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Eenie, Meanie, Minie, Mo – How to Pick a Networking Group That’s Right for You

By Wendy Terwelp, CCMC, JCTC, CPBS

How exciting! You’ve been invited to another networking event. This makes 52 networking events you’ve attended in the past four weeks. You’ve eaten countless donuts, lunches, and hors d’oeuvres, and you still haven’t picked a group to join.

How can you? There are so many groups with members vying for your attention like suitors on “The Bachlorette.” Welcoming, yes. Overwhelming? Definitely! So, who gets your vote?

Here are some things to think about before you spend the bucks on membership:

As a growing business, how much time do you have for outside activities?

Joining a networking group is a commitment. Some groups have attendance requirements: Three absences and you’re out. Out? You just paid bucks to join! Find out what the requirements are for membership and how often the group meets.

How excited are you about this group?

This is important because you want to become an active member. Saying you’re a member is not the same as participating. And by participating, I mean join a committee. On a committee, you’ll get a chance to meet a majority of the members and have an active role in the direction of the organization.

Know your company’s niche and ideal client.

Does this organization serve your audience? Does it have members who are your audience? Know your audience? If not, it’s probably not the group for you.

What’s your brand?

Are you hip, trendy, and cool? If you are, then the networking group you join should match your style and your attitude. Sure, you want to meet different types of people for your business, but you also want them to “get you.” And you want them to be fun to work with, right?

How is the group structured?

Is it formal or informal? Is everyone eating, meeting, and greeting? Or is there some semblance of organization and purpose? Everyone loves a great party, but with limited time available to owners of growing businesses, structured meetings are more helpful. You’ll know how long the meeting runs, so you can plan your next sales call.

In the next few columns, I’ll be covering how to get the most from a networking meeting, building your contacts, and making time to network. In the mean time, here’s advice I received from a highly connected entrepreneur: “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get what you want.” Until next time…

Wendy Terwelp, president of Opportunity Knocks™, provides personal branding and networking coaching to entrepreneurial executives, solopreneurs, and business owners.