©2011 Bob Sharpe
Networking Groups
What a Networking Group Is
A networking group consists of 20-30 local businesspeople who meet weekly for lunch or breakfast for the purpose of exchanging business leads with one another.
Each local group allows only one person from each business category. Only one RealtorŪ, one financial planner, one accountant, one promotional products distributor, etc., is allowed to join each group.
Each member is expected to bring a few leads per month for the other members.
Typical Networking Group Meeting
The meetings generally follow an order something like this:
Order food.
During or after eating, each member gets to give a 60-second commercial about his or her business and to tell about the type of lead that would be helpful to them.
Members who have leads for other members fill out lead slips and give them to the member.
One member speaks about his or her business for about 10 minutes.
Members who brought leads are recognized.
There are national and international organizations that establish local chapters, and there are local independent groups. Each type of group has its advantage:
The large organizations sometimes hold larger events for greater networking opportunities.
The independent groups are free, except for the cost of the restaurant meals.
How to Find a Networking Group in Your Area
Many networking groups will allow you to attend one time for free if you belong to a business category in which they have a vacancy.
MeetUp is a service that lists meetings and events of all types of groups, including some networking groups. www.MeetUp.com
You can also look for a local chapter of one of the networking group companies:
BNI International - (800) 825-8286
LeTip International - (800) 255-3847
Leads Club - (800) 783.3761
Team Referral Network (CA, AZ, NV, CO) - (866) 311-8326
What a Networking Group Is
A networking group consists of 20-30 local businesspeople who meet weekly for lunch or breakfast for the purpose of exchanging business leads with one another.
Each local group allows only one person from each business category. Only one RealtorŪ, one financial planner, one accountant, one promotional products distributor, etc., is allowed to join each group.
Each member is expected to bring a few leads per month for the other members.
Typical Networking Group Meeting
The meetings generally follow an order something like this:
Order food.
During or after eating, each member gets to give a 60-second commercial about his or her business and to tell about the type of lead that would be helpful to them.
Members who have leads for other members fill out lead slips and give them to the member.
One member speaks about his or her business for about 10 minutes.
Members who brought leads are recognized.
There are national and international organizations that establish local chapters, and there are local independent groups. Each type of group has its advantage:
The large organizations sometimes hold larger events for greater networking opportunities.
The independent groups are free, except for the cost of the restaurant meals.
How to Find a Networking Group in Your Area
Many networking groups will allow you to attend one time for free if you belong to a business category in which they have a vacancy.
MeetUp is a service that lists meetings and events of all types of groups, including some networking groups. www.MeetUp.com
You can also look for a local chapter of one of the networking group companies:
BNI International - (800) 825-8286
LeTip International - (800) 255-3847
Leads Club - (800) 783.3761
Team Referral Network (CA, AZ, NV, CO) - (866) 311-8326