Hi everyone, just came across this link in my surfing. There are a lot of links in this article and I wanted to share..

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/mar...tworkingmm.htm

Jo-Carole

Very good advice. I go to quite a few Chamber events that have open networking and I see so many people as soon as they meet you thinking they will never need your services, and basically being rude and walking away to find the person who can "help them to most". Very irritating. Thanks for sharing!

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Kathy Altman
www.offsiteofficesolutions.com

There is one networking event I stopped going to. It is a women's group and it's held monthly at Charlie Browns. What I noticed after attending quite a few times is that the same people talked to each other at each meeting. They all sat in the same seats they did the last time. Unless someone was absent that night you would not have the chance to meet someone new. The women sat there and no one walked around except when it was time to go the salad bar.
That was the only way to meet someone new but they traveled with the same people talking. The director knew there was a problem with membership, even though it did grow it started to lose momentum. They were discussing options. They did discuss having the women sit in different chairs but that wasn't followed up on. So unless you stood in front of the room when people were arriving you really didn't stand much of a chance to meet anyone new.

Excellent article, thanks for sharing it. I recently joined my Chamber and am just starting to get involved. At the first event I attended, my goal was simply to meet the members and get to know them. I firmly believe that if you build the relationship first, the business will follow. People want to do business with people they like. And, when they (or someone they know) need VA services, they'll think of you. Also remember.... six degrees of separation!

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Deborah Reynolds
DediKated Resource

I do a good amount of networking and here is what I have learned:

Do not join the group before you have had a chance to test drive them. Most groups will allow you a meeting r two before asking you to join or will have guest functions.

There are many free or low costs groups (check out meetup.com) so don't discount them as not good resources.

If you have a doubt about the group you are probably right, is this more of a social get together or is the group focused on networking.

Give your elevator speech then move on to getting to know the people. What do they do, how long have they been in business, what do they find the most difficult tasks and offer suggestions based on your knowledge not on your sales pitch.

Take advantage of other groups they recommend (but note are they there to recruit for this group only) and try them out as well.

If you feel unwelcome or slighted, talk to the director and tell them this is the reason that you are declining to join their group. Most want an effective group and will take your comments to heart.

Networking takes time, so don't expect to go to one meeting and have 5 new clients.

Don't forget to follow up with those you met and spoke with. Send a note, email or quick phone call and let them know you enjoyed talking to them. Keep yourself fresh in their mind since chances are each of you had met many people.

When you hear someone is doing well that you have met, send them a note congratulating them on their successes. This will keep you fresh in their mind as they grow their own business.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I would LOVE to try networking but there aren't any networks in my area that will do them at a reasonable time nor for a reasonable price [i can only do late afternoon's].

I'm thinking of setting up a "small" networking event in my area first (i.e. meet in my local starbucks) in the afternoon for fellow VAs and potential clients.

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Julia Neal ...because we ♥ admin!
http://julianeal.wordpress.com

Originally Posted by DediKated Resource

Excellent article, thanks for sharing it. I recently joined my Chamber and am just starting to get involved. At the first event I attended, my goal was simply to meet the members and get to know them. I firmly believe that if you build the relationship first, the business will follow. People want to do business with people they like. And, when they (or someone they know) need VA services, they'll think of you. Also remember.... six degrees of separation!

I agree....it's awfully hard to work with someone that you don't care for no matter how successful that person may be. I think the more networking you do the more your name will get out there...I'm planning on doing a lot this spring. I think it helps a lot more than answering Rfps..

[QUOTE=leedrozak;68671]I do a good amount of networking and here is what I have learned:


Excellent tips, thanks !

Originally Posted by Lia-VSS

I would LOVE to try networking but there aren't any networks in my area that will do them at a reasonable time nor for a reasonable price [i can only do late afternoon's]. I'm thinking of setting up a "small" networking event in my area first (i.e. meet in my local starbucks) in the afternoon for fellow VAs and potential clients.

I am too as a matter of fact, I like the BNI concept but don't care for the weekly meetings or the part where you need to call in a "sub" if you cant make it. So I want to start a local group (none in my town) outside of the Chamber, have meetings monthly or every other week and no "subs" required.