Relationship marketing is a great thing to do in business groups. To find the best business groups for you, look on the Internet, in the library, and with people, you know. Also, be proactive in your search for business groups.
Relationship marketing is a great thing to do in business groups. When you join a business group, you get to know important business owners and leaders in your area. You can get the most out of relationship marketing by taking part in these business groups.
The Chamber of Commerce is usually the first business group that comes to mind. There are, however, a few other groups out there that are worth looking into.
Looking for Business Groups
Read your local paper and keep an eye out for mentions of business groups in your area.
Sign up for a business magazine in your area.
Visit government offices, talk to people who help businesses, and economic development offices to find out about business groups that people join to make money.
Look into the Associations in the Gal Group Encyclopedia.
Ask the reference librarian for the names of some good local business groups.
Use who you know. Ask everyone you know if they know of a business group that would be good for you to join.
Start with national organizations and then move down to the state, country, and city levels.
Check out Business Referral Networks to find out more about business groups. BNI.com and bltip.com are two good ones.
Don't forget about civic groups. They aren't really business groups, but a lot of business owners belong to them. Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions are some of the more well-known ones. Don't forget groups like the Knights of Columbus that are based on religion.
Then there are the business groups that focus on a specific area:
- Associations for minority business owners
- Business groups that deal with IT
- Independent Computer Consultants Association, or ICCA
For Microsoft-certified partners, the International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners is for them.
The "F" group, which is one of the largest IT business groups for resellers, is one example.
What You Need to Know About Business Groups
Business groups are a great place to meet other business owners and possible customers. Don't stop looking for a job at the Chamber of Commerce. There are a lot of business groups out there, and one of them may be just right for you. Check out the web, the library, and the people you know - be proactive about finding business groups. You'll get a lot of good leads and great chances to network and use relationship marketing as a result.
