What are the best ways for mortgage brokers to network? 

Networking can be beneficial whether you’re looking for personal career growth or to expand your business. 

We explore what you should know if you’re a mortgage broker interested in expanding your network. 

Why is networking important for mortgage brokers? 

Networking provides an opportunity to connect with individuals and businesses, which can help you discover key industry trends and tips, insightful analysis, and get feedback and guidance. 

You could also use networking to discover individuals and organisations you can partner with for future business growth or to kickstart new initiatives. Networking can also be useful for personal career growth as you can find out or be contacted about future opportunities. 

It’s also beneficial to increase the awareness of your brand, which could attract more customers, or you could find a business to partner with for referrals.  

Before you start networking, understand what you want to achieve, whether it’s connecting with people in your industry or relevant areas, seeking out partnerships, or looking for a support network.  

It’s also worth following up with anyone you meet at a networking event. This could be as simple as a LinkedIn message and connection request or email to keep in touch.  

What are some of the best ways to network successfully? 

There are many ways to network, which we’ll now explore. 

1. Use LinkedIn 

LinkedIn can be a great way to make connections with people in a similar role or industry. 

LinkedIn is useful not only for making connections that could boost your career or business but also for easily discovering upcoming events, webinars and conferences. 

You could also join relevant groups where you can discuss industry news and share insights. 

While it can be a good starting point to talk to individuals or businesses you want to collaborate with, getting the most out of the social media site requires interacting with people and sharing insights. 

It’s worth stressing that LinkedIn is not a substitute for in-person interactions in meetings, events, and conferences. 

2. Consider the Business Network International (BNI) 

Another option worth considering is joining a local group within the BNI. 

Only one person per profession can join each ‘chapter,’ which is a local group. So, this means you have various professionals from different industries. 

The groups meet regularly to exchange referrals, collaborate, and build long-term professional relationships so that everyone can support each other’s respective businesses.  

Joining a local group via the BNI is more time-consuming than other options on this list and is expensive, but it does offer the chance to meet people from outside your industry, which can be hugely beneficial.  

3. Look outside your niche 

As a mortgage broker, it can be easy to focus on connecting with like-minded people in your specialist area. 

However, connecting with professionals who offer services that can complement yours is worthwhile. For example, having a referral programme with solicitors, estate agents, and insurance brokers can be helpful. 

They can refer clients for a mortgage, while you can refer clients for help buying a home or the right insurance policy if this isn’t something you can assist with. 

When considering any referral partnerships, ensure the individual or business has a good history of supporting customers, offers reasonable fees, and is easy to get in touch with. 

You should establish the best ways of working together, especially if any issues require their input. You should also be open to modifying any partnerships if need be. 

4. Attend relevant events and conferences 

Attending industry events and conferences can be an engaging way to network. To get the most out of these events, be ready to quickly introduce yourself and your firm to anyone you’re talking to.  

These events tend to have hours of insightful talks and include time to network throughout the day, allowing you to meet your peers in person, including those from sectors that work well with mortgage brokers. 

Events and conferences also offer the chance to share your expertise and help establish you and your business as trustworthy leaders in the industry, whether it’s by hosting a talk or a booth. 

You can also understand more about your competitors by discovering their insights, challenges, and potential solutions. However, events and conferences can be expensive, and you’ll need to prepare beforehand. 

5. Host a webinar 

It can be overwhelming speaking at conferences, and it may not suit your preferences for how you want to network. 

Instead of going to the people and businesses you want to network with, you can draw them to you by hosting a webinar on a relevant and engaging topic that you can add value to. 

By hosting a webinar, you can engage with your peers and get their feedback by sending follow-up emails. If anyone attending the webinar finds it particularly engaging, they may be interested in a future collaboration.  

6. Don’t forget about local businesses and associations 

While it can be tempting to prioritise networking with individuals from big businesses within the industry, there’s a lot of value in working with local businesses. For example, you could consider working with local and high-quality estate agents. 

This can benefit both parties as you can refer customers to each other, boosting both businesses.  

You could also consider including your business in local directories or publications to increase your visibility within the community. 

Getting involved with any community events and business associations is also worth considering, as well as sponsoring events.  

While this can be an effective way to network, it can be time-consuming and expensive.  

7. Write high-quality content 

Writing high-quality and authoritative content can boost brand awareness, help draw in customers looking for answers to their questions, and help attract networking opportunities. 

Some companies are keen on publishing guest or sponsored posts on respected sites and may be open to partnerships that could benefit both parties, such as affiliate links.  

While this may not be a traditional way to network and doesn’t involve in-person communication (at least initially), it can be a more organic way to build long-term, professional relationships. 

8. Don’t forget about online marketing 

Having a online marketing plan can help you with your networking efforts. 

For example, by building your business and sharing industry insights, as well as effectively connecting with your target customers, your firm can build a strong reputation in the industry. 

If your business is sharing useful industry insights, this can encourage other firms in the same or relevant industries to reach out, offering a potentially effective way to network.  

Work with Unbiased 

Networking effectively offers many benefits and can help your business grow in the long term, although there are other ways to help support your company’s goals. 

With Unbiased, you’ll receive pre-verified leads and all the tools you need to convert them straight to your inbox.  

Let Unbiased Pro help you grow your business.