Northern Ireland business networks

Building your own business network in Northern Ireland can help you find contacts, opportunities and support as your business grows.

Your network will be unique to your business. Useful contacts may come from formal events, everyday work, local classes, community groups or other social settings.

Successful network building

Aim to establish a good relationship with everyone useful you meet. To get the best from your new contacts you should:

• file notes and business cards after each meeting
• follow up each contact by phone or email
• remind your contact which business you are from and tell them you found it a pleasure meeting them
• maintain regular contact and update them about changes to your business
• keep up to speed with their business developments
• agree a way forward, for example, setting up a face-to-face meeting

You can also build your business network online. Online networking helps you share knowledge, find contacts and connect with people in Northern Ireland and beyond. Some online networking sites will request a short profile of your business for inclusion.

LinkedIn can help you connect with entrepreneurs, reach your audience and maintain business relationships - see LinkedIn for business.