When my husband and I first started our business over eight years ago, we knew nothing about “Networking”. We had never even heard of it. To us networking was connecting a bunch of computers together so they could talk to each other. Little did we know that Business Networking worked exactly the same way!
Business Networking is when a group of business owners and/or their representatives get together to introduce themselves and find out about each other. It is a great way to meet others who are also trying to grow their business.
The hardest part about networking is finding the first event to attend. The best place to start is at your local Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is a comprised of a large group of local businesses and community members who want to give back to their community and help it and you succeed. They host a variety of networking events which you can attend and introduce yourself, as well as host events where you can volunteer and sponsor.
Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your Chamber membership:
- Join a Chamber Committee: Chambers usually have committees that work together to build community relationships. The committees are a great way to meet other chamber members and give back to your community. Most chamber committees are very active in charitable and family entertainment throughout your community. This is a great way to get your name and brand recognized and to show the community that you care about your home town. Find out about the different committees available and attend a few of their meetings to find out which committee would work best for you.
- Attend Networking Events: Chambers hold many networking events to help introduce businesses to each other. Ribbon Cuttings, Business Card Exchanges and After Hours Mixers are a wonderful way to get to know each other and build relationships. These events are a great form of free marketing. Take advantage.
- Have a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: When you become a member of the Chamber, you are usually entitled to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to announce that you are here and open for business. It is held at your place of business, and members come by to welcome you to the community. But, do not take for granted that just because you have a ribbon cutting ceremony everyone will come. The Chamber will usually post the information on their website bulletin board, but not everyone checks the site on a regular basis. You need to spread the word yourself. Send out personal invitations to all of your contacts inviting them to attend. Post the event on your social network, i.e., twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, etc.
- Exchange Information with Others: Your best source for finding out about other networking events is through people you meet at networking events. When talking to other attendees, find out if they know of any other networking events that they would recommend. You will be surprised to find out how many networking opportunities are out there.
There is more to networking than just going to events and exchanging business cards. There is such a thing as networking etiquette. I know that sounds strange, but there is a correct way to network and an incorrect way to network. And you don’t want to get “blacklisted” because (Continue Reading)
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