How to Network: Influencing and Making Friends

When it comes to networking, there is various approaches, for my personality type, which I discussed in a previous blog, I am more suited to an extroverted approach of speed networking at large gatherings and perhaps joining groups/committees. This is something I actively do, I prefer to use social media as a gateway to connect to people in various fields of the creative industry, such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

They have proven successful to me as a first meet setting and a way of ending a physical meeting to connect further. I was taught in college an online presence is essential in a digital era and creative industry; I made my first online portfolio in 2015 through Behance, since then developing a Facebook page, business Instagram account, Twitter and LinkedIn profile, which are great tolls in networking effectively and efficiently in a casual but professional manner; connecting people instantly and forming a network.

Branding is something I am very passionate about and interested in, it is one of my specialities and something I aim to be involved with in the future. I made a previous blog explaining why Branding is important and why starting with yourself is key.

How to prepare for a networking event/meeting?

• Background research on the people who are or likely to attend

• Reach out to those beforehand through social media who you are interested in connecting with so it's less nerve wracking because you've been informally introduced beforehand

• Have a goal/purpose for attending

• Mentally prepare relevant topics or questions, speak in the language thats common in that design field and ask about 'them'

• Take notes of responses

• Check the event information and arrive earlier so you can feel comfortable in a new place with fewer people and an opportunity to know them better

• Provide business cards and have ways to showcase your portfolio physically or online

• Dress appropriately to your target audience/social group and events environment, but also to yourself, what you wear shows who you are as a person and your personality/style

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In a previous blog, I briefly went over an event held in Nottingham; Design Exchange Nottingham, a free monthly meetup about design. DXN aims to "enrich and inspire Nottingham’s digital design community". Each month, it presents talks from renowned speakers and local voices, on topics ranging from UX to front-end.

Since attending I was introduced to Creative Director Gareth Strange of John & Jade, through this introduction I got to speak to someone very successful in the creative industry and was able to make connections through Instagram and LinkedIn, to present day he still remembers meeting me and that connection we made through asking him about his success and showing him my instagram portfolio.

When I met Mark he invited me to his office where we discussed who I am and what I'm hoping to achieve and he told me about his company, from there on I was part of the team, working within live briefs creating social graphics for clients worldwide and exploring the advertising/marketing side of design. Studio Renton was unsuccessful due to the time frame they was available but I still remain connected through Instagram and LinkedIn.I also had experience working alongside CEO Mark Roberts and Head Designer Michael Elijah as an intern at Conscious Creatives (CC); a digital advertising company. This was purely by chance as I reached out to the creative quarter in Nottingham explaining who I am and that I'm looking for some work experience, they was able to share my request amongst other circles in the creative community and I was approached by Mark from CC and John Renton of Studio Renton to meet for a chat.