NETWORKING WAHM

The easiest way and the most effective way to network is directly.

Often business contacts, family, friends, and neighbors are all interconnected through  you.  We all network without even thinking about networking. We’re so great at networking on a social level. We give out or friend’s business cards to other friends and say “I know someone, a friend of mine,  who does what your looking for” We’re  great at networking on a social level for our friends businesses, why not combine it all together?

Have a lunch with your friends, ask each one bring a business contact, which they have experience working with. Ask they bring a contact, they would really like others to meet. Why not take some of your own business contacts! Bring the ones you are already thinking could benefit from meeting your friends and your friends would benefit from!

A Connections Lunch!

Lunch is a wonderful setting to meet others. It’s short enough and long enough to get a feel for the group and exchange business cards. Lunch is perfect, because if you really need to get somewhere you can excuse yourself and casual enough to do so.

Those of you who sell products, could even supply door prizes, as an incentive to take time out of our busy schedules to attend a lunch. The following lunch, another person could supply the door prize that way you all learn about each others’ products. You get the idea.

I know these groups already exist. I have looked into it and most groups you pay a yearly fee or a monthly fee (a small business itself) You could do it yourself for free with separate checks!

As a small business person, I have not paid to join a contact group, for a few reasons.

1. I love connecting through my friends. If my friend  likes and trusts a contact to refer me, chances are I will like them as well. Word of mouth advertising is the best, friends have great connections to draw from.

2. Cost vs. Benefit. I have a small business and I have to think of my costs at all times in this economy. Joining a few of these groups could be costly.

Lunch anyone?

Networking WAHM