Networking -- Locally
Business networking puts more money in your pocket by
helping you overcome the number one biggest problem facing
new business owners. Prospecting for new customers.
Business networking events can go a long way towards
making the whole prospecting problem go away. There are
two main kinds of networking opportunities available to
the average entrepreneur. Passive networking and strong
networking. Both have unique benefits and drawbacks.
The most well known example of passive networking is your
local chamber of commerce. You can find a chamber of
commerce chapter in almost every major city worldwide.
Your local chamber of commerce gives you the opportunity
to meet with many of the movers and shakers in your local
business community. Through the many events they plan on a
monthly and yearly basis, they offer you a chance to
connect with a number of potential prospects for your
products and services.
Weekly networking groups or clubs are an example of strong
networking opportunities. These kinds of business
networking events can be found in many major cities
worldwide. A strong networking group will meet on a weekly
basis for the sole purpose of exchanging business leads
with one another and learning better ways of networking to
grow their business. The most successful networking groups
require your weekly attendance and insist that their
members provide fellow members with referrals throughout
the year. They also allow only one person from each
profession or industry to belong to the group. This keeps
the quality of the referrals high. One such group is
Business Network International (BNI).
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each kind
of networking? They both have their place but strong
networking groups represent a bigger commitment than
passive
networking groups. By belonging to a strong
networking group, you are committed to be on the lookout
for referrals for group members. Strong networking groups
also usually meet on a weekly basis whereas passive
networking groups usually meet monthly.
Passive networks can have multiple people from one
profession or industry as members. They also have no
requirements for passing on referrals to other members.
Referrals do occur in a passive networking event but it is
not facilitated by the meeting and is totally up to the
business owner to initiate. You can belong to multiple
passive networking groups. Any business you get from
passive networking will most likely be a result of the
amount of effort you put in.
Strong networks on the other hand restrict membership to
only one person per industry or profession. This greatly
increases the likelihood that you will receive referrals
from participating members. Meetings are structured in a
way to encourage referrals and there is a formal referral
exchange that happens every week. It is strongly
recommended that you only belong to one strong networking
group in order to keep the quality of your referrals high.
In either case, it is important for members of these
groups to see you as professional and competent. Referrals
will go to people the referrer knows, likes and trusts.
Want more business? Start attending business networking
events in your area.
About the Author
With too much factory experience and experience in Marketing and Advertising, Annette Lucas knew she wanted her own business. She found just what she was looking for with AmeriPlanUSA. To see if AmeriPlan's opportunity is right for you, check out http://www.freedomathometeam.com/40290308
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