Networking Groups Are All Around, So Which Ones Are For You?

From time to time, I get asked about what type of networking group someone should join? These days, there is probably a networking group going on within a 2-mile radius of you. So with so many opportunities what should someone look for within a networking group?

One of the main points I look at personally is if the participants of the group are in my targeted market. This can be a challenge to find if your business deals directly with other businesses as customers as most networking groups are designed as business to consumers instead of business to business.  Another key element is can I bring quality leads and referrals to the other members of this group?

The second aspect is location.  You want to make sure that if you are going to commit to a weekly appointment that it is in a location that works for you. You do not want to commit to an hour drive in, an hour at the meeting and an hour back week in and week out.

Would you feel comfortable giving referrals and receiving referrals from the other members of the group? You want to make sure that you are with a group that you feel comfortable referring business to. Very rarely will someone get a lead the first time that you meet with a group. Business leaders want to make sure that you will take care of any referral that they send to you – so set up a time to meet with one or two people a week to get to know their business better. By building these connections, you will know where to send you referrals to, and people will discover what makes a good lead to send to you.