Picking The Best Networking Forums
Yesterday I got my weekly message from meetup.com: “Last week there were 240 meetups in Fort Collins!”
Like that’s a good thing. Delete.
Networking meetings can be useful, and a huge asset for people who are seeking out groups of common interest, even if that’s just to hang out and drink coffee for an hour. But if you have a business to take care of, how do you decide where it’s useful to spend your valuable time? Actually, it’s quite simple:
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People who are your target customers
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People who can help to bring in new customers through influence or referrals
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People who have knowledge you’d like to acquire
The problem is that you often don’t know the true nature of a networking group until you’ve attended a few meetings. That’s where your friends, associates and employees can help you out. Figure out what your most important networking goals are, let these people know, and listen to their ideas and recommendations. Try out a few meetings, and then move on to somewhere else if it looks like the wrong group for you.
I met with a gentleman a few months ago who was very clear on his objective for attending a networking meeting: “My task is to arrange for two one-on-one meetings, and when I’ve achieved that, I walk out.” Here’s the problem: His goal wasn’t aligned with the nature of the group. It was designed as a generous give-and-take, while his goal was purely to take.
Needless to say, he doesn’t see much success with this approach. He might arrange two meetings, but people aren’t happy about it. He’s leaving a whole bunch of dissatisfied people in his wake, actually damaging his reputation in the market.
My point is that it’s critical to ensure you have alignment between your personal goals and those of the group. If you don’t have that alignment, it’s probably better to avoid getting involved at all.
And if you see a group that should exist but doesn’t, go ahead and create one. It’s never been easier to find people who share a common interest, no matter how narrow.
Carl Dierschow
Small Fish Business Coaching Fort Collins
www.smallfish.us
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