As you know, there are countless ways of networking and promoting your business. Personally, I like to find business groups and participate in meetings, etc., either virtually, or in person with local groups.

I'm curious to see of other VAs participate in similar networking opportunities.

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Winston Stewart
PennWin Administrative Services

My mentor is making blog more to network and to find places to guest blog. Although I have a hard time writing sometimes. One of my friends from college also suggested biznik for networking and I forced myself to join linkedIn - I had been avoiding it for ages. I also found a few women only places to network, although they are primarily folks on the West Coast - but I really like powerchicks which is on facebook.

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Staci Tooke - Owner, Tooke Consulting
Tooke Consulting

Originally Posted by calliope

My mentor is making blog more to network and to find places to guest blog. Although I have a hard time writing sometimes. One of my friends from college also suggested biznik for networking and I forced myself to join linkedIn - I had been avoiding it for ages. I also found a few women only places to network, although they are primarily folks on the West Coast - but I really like powerchicks which is on facebook.

Another great resource for you to use is www.meetup.com, which I coincidently saw someone else mention in another post on the forum. I use this to connect with local groups, and I love it.

As far as writing blogs, it gets easier the more you do it. Its also a great exercise for developing inter-business communication. Keep with it... because along with the other benefits, you are getting your name out there and showing your abilities!

Good Luck!

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Winston Stewart
PennWin Administrative Services

Hi Winston,

After a year of attending local networking events and gaining nothing (which seems to be the norm in this small city) I pretty much gave up on it at year end. The half day spent on preparation, showering, dressing, applying makeup, travelling both ways, chatting and listening to pitches is a total waste. Those four or more hours can be far better spent networking and promoting online, plus I'm available to clients.

Since January 1, I spend what time I can on social networking, checking want ads for a possibility to pitch and posting flyers on sites throughout North America. Pretty much everyone looks for goods and services online these days ... we don't even have a telephone directory or yellow pages in the house.

If a local client finds me it's through friends, dog park acquaintances I run into daily or the signage on my minivan, however I just picked up a new client who's a local and she found me online.

Perhaps the success of in person networking depends on where you live and what the local culture is, i.e. progressive and forward thinking or traditional and "old boy's club".

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

Lynne,
You are so correct about networking - it's all about the local culture. There are a few groups that are still old boy's clubs but many more that are not where I live. It takes a lot of time but I think that if you gave it a year with no results - it's time to try something else.

Janet

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Janet Falkenberg
ExecuStrive, Details Get Done

Originally Posted by Wordpro Wizard

Hi Winston, After a year of attending local networking events and gaining nothing (which seems to be the norm in this small city) I pretty much gave up on it at year end. The half day spent on preparation, showering, dressing, applying makeup, travelling both ways, chatting and listening to pitches is a total waste. Those four or more hours can be far better spent networking and promoting online, plus I'm available to clients. Since January 1, I spend what time I can on social networking, checking want ads for a possibility to pitch and posting flyers on sites throughout North America. Pretty much everyone looks for goods and services online these days ... we don't even have a telephone directory or yellow pages in the house. If a local client finds me it's through friends, dog park acquaintances I run into daily or the signage on my minivan, however I just picked up a new client who's a local and she found me online. Perhaps the success of in person networking depends on where you live and what the local culture is, i.e. progressive and forward thinking or traditional and "old boy's club". Lynne

I completely agree with you on your comments about location. The diversity between each city can be greatly different from one to another. You will most likely have better luck in a city with not only more businesses, but a more diverse business population. This is because you have a higher chance of finding clients that fit within your service focus.

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Winston Stewart
PennWin Administrative Services

Heh. I've been going to local networking meetings for three + years, and have earned maybe $1,000 from contacts made there. BUT, I still think that since people like to buy from people they know and trust, and since in-person interactions are very helpful in keeping things balanced, I continue to go. I've cut way back, but go at least twice a month, and I do think it's important to the health of my biz, whether or not it's directly income-oriented. (Gives me a lot to blog about, if nothing else!)

The esteemed C.J. Hayden (do a search for her right here on VAF) suggests selecting a few networking groups and work 'em faithfully, and you'll do well. I think she's right. It doesn't matter so much which groups you choose, as long as you are an enthusiastic participant wherever you do join up.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Originally Posted by virtual writing

Heh. I've been going to local networking meetings for three + years, and have earned maybe $1,000 from contacts made there. BUT, I still think that since people like to buy from people they know and trust, and since in-person interactions are very helpful in keeping things balanced, I continue to go. I've cut way back, but go at least twice a month, and I do think it's important to the health of my biz, whether or not it's directly income-oriented. (Gives me a lot to blog about, if nothing else!) The esteemed C.J. Hayden (do a search for her right here on VAF) suggests selecting a few networking groups and work 'em faithfully, and you'll do well. I think she's right. It doesn't matter so much which groups you choose, as long as you are an enthusiastic participant wherever you do join up.

Hi Mary! I completely agree that such interacting is good for the health of your business. I am all about building a relationship with other business owners because you never know when a referral might come along. I have no problem spending an hour of my time mingling and talking with others. You have to look at the potential long-term benefits. A company's staying power is gained through long-term planning.

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Winston Stewart
PennWin Administrative Services

When I initially started my business, in person networking brought me a most of my new clients, but that's switched now. Most of my clients now come from a mix of referrals, online networking or website contacts. I live in a large metropolitan area and there is a diverse business groups here and I still go out to local events and that's because I like to have the in person connection, but I don't necessarily look at it as the place I'm going to get my clients now though often I do get referrals from the folks at the events because I've be first to mind for them when it comes to what I do.

I think for me in the early stages the in person events helped because they got to know me personally and I was more willing to take on a variety of projects to bring income in, but now I'm very specific in the clients I take on and often if they are at an in person network event often they don't fit my market now but they know people who do.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
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