In the fast-paced world of business and revenue growth, it can sometimes feel like it is you against the universe. After all, we are all competing for custom, for networking, and interest over time. As such, it can seem a little daunting, if not counter-intuitive, to reach out to other businesses for support and guidance.
However, times have changed ― and they are still in flux. In the New 20s, business owners are becoming more fearless about who they collaborate with and about leaving their individual concerns behind. Thanks to evolutions in technology and connectivity, we live in a world that is more collaborative than ever. That means you should never feel bad or be afraid to network and reach out to other businesses!
Here are a few key reasons why tapping into the expertise of other business owners and staff could be the making of you.
We’re All Sharing Capital
Capital is not just a financial concern. By collaborating with other experts and business owners, we invest in intellectual or knowledge capital to help us grow mutually, evolve, and provide more satisfying services to our customers and clients.
Business growth is not just about acquiring money or leads. It is about broadening our experiences through other people. For example, leading banking entrepreneur and executive Julio Herrera Velutini owes much of his success to networking. Over time, he developed a career that has crossed multiple horizons — and it is not just building revenue in the right ways that has got him where he is today.
By sharing knowledge and experience capital, all business owners can develop their enterprises into better-rounded organizations. We are not simply niching in one area of business or expertise. We are learning how to manage money, generate leads, and continually provide satisfying services to thousands of clients and customers.
Become a Better Brand
Today, branding is everything. The average consumers or clients are savvier than many might imagine. They are no longer looking for just a flashy marketing campaign or a product or service that offers a quality edge over the competition. Rather, they are looking for companies that genuinely support people. They are looking for businesses that do not start and end at delivering a service.
Businesses that thrive in the New 20s are those that prove their expertise and extend their guidance to both their customers and their staff. People are smarter now about how they invest their time and money. The average consumers want to do business with brands that can answer all their questions and tackle all their problems.
The hyper-niche or constrained business ― i.e., one that is afraid to reach out to other businesses and tap into their expertise — is going to struggle to appeal to this new breed of consumer. The companies and brands that thrive in the New 20s bring together knowledge and experience from all quarters. Thankfully, we can also network and collaborate easier than ever before. This is thanks to remote working and online communication tools.
Building knowledge, experience, and expertise into one simple “whole” will likely improve your brand image in the eyes of millions.
You Are Not “Weak”
There is a misconception that a business owner who asks for help or to collaborate on expertise or knowledge is risking looking weak or falling behind the pack. That simply is not true. In fact, modern business is not nearly as cutthroat as you might think. It is not a sea of sharks, and plenty of companies and business owners are more than pleased to support their contemporaries.
Collaborative working does not have to be competitive, either. There are likely to be mutual benefits if, for example, you approach a business that is a similar size to yours, regardless of niche. This is one of the broader benefits of networking.
Sharing knowledge is not a weak move, nor is it likely to put your business at a competitive disadvantage. The minority of running a business is actively providing services and developing products. Instead, especially young and small businesses should focus on marketing and building connections with others.
Of course, there are many crucial steps to running a successful business from the ground up, and these will always vary depending on what you do and the niche in which you’re based. However, never be afraid to build a little knowledge and a stronger network from the get-go.
Collaboration Equals Success
No business owner must go it alone. The modern corporate landscape welcomes collaborative thinking and sharing of knowledge. Therefore, while you may be an expert in your field, there are always other ways you can bolster your brand for years of growth to come. Much of the time, this should revolve around making the right connections!
Do not hesitate to reach out to other businesses and entrepreneurs to boost your knowledge pool. There is more to corporate success than building products and making sales!
