To busy female entrepreneurs, networking can seem like a complex web of cocktail parties, dinner meetings and social media pages. Even if these savvy businesswomen realize the importance of networking as a means for growing their companies, they may shy away from it because it seems like an overwhelming time investment. Networking doesn’t have to be a burden; in fact, it can be a fun and easy way for female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while creating strong business and personal relationships with likeminded professionals.
A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Based on professional market research of more than 3,500 women in business, this study shows that each type of business owner has a unique approach to running a business and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. This article outlines three of the five types and provides reasons each one should network, as well as tips for networking effectively.
Jane Dough is an entrepreneur who enjoys running her business; generally, she makes a nice living. She is comfortable and determined in buying and selling, which may be why she’s five times more likely than the average female business owner to hit the million dollar mark. Jane Dough is clear in her priorities and may be intentionally and actively growing an asset-based or legacy business. It is estimated that 18% of women entrepreneurs fall in the category of Jane Dough.
Jane Dough is successful – and she plans to be even more so. Therefore, even while most Jane Dough business owners report feeling satisfied with their current situation, they also report looking forward to creating even greater success in the future. She sees this as a challenge or a game – and an opportunity to continue building on the foundation she has constructed. Of all the five types of entrepreneurs, Jane Dough is the most likely to report feeling determined, hopeful and excited on a typical workday. One key way for Jane Dough to grow her business is to create multiple streams of income – and networking provides an avenue for doing so.
Why Jane Dough should network: To create alternative strategies for growth, Jane Dough must build her business so that it generates multiple streams of income. This mitigates risk associated with a downturn in one part o