Networking Tips for Solo Entrepreneurs
Queen Bee of Buzz Networking Julie Taylor is on a mission to help single-person businesses thrive through connections and bite-sized learning. We interviewed her to discover more and learn some handy networking tips.
What inspired you to launch your business, and why did you call it “Buzz Networking”?
People often ask me, how did you come up with the brand? It came from the term “hive mind” that people use a lot on Facebook. The idea is that you can ask the hive for help. After all, asking for help is powerful – someone always knows something, or knows someone, or they might think of you when they meet a relevant person. Really, I think we network all the time, but we don’t necessarily call it that. So I created Buzz Networking to help one-person businesses connect with and learn from each other.
At my events, I help people to introduce themselves by telling one story. Not their entire life story, just how they impacted somebody. People remember stories. We don’t need to know each other’s entire CV; we remember the impactful things. I always say as well: pay attention to the types of people in the room and what they need. Networking can be daunting, but unfortunately, unless you’re selling something really unique, then you have to get out there and show yourself and your special skills.
That being said, not every conversation has to be a sales pitch. In fact, networking doesn’t have to be salesy at all. I don’t go always go networking to sell; it’s also my social life. I always say to people: you can even be a little bit mysterious – many people in the room might not get to know what you do, and that’s okay. Networking is about being yourself, showing up and having a good time. Not everything has to be transactional.
What tips can you give readers to help them avoid feeling awkward at a networking event?
It’s about preparation. Because if you aren’t sure where you’re going, if you turn up late, if you’re wearing uncomfortable clothes, you’re going to feel stressed. There are so many things you can do to set yourself up for success:
Networking is about being yourself, showing up and having a good time. Not everything has to be transactional.
- First of all, if you’ve never been to that location before, research how you’re going to get there. And if you look on Google Maps, double the time, because I don’t know about you, but I can’t cycle that fast!
- Dress in what’s comfortable for you. Go for something a little bit smart, make a bit of an effort – after all, you’re going out to enjoy yourself too – but don’t get the suit out of the back of the wardrobe that doesn’t fit you or that you haven’t worn for ten years.
- If it’s your first time with a particular networking organization, you can contact them to find out what to expect. They should be happy to talk to you, and to get feedback from you.
- If you’re nervous about going alone, then take somebody with you, but don’t sit with them. You can hang out with them before and after. You can eyeball them across the room. But remember that you went there to meet other people and to push yourself a little bit out of your comfort zone.
- And don’t forget that all the people there are feeling the same way. Everyone feels a little awkward. It would be quite unusual to go somewhere where everybody knows everybody. A networking event shouldn’t be a closed group with in-jokes and things like that. And if it is, I’d feed that back and let the organizer know.
Read more tips on Julie’s blog!
What advice can you give women who are looking to build their professional network?
It’s like dropping a stone in the lake and watching the ripples. Always look forward, but always look back as well. Go back to your trusted contacts. When I moved to the Netherlands, I asked my existing network: does anybody know anybody in Holland? And actually people said, “oh, I do know somebody actually”. I’ve had conversations with people because we’ve been connected by someone else. We maybe haven’t been able to help each other, but we start following each other and then I can say, “oh, you met so-and-so. They can help you.” Go to the people you know first.
Then, reach out to the people that you’d like to get to know. But whatever you do, do not sell. Do not drop into someone’s inbox to “just” mention what you’re doing. That’s salesy as well, instead give something before you ask for something. The really good way to engage with people you don’t know on LinkedIn is to comment on their posts. But don’t just go. “Nice post. That’s interesting.” Anybody could do that. It needs to be five words or more to make any sort of impact. Have an opinion, disagree with them if you want to. But don’t disagree just to stir things up. You’re allowed to be your own person. You can offer some help, even simple things. Sometimes I go to people’s websites and Instagram or About Me pages, and I tell people if the links are broken. It sounds small, but when somebody’s really busy, they do appreciate something like that because they think everything’s tickety-boo.
And finally, just be yourself, otherwise you just end up being a carbon copy of what everyone else is doing.
You’ve been nominated for the NBC Woman of the Year awards; how does that feel?
They sent me an email last week asking if I wanted to come to the awards dinner and if so, it’s €150. But I’m still waiting to hear when and where, so I think that means I’ve not won. I can read the room. I’m a finalist alongside Eurostar and DAF trucks; in previous years I’ve been in the same category as Marcel’s Green Soap. I think those companies have a bigger marketing department than I do. My business, it’s just me, my accountant, and my IT guy.
People are saying, oh, it’s amazing you’ve been nominated. And I have to say… no! Me and ChatGPT took half an hour to nominate my business. I did it for visibility. I’m very cognizant that it’s not anything serious. I talk about it at my events. I talk about the awards I’ve applied for and been shortlisted for. It’s another marketing strategy. It’s not real life, though, not for me.
Have you implemented any strategies to foster diversity, inclusivity, sustainability in your business, and how have you created a supportive and inclusive community for women entrepreneurs?
I would say that I haven’t intentionally done it. It’s been there since the beginning. I did research the market, and I do attract more women than men, but my network isn’t female only. My group is inclusive. I have my sustainable development goal which I’ll put on my website soon. Some of them I do unconsciously. I’d be happy to know if I am excluding anybody because I don’t mean to.
What is your favorite part of being a woman entrepreneur?
I wouldn’t say it was particularly being a woman. It’s just making your own decisions. Because we might be playing with smaller budgets, but if we want to do something, we just ask: can I afford it? Let’s just do it. So, I suppose it’s empowerment. I know it’s not the same all over the world, and during the recent Female Ventures event, Career Story Nights by Lisa Thompson, I appreciated hearing stories from women who, culturally, might not be allowed to do their own thing, but did it anyway. We sometimes forget how privileged we are here.
How do you see your business evolving? How do you envision the future of networking organizations, and do you have any future goals for The Hive?
My aim right now is to find a sponsor. Because I’m getting squeezed from both sides. I’m trying to make my events accessible and keep my price point achievable, but things are going up in price and I’m just getting squashed in the middle. I’m looking for a sponsor who wants to tap into self-employed entrepreneurs and reach that market. And also… where are all the trailing spouses? They’re tucked away at home doing their thing, using Google Translate, trying to sort out the Wi-Fi, getting the kids to school, just sorting everybody’s life out. They’re amazing people with unlimited skills, and those are the people I would like to speak to. They’d make natural entrepreneurs.
I have a Facebook community of 1,500 business owners that’s growing on its own. I want people to flourish and to be brave, ask questions and find help in the group, because the point is to help each other. It might seem easy to get somebody on Upwork, but would you not rather work with somebody who is nearby? I just think we’re a little ecosystem and we need to help each other.
I would use the funding to make my offering more stable, so that I’m not changing meeting locations because I’m concerned about how many people are coming and whether it’s affordable. So even if the sponsor could give us a location that would be amazing. A sort of “traveling hive” could happen. I’ve been asked to go to Groningen, Eindhoven and Utrecht. So, I might try that out in 2025.
What role have female led communities, such as Female Ventures, played in your personal and professional success?
As I said, it’s my social life. I love Female Ventures for the professional ladies trying to find their space and the entrepreneur ladies doing the same, it’s a really unusual mix.
You never know who you’re going to meet. I often hear people who say, “I’ll network once I’ve started my business.” Why not just go now? Because you’re going to meet other people who are feeling the same way, people on the same journey, and people who you might be able to collaborate with. What’s the worst that could happen? Unfortunately, just having a website and sitting there waiting for the orders to roll in doesn’t work. It’s like renting a shop and fitting it out beautifully, and then you don’t even open the shutters. How are people going to find you, if you’re keeping the secret to yourself? That’s why you need a network.
Just having a website and sitting there waiting for the orders to roll in doesn’t work. It’s like renting a shop and fitting it out beautifully, and then you don’t even open the shutters. How are people going to find you, if you’re keeping the secret to yourself? That’s why you need a network.
How do you maintain your work-life balance?
Well, Marty the dog is called the Chief Disruption Officer because since he turned up, it’s been hit and miss. I have more work-life balance than I used to, because I used to work till 7:00 at night and now I’ve got a dog around my ankles, so that helps.
I’d also say: just don’t sweat it. Last year, my husband had a very serious heart attack. It was a big reminder that there are more important things than work. I was so lucky that I could just stop my business and care for him. He’s fine now. Something like that puts things in perspective. – Listen to Julie share her experience in the Wize Move 50+ podcast, ed.
Now, I just smile when things go wrong because, hey, it happens. As long as it’s not the same thing going wrong over and over again. In general, something’s always going to be not quite right. You just have to deal with it; you can’t let it derail you. For example, say your first newsletter goes into everybody’s spam folder. Well, it’s not the ideal situation, but you can just message them all and say, “oops, sorry about that, put me on your preferred list”, and you’ve got more engagement – it’s a bit more work, but a bit of engagement too.
Do you have anything else you’d like to share with the Female Ventures community?
Don’t doubt yourself and your skills. If you’ve changed once by moving countries or changing jobs, you can keep changing and evolving. Don’t let anything stop you – your age, your gender, other people’s opinions. Are you stopping yourself or is something else stopping you?
Don’t doubt yourself and your skills. If you’ve changed once by moving countries or changing jobs, you can keep changing and evolving.
You’ll always learn something. Even when things go wrong, these are learning opportunities. They don’t feel like that at the time, but nothing’s going to stay the same.
Come along to one of my events, whether you’re an entrepreneur or an aspiring entrepreneur. Or come along to the Facebook group. It is quite business-driven; everyone helps each other. And start networking, because the thing is, even if you’re looking for a job, there might be somebody in someone else’s network who’s looking, that’s how it goes. I’m also happy to connect on LinkedIn.
Even when things go wrong, these are learning opportunities. They don’t feel like that at the time, but nothing’s going to stay the same.
Thank you, Julie, for sharing your inspiring insights with us!
Take your networking to the next level by reaching out to Julie:
- Get in touch with Julie on LinkedIn
- Join the Small Business Connections Facebook Group
- Discover Buzz Business Networking on their website, LinkedIn, or follow on Instagram.