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Where To Go To Meet People |
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Written by Don Cooper
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Wednesday, 24 May 2006 |
Where To Go To Meet People
By Don Cooper
No, this isn’t an advice column for singles. (Although I am single and could probably write such a column at this point.) Instead, the goal of this article is to help you find some good places to network. While there are all kinds of business and non-business organizations that you can join, they can be broken down into five basic categories.
Trade AssociationsNo matter what you do, there is an organization of people who do it. Professional or trade associations give you an opportunity to network with your peers. While they won’t become customers, there are still several advantages to knowing them better.
You can discuss industry challenges and learn from their experiences. You can refer or contract out business when you are overwhelmed, or when your customers want something you can’t provide. (The competitors you refer will likely return the favor.) You might even go further and develop strategic partnerships to increase your capabilities or to handle work that no single company could manage on its own.
A completely different strategy is to join the trade associations of your target markets. Most groups allow “associate” or “vendor” members. By joining, you get an excellent opportunity to network with your best prospects. The relationships that you build will be stronger than any marketing piece your competition can create.
General Interest Business GroupsThese groups are open to virtually anyone, so you may find competitors as well as prospects within them. The best-known and most common are Chambers of Commerce, which exist at the local, state and national levels. Some Chambers are geared towards women, while others may have a racial or ethnic focus. For example, there are black, Asian, Hispanic, Indian and many other Chambers.
Other General Interest Business organizations include the National Federation of Independent Businesses, American Business Women’s Association, International Franchise Association and National Association of Women Business Owners. These organizations may host all kinds of networking activities, as well as seminars, trade shows and other events.
Lead-Sharing GroupsThese groups, which go by various names (referral groups, tip clubs, resource groups), exist for the sole purpose of networking. They may be non-profit or for-profit. Members are expected to generate leads for other members on a regular basis. For that reason, membership is limited to one company per industry, i.e. one lawyer, one printer, one florist, one insurance agent, etc.
Meetings are typically weekly or bi-weekly over breakfast. Be aware, these groups are serious and require a real commitment on your part. Members can be expelled for missing too many meetings or not providing enough referrals.
Service ClubsThe purpose of organizations such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Optimists, Jaycees and Knights of Columbus is to provide some type of volunteer service to local communities. But great networking is a happy by-product of organized service. If your focus is in the right place—that is, the goals of the group—then people will naturally want to do business with you.
Like lead-sharing groups, service clubs usually meet weekly or biweekly, although it may be for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also like lead-sharing groups, they often enforce attendance requirements, so understand the commitment involved.
Special Interest GroupsFinally, there are a host of other organizations whose purpose is not business-oriented, yet provide excellent networking opportunities. They include Toastmasters International, alumni associations, your child’s PTA, and your local homeowners association. As with service clubs, focus on the business of the group, rather than your business.
With any and all of these groups, several rules apply: Check them out before you join to make sure the group is a good fit for you. After you have written your membership check, attend meetings and events regularly. And to get the biggest return on your investment, raise your profile and credibility by volunteering for projects and committees.
Above all, remember that networking is not the same as selling. Networking is simply meeting people and building relationships with them. It’s getting to know them and letting them get to know you. Basically, it’s about making friends. And you can do that anywhere.
Don Cooper is an internationally-recognized sales expert who helps companies of all shapes and sizes dramatically increase their sales. He conducts seminars, runs annual sales meetings and trains sales and customer service teams. He is a contributing author of Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters with Debbie Allen and Jay Conrad Levinson. He is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Myth of Price: Why You Should Charge More and How to Do It.
For information about booking Don to speak to your group, please call 303-832-4248 or e-mail
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You can also find free articles, tips and other information at www.DonCooper.com.
* 2007 Don Cooper. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted, intact, as long as the full byline is included. To request a photo to print with the byline, please call 303-832-4248 or e-mail
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Networking Tips