Gone are the days when professionals rely solely on cold calling or print advertising to grow successful businesses; especially in highly competitive markets such as construction and roofing. Profitable companies today utilize networking opportunities to attract a flow of new prospective customers. Taking advantage of these top five benefits of business networking can turn off-season time into an opportunity to make the connections that will result in an expanded customer base. Those who fail to recognize the valuable benefits of networking lose more than future sales; they also lose out on critical positive connections that build professional character.

Networking with other professionals offline and online allows your company to be visible. You should attend events in your community or join and online networking program. This allows you to share and gain knowledge and be supportive of other companies, which could lead to referrals.

Another benefit to networking that many professionals are unaware of as they circulate a room or participate in an online connection is that they have the unique opportunity to make critical connections and gain new exposure to other customer bases. Each business owner has a unique customer base and they know the needs of that customer base. Most of the time that company is able to meet most of the needs if not all of them but occasionally a customer has a need that is unanswered at the time you are making a connection with that professional. During conversations it may come to light that you have the solution to that need, which when realized can lead to a quick referral.

Those working in the construction and roofing industry can draw upon a vast array of knowledge. Sharing ideas, exchanging feedback or discussing various points of view on a topic can lead to expanding your own knowledge base or provide a chance for gaining a new perspective that can enhance your ability to meet the needs of present and future customers.
Business networking is important to construction and roofing professionals because of the benefits of attending community and professional functions as well as taking advantage of online networking opportunities. Business owners who network gain new opportunities to expand the customer base, make unique connections that can lead to increased sales and can also experience rare opportunities to share experiences, ideas and knowledge with others as well as to increase confidence while talking about company services and while exposing the company brand.