Tips for Professional Networking

In the rapidly evolving landscape of today's title insurance industry, the ability to form connections, nurture relationships, and tap into a diverse pool of knowledge is more critical than ever. Networking, a tool that was once limited to in-person industry conferences and formal business meetings, has expanded online, making it possible to reach out and connect with professionals across the globe. In this blog, we'll guide you on effectively networking, exploring strategies to define your brand and sharing it with colleagues with similar interests and values.

Start By Defining Your Brand

Effective networking doesn’t begin with contacting the most successful person you know in the industry or attending the largest conference. The critical first step to networking is to look inward and define your personal brand. According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), creating a personal brand at work is an excellent way to define your strengths, set your professional goals and share them with the world. Once you know yourself and what you want to accomplish, you can easily find people who share your values through the networking strategies we will cover below. And once you share your personal brand online, like-minded colleagues will come to you.

HBR breaks down how you should define your personal brand in three parts:

• 1. Your uniqueness: What do you have that no one else does? Defining a personal and professional identity will help you stand out and attract others looking for a unique perspective on the changing industry. Your differences are not roadblocks to fitting in; they're your superpowers to rise above the rest.
• 2. Your values: Your company probably has a value statement on the homepage of its website. What would yours be on your personal site? What causes do you stand for, and what do you believe? Whether your focus is on improving yourself, your company, the industry, or something completely separate, showing people what drives you gives them something meaningful with which to connect.
• 3. Your contributions: So, you have a mission and a unique perspective to approach it, but what can you specifically bring to the table to address that mission? Define which skills or experience you can offer that adds value to others and the industry at large.

Once you define your brand, HBR suggests that you find initiatives and colleagues that align with it. Most importantly, you should create and share content that communicates your brand to your network and beyond. Not sure what kind of content to create or where to share it? Start with informative content on an area specific to the title industry in which you are a subject matter expert. This content can act as a resume to promote your work and an invitation to others to connect on anything they relate to. But what format should this content be in, and what platforms should you promote it on? More on that below!

Where To Network

As with most things in the professional world today, networking is a hybrid of online and in-person interactions. Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter offer a vast arena to share original content and connect with colleagues inside and outside the title industry. Start with straightforward written content and add images to posts to extend your reach (tweets with visuals get three times the engagement). If you want to bring your content to the next level, 80% of people prefer watching videos over reading written text. If you can communicate more effectively through video, don’t be afraid to record the content you want to share or try out newer platforms like TikTok.

While sharing content and networking online can reach a broad audience and spark new connections, in-person networking offers even deeper, more meaningful relationships. That’s why, even with innovative technologies like Zoom able to connect us online, 68% of individuals still prefer in-person networking, and 95% of professionals agree that face-to-face connections are essential for successful long-term business relationships. Some of the best places to network in person include:

• Industry conferences: These are fantastic places to rub shoulders with title pros from all over the country and engage in insightful conversations that directly relate to your day-to-day work life.
• User group conferences: For even more specialized networking opportunities, look to software vendors who host conferences specifically for users of their software platform. SoftPro, for example, hosts an annual user group conference where title professionals who use SoftPro for their closing and title production software come from across the country not only to network but to gain skills and education on trending industry topics.
• One-on-one meetings: These personalized exchanges foster stronger understanding and trust that can grow from just a networking opportunity to a true friendship.
• Local meet-ups: Even those spanning different industries offer fresh viewpoints and lessons from others with various experiences and skills.

By combining online and in-person networking, you can build a well-rounded, vibrant network that supports your personal brand and professional growth.

When to Network

Too often, professionals in the title industry and beyond believe that the goal of networking is only to find a job or seal a deal. For these people, the networking process doesn't begin until they desperately need to land a gig or make a sale. This not only makes networking stressful but also makes the process one-sided. While your colleagues in the industry may be happy to help, some may notice that you only connect during a time of need. Networking in these high-pressure situations can feel transactional at best and disingenuous at worst.

The ultimate goal of networking should be to build meaningful relationships. Fostering relationships with your peers, especially when free from the pressure of work or job seeking, can be an extremely fulfilling experience. The key to building and maintaining these relationships is consistency. Networking should be woven into your daily routine as part of your professional growth. If you view networking as an ongoing process of building relationships, not a means to an end, you can focus on an even more critical question: who should you network with?

Who to Network With

Now that you know to commit your valuable time consistently to networking, the final question to ask yourself is with whom to spend your time. Below, we identify three groups you can connect with, learn from, and teach on a mutually beneficial basis.

• Your Mentor: An industry veteran who has seen every twist and turn in the market over the decades is a fantastic resource to learn how to adapt as the market continues to change. Not only do mentors offer unique insights based on their own experiences that can illuminate your path forward, but they can also provide personalized guidance to help you overcome career obstacles. Their wealth of knowledge can contribute to your strategic decision-making and understanding of the industry's nuances. The skills they developed to face challenges in the past may be the same ones you can utilize today.
• Your Peers: Networking horizontally is just as important as networking vertically. While your peers will naturally be at a similar age and stage of their careers, that doesn't mean they’ll be identical to you in every way. To get the most out of your relationships with peers, it is essential to connect with people in your field, or even those in different industries, that offer a diversity of thought, experiences, and backgrounds. This peer network can act as a sounding board for ideas, a shared space for problem-solving, and a resource for exploring different perspectives.
• Your Mentee: Networking isn't solely about connecting with those in higher positions. Don't forget the value you can provide to those earlier in their career journeys. By becoming a mentor, you can pass on the lessons of your mentors and peers to the next generation. Not only will you help others develop, but you will also reinforce your understanding of the industry and develop essential leadership skills. Sharing these insights will be incredibly rewarding as you feel a sense of satisfaction and purpose in creating a rich, two-way learning experience.

The Bottom Line

Effective networking in a changing market goes beyond simply collecting contacts. It's about defining your personal brand, nurturing diverse relationships, and consistently engaging with your network. It's a two-way street, so ensure you contribute to these relationships as much as you benefit from them.

Unfortunately, according to HBR, many professionals don't network consistently because they simply don't have the time. In the title industry, we see too many experts spending time on tasks that could be automated within the same outdated title production software they've used for years or even decades. That's where SoftPro comes in.

Our state-of-the-art software solutions can make your business as efficient as possible, freeing up hours every day that you can use to network, learn, and contribute to your community. The days of filling in the same data on multiple documents and navigating complicated title production processes are gone. We can design a customized process for your team that can change and grow with you and your business.

Want to learn more about how our efficient and effective software solutions can save you time and money? Visit our website or give us a call at 800-848-0143 today!