Networking is a critical element of growth and success for many professionals. Whether you’re a business owner looking to expand your customer base or find partnerships or a job seeker looking to make a career move, finding and connecting with the right people in your industry can be a huge boost to any professional goals you may have set. The first step in forging these connections is knowing where to look, and often, that means growing the circle of people you have access to through your network. To help you do this, a panel of Forbes Business Council members share some simple ways to expand your network this year—some of which can still be done from the comfort of your office. Members pictured from left to right. Photos courtesy of the individual members. 1. Create Communities Communities are a great way to expand networks. Creating a community of your customers who come together under one platform to have productive discussions, seek help and help others with their expertise results in increased brand loyalty, which in turn leads to referrals through word-of-mouth. – Shubham Yadav , StrategyConnect Inc 2. Find A Hobby As an entrepreneur, I feel the best way […]