Build YOUR Networking Group

Joining a networking group is a great strategy to have a consistent opportunity meeting with other business professionals to develop business relationships that can provide referrals, exchange business ideas, and develop your business skills.

Members can get discouraged if they feel they’re group does not have the proper industries that can help their profession grow. What they fail to do is take responsibility in making the group their own. Networking Groups welcome all types of members and encourage you to invite them in order that you make the most out of your time.

It is important you take some time to strategize on how you will form your meeting so that you can get the most out of it. Below are some tips to help:

- Know your business’ target market

  Sit down and look at what you are offering and look around at who you think would be perfect for your product or service. Geographic, demographic and psychographic are the three main ways you can find your target market.
  Know how to explain exactly who you are after and your referral partners will know how to reach them easier. You'll be more focused, more effective in your marketing strategies and be able to get a greater return from your networking group. (For example, a wedding planner would be a connection with a wedding photographer)

- Know your complimenting industries

  Identify business professionals that compliment you rather than compete with your business. They have similar target markets and naturally provide a source of referrals for one another. They are in somewhat related but non-competitive markets. (For example, a wedding planner would be a connection with a wedding photographer). Make a list of all industries that compliment your business.

- Invite

  Do not be hesitant to invite these industries to your group. There is huge value at this group for them, YOU! It is worth their time to attend any meeting that has a complimenting industry involved because they know the referrals are there. It is up to them to earn them.

- Ask your Fellow Members to Invite

  Make sure when you are speaking to the current members of your group that in addition to a referral, you are also requesting for them to invite these complimenting businesses. And to make sure they use “YOU” as a good reasoning for them to visit.

- Develop your sales strategy

  This goes for all the members in the chapter, it is important that you have developed a simple system for your referral partners to be able to refer you. This will take some practice; the complimenting industries will be who you use to measure the success of your sales strategy. If they are not able to easily refer you, especially with the fact they meet your target market daily, it could mean your sales pitch needs some work. Ask your group members for input and criticism to help develop this pitch.

We are each other’s Sales team.