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Business networking puts more
money in your pocket by helping you overcome the number one biggest problem
facing new business owners. Prospecting for new customers. Business networking
events can go a long way towards making the whole prospecting problem go
away. There are two main kinds of networking opportunities available to the
average entrepreneur. Passive networking and strong networking. Both have
unique benefits and drawbacks.
The most well known example of passive networking is your local chamber of
commerce. You can find a chamber of commerce chapter in almost every major
city worldwide. Your local chamber of commerce gives you the opportunity to
meet with many of the movers and shakers in your local business community.
Through the many events they plan on a monthly and yearly basis, they offer
you a chance to connect with a number of potential prospects for your
products and services.
Weekly networking groups or clubs are an example of strong networking
opportunities. These kinds of business networking events can be found in many
major cities worldwide. A strong networking group will meet on a weekly basis
for the sole purpose of exchanging business leads with one another and
learning better ways of networking to grow their business. The most
successful networking groups require your weekly attendance and insist that
their members provide fellow members with referrals throughout the year. They
also allow only one person from each profession or industry to belong to the
group. This keeps the quality of the referrals high. One such group is
Business Network International (BNI).
So what are the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of networking? They
both have their place but strong networking groups represent a bigger
commitment than passive networking groups. By belonging to a strong
networking group, you are committed to be on the lookout for referrals for
group members. Strong networking groups also usually meet on a weekly basis
whereas passive networking groups usually meet monthly.
Passive networks can have multiple people from one profession or industry as
members. They also have no requirements for passing on referrals to other
members. Referrals do occur in a passive networking event but it is not
facilitated by the meeting and is totally up to the business owner to
initiate. You can belong to multiple passive networking groups. Any business
you get from passive networking will most likely be a result of the amount of
effort you put in.
Strong networks on the other hand restrict membership to only one person per
industry or profession. This greatly increases the likelihood that you will
receive referrals from participating members. Meetings are structured in a
way to encourage referrals and there is a formal referral exchange that
happens every week. It is strongly recommended that you only belong to one
strong networking group in order to keep the quality of your referrals high.
In either case, it is important for members of these groups to see you as
professional and competent. Referrals will go to people the referrer knows,
likes and trusts.
Want more business? Start attending business networking events in your area.
About the author:
David A. Bailey, Jr share little-known, top-secret ways to make money FAST in
super-hot niche markets. Join this network marketing mastermind and make your
voice heard!
http://www.richnich.com/
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