Business groups are great places to market and meet new people. To get the most out of your business group membership, you need to find the right group and get used to it.
Business groups are great places to market and meet new people. You can join a lot of different ones. Make sure you join the right business group for you and your needs, and then be an active member of that group.
In most places, there are more than one business group. You don't want to spend all your time going to different business group meetings, so you need to choose wisely. When you want to join a group, there is almost always one rule you should follow:
They are better when they are bigger. More active members of big business groups will go to networking events. Most of the time, the more people in a room, the more likely it is that you will meet the right kind of person who could become a future sweet spot client.
No matter what business group you join, you need to show up to the meetings. You won't meet people just by being around them. When I hear that someone tried a business group but it didn't work for them, nine times out of ten they only went to one meeting, didn't like it, and didn't go back.
Marketing to a business group is the same as any other kind. If you're making cold calls and the first person you call is rude and hangs up on you, do you run away to the woods and never come back? No. Here are some tips to help you find a business group, stay with it, and get the most out of it.
Don't go into a meeting with a bad, scared, or worried mindset. This will be clear to the people in the business group.
Check out all the business groups that are within an hour's drive of you. Don't just pick the first one you find.
Attend at least two meetings of a business group before deciding if it's right for you.
Be patient. Don't go in thinking that you'll meet your magic client in the next hour.
Make yourself get out of your comfort zone and talk to people like everyone else. Find other people who look uncomfortable and talk to them.
Find the accountants, engineers, controllers, and operations managers who are analytical but not naturally outgoing or talkative. Many of these people are IT decision-makers in small businesses, so they are great people to know for future referrals and business.
What you need to know about Business Groups
As a member of a business group, you can talk to the people in charge at the companies you want to do business with. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you will get what you put into your business group experience. Don't give up the moment you start to lose hope. Join the right business group and use every meeting to your advantage.
