in common with? Your business owner peers or those who do not own businesses?

* Raise Your Expert Quotient – As you get more accustomed to attending, speaking at, and even hosting your own networking events, the people who perceive you as an expert will increase. This increased profile will make you even more sought out.

* Get Awesome Advice – Who better to seek advice from than those who have been there and done that? You’ll take home a lot more than connections; you’ll also take home advice that cannot be beat. Because of the fact that the people you network with have experienced a lot, you’ll learn faster than going it alone.

Networking comes with more surprise than expectation. You just have to leave your comfort zone and give networking a try. You’ll get far more out of if than you might think at first. You’ll soon see that networking is a must for your business and your life.