Notes

Low Cost Networking The Old Fashioned Way (In Person)
One morning, fifteen years back, I sat in my own car feeling anxious about walking right into a chamber of commerce breakfast for the first time. But not an introvert, I was unaccustomed to entering an area full of strangers, many of whom knew one another. I thought of networking as selling and thought people who 'worked a room' were nothing like me. My only goal that day was to survive and at the very least talk to someone at my table. I've come a long way baby.

Although it's still not in my own top ten fun things you can do, I no more feel uncomfortable at business networking events. I now enter a room full of strangers looking forward to meeting some new people. I attend with a purpose...to grow my contact base and tell folks about the internet marketing services that Virtual Fundamentals provides.

In the fifteen years since my first Chamber breakfast meeting, life experience has taught me how valuable my contact database is. I know and embrace the web based networking opportunities via Facebook, Twitter, this blog, etc. But I consider my electronic friends, followers and subscribers as an addition to my in-person relationships.

In the past, there have been just a few types of networking events.

Joining a Chamber, a Rotary, or other membership type group whose monthly meetings were attended by small enterprises in your same geographic area and where you met others by walking up and introducing yourself or sitting at exactly the same breakfast table.

Joining a networking group that met regularly where you're expected to provide referrals for others in attendance, because they would for you. Often, membership was excluded to any other business person in the same industry (i.e. only one accountant, agent, attorney, etc.)

Today, online networking software offers a tremendous amount of networking opportunities on a specialist and/or social level. Some groups derive from a broad shared interest such as for example 'business' or 'marketing' while others are more narrowly targeted such as for example 'entrepreneurs wearing size 8 shoes', well not really that specific, much more likely social media marketing or SEO professionals or professional photographers, etc. Meetups are often free or very reasonably priced.

Best Brand Microwave is wonderful for anyone who feels awkward approaching a group of strangers. Everyone there recognizes that the purpose of the get together would be to meet new people. Unless you feel comfortable joining a business networking group, consider joining a book club meetup group, an art group, kayaking group etc. It really is still an opportunity to extend your contact list with new people.

You can find no expensive membership fees for meetup groups and you could decide over time whether you wish to continue participating or not.

If so inclined, you can start a meetup group yourself and become the group leader. Your group could target other companies in the same industry as you or target potential customers for your business and offer them informative sessions. As a word of caution, usually do not jump too quickly on this opportunity to develop a meetup for anyone who is already time challenged, don't enjoy planning events or get disappointed when people RSVP but don't show up. Best Brand Microwave are left with out a leader after the one who established the group can no longer handle the work involved.

Whatever avenue you choose to use for networking in person (via Chambers, networking groups or meetup groups) make yourself get out of any office, smile, shake hands and take a break from the computer.

What experiences perhaps you have had with networking via meetup.com or other venues? Looking forward to your comments!

To Your Success,

Nancy
Here's my website: https://www.demilked.com/author/nash64nash/