Networking for business

I had written a piece about networking, trying to show people how it can help you find other job opportunities. Someone commented that one other use of networking, at your current job or business, is that by talking and interacting with others, you might hear about business opportunities that you don't otherwise have.

You can network with people and try to do business with them, but that can make a bad impression on people. Instead network for information. You might learn what competitors are doing well, or doing poorly, and alter your business practice accordingly. You might get ideas about what would, or wouldn't work with your business.

Or you might hear about a competitor losing a customer. That might be the person you want to approach.