Should You Join one?  Or, More than one?

So.  You’ve made the decision to do some business networking, or you’ve been networking for some time now, but you’ve never actually taken the step to join a networking group.

Maybe you’ve been a member of a networking group, of some kind, but you’ve become a little despondent about it.  You joined because you wanted to see how the group worked and you’ve been waiting to see what business develops from it.

If this is where you find yourself, right now, then I’m guessing that the results that you’ve had from the networking you have been doing have probably not been that great.  I know, because I’ve been there.

It’s very easy, these days, to go along to one-off or occasional networking events.  There are all kinds of events starting to spring up all over the place.  Every time you go to one of these events you meet some new people and, at least in your mind, you’re widening your contact base.   But what’s actually happening?  Are you getting any business?  If you are getting some, does the level of business justify the time you’re putting in?

These are very valid questions but, if they are the questions pre-occupying your mind, then you really do need to change your mindset. In the short term, at least, the last thing you should be focusing on is the amount of business you’re getting from your networking efforts.  It is a question that needs to be asked from time to time but, when you ask it, you need to do so from a certain perspective.

The question you really need to ask is ‘Am I giving enough to my network to justify getting a return?’   Hmmm.  Interesting. Isn’t it?   You’ve probably never thought of it in that way before.

On our Business Networking page you can see a more in depth explanation of what you need to be aiming for when you’re out there networking and the mindset that you need to adopt if you’re going to get the very best return for your efforts.

What Groups Should I Join?

There was a time when there were very few networking groups for you to join.  That isn’t the case today, though.  You now have a huge choice.  Some of them are locally based and you may have national or even global organisations available to you.  Some of these may be very industry specific and others will be very general.

You need to decide exactly what you’re trying to achieve from your networking.  You need to have a focus and you need to ask yourself a few pertinent questions to get that focus clearly defined;

• Exactly what kind of contacts are you looking to make?
• Are there certain industries that you tend to work with?
• Are there certain professions that would be good contacts for you?
• Do you need to be making more general contacts.

In many cases joining a Networking Group will involve some kind of cost and cost always makes us think twice. Doesn’t it?

One of the things that I’ve learned about my business networking is that it’s the one area of my marketing where I am completely in control of the costs involved.

Obviously, you do need to consider cost because it shouldn’t be outrageous, but you should never let the typical costs involved in joining a networking group hold you back.  If you use, and apply, the advice you can find freely available here at www.networking-in-business.com then you can have complete confidence that you will get the return you deserve from your networking efforts.

Networking, done properly, is a commitment and you should only join one new networking group at a time so that you can mange that commitment, particuarly, in terms of the time it takes.  But you should join at least one group that is consistent with your focus and, if you are focusing on specific professions or industries, you should also join a general networking group as well.

Remember, networking is all about accessing other peoples’ spheres of influence and all business people, from all types of industry, have an extensive number of contacts covering a wide range of trades and professions.

Search online to find networking groups that meet in the areas that you live and work.  Visit them to get a more accurate perspective of how they work and run.  Networking is about building relationships so you need to feel an affinity with the people you meet.

If you haven’t already done so, I would highly recommend visiting your local BNI Chapter(s).  I don’t want to sound like an advert for BNI but it does have a great structure, it follows the right kind of philosophy and it plays on the third level of networking – and all of these things are consistent with getting the best return from your networking efforts.